Reflexive, reciprocal, and indefinite pronoun
Reflexive pronoun
The most frequent use of a reflexive pronoun (myself, yourselves, etc.) is for emphasis, in which case, as you might expect, it is accented:
I'll ▸write to him my'self.
He ▸did it all by him'self.
Will you be ▸able to come you'self?
She's ▸not very enthusiastic about it her'self.
The ▸villa pays for it'self
When, however, they are used as true reflexives - as the object of the verb or after a preposition - they are not usually contrastive, and therefore not get accented. They usually form part of the tail:
He ▸did it all by him'self.
Will you be ▸able to come you'self?
She's ▸not very enthusiastic about it her'self.
The ▸villa pays for it'self
She feels ▸rather 'pleased with herself.
▸Don't make a 'fool of yourself!
You use accented myself at the end of a comment, with a non-fall tone, to suggest that this is your opinion, but that others may not share it.
▸Don't make a 'fool of yourself!
I ▸think that's right, | my⤵⤴self. (= I think that's right, | ⤵⤴personally.)
I don't a⤵gree, | my⤵⤴self.
I'm not ⤵sure, | my⤵⤴self.
〉 Do you ▸know ⤴Paris?
》 ⤵No,| I've never ⤵been there | my⤵⤴self.
In informal regional English of the north of England myself in this usage is replace by me:
I don't a⤵gree, | my⤵⤴self.
I'm not ⤵sure, | my⤵⤴self.
〉 Do you ▸know ⤴Paris?
》 ⤵No,| I've never ⤵been there | my⤵⤴self.
I'm ⤵mad at it, | ⤴me
Reciprocal pronoun
The reciprocal pronoun each other and one another are usually contrastive, and therefore not accented:
At ▸least ▸ Phil and Sue are 'talking to each other
Indefinite pronoun
The same applies to indefinite pronouns someone, somebody, something, anyone, anybody, anything:
▸Can you 'see anyone?
I've ▸just 'read something | ▸really 'funny.
I ▸can't keep quiet any 'longer. | I've just got to 'tell someone.
The spoken phrase or something (= or something similar) is unaccented when used at the end of the sentence. So are other indefinite pronouns following or in this usage:
I've ▸just 'read something | ▸really 'funny.
I ▸can't keep quiet any 'longer. | I've just got to 'tell someone.
▸Stop 'bothering me! | ▸Ask 'Muriel or somebody
▸Can I get you a 'drink or anything?
The indefinite pronoun can nevertheless exceptionally receive the nuclear accent for emphasis. Compare:
▸Can I get you a 'drink or anything?
〉 A: ▸What the 'matter?
》 B: I ▸thought I 'heard someone
〉 A: But there's ▸no one at the 'door.
》 B: I'm ▸sure I heard 'something. (= not nothing)
I ▸can't 'see anyone. (neutral)
I ▸can't see 'anyone. (marked negative)
They ▸didn't 'bring anything. (neutral)
They ▸didn't bring 'anything. (= They ▸brought 'nothing.)
I ▸wouldn't go back there for 'anything. (= I certainly wouldn't!)
Note also:
》 B: I ▸thought I 'heard someone
〉 A: But there's ▸no one at the 'door.
》 B: I'm ▸sure I heard 'something. (= not nothing)
I ▸can't 'see anyone. (neutral)
I ▸can't see 'anyone. (marked negative)
They ▸didn't 'bring anything. (neutral)
They ▸didn't bring 'anything. (= They ▸brought 'nothing.)
I ▸wouldn't go back there for 'anything. (= I certainly wouldn't!)
We ▸didn't hear a 'thing. (= We ▸heard 'nothing)
I ▸won't ⤵tell anyone. (neutral)
I ▸won't tell ⤵anyone. (marked negative)
I ▸won't tell ⤵⤴anyone. (= I'll ▸only tell a 'few people.)
I ▸won't tell a 'soul. (= I ▸wont tell 'anyone , | I'll tell 'no one.)
I ▸don't like 'either of them. (= I ▸like 'neither of them.)
I ▸don't like 'either of them. (= I ▸like 'neither of them.)
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