Reflexive Pronouns

1. Reflexive pronouns indicate that the action turns back upon the subject.

   The reflexive pronouns are formed by adding sel to the possessives. The suffix sel is usually used collectively and the suffix sels individually.

   	Singular		Plural
   1. Person:	masel	myself	wirsel(s), *oorsel(s)	ourselves
   2. Person:	yersel	yourself	yersel(s)	yourselves
   3. Person:	himsel, hissel* hersel itsel, hitsel*	himself herself itself	thaimsel(s) thairsel(s)	themselves
   *Emphatic forms.

   A telt ye A micht can mend it masel. I told you I might be able to repair it myself.
   We can dae awthing wirsels. We can do everything ourselves.
   A saw ye'd been early asteer yersel this mornin. I saw that you’d been active early yourself this morning.
   Coud ye dae that yersels? Could you do that yourselves?	Weel, it'll no mend itsel. Well, it won't repair itself.
   Ma brither kens fowk that mends awthing thairsels. My brother knows people who repair everything themselves.

   Sel(s) may be used independently.

   Gang awa yer twa sels. Go away both of you.

   Fair play tells the sel o it. Fair play speaks for itself.

   Your lad's juist the sel o ye. Your boy is just like you.

2. The reflexive pronoun can be intensified by inserting ma before sel. The form ma nain is the result of re-analysis of mine ain.

   A made it aw ma ain sel I made it entirely by myself.

   Gie's the scissor, an A'll cut it mine ain sel. Give me the scissors, and I'll cut it myself.

3. The word lane or lee lane, plural lanes is used in much the same way as sel.

   She wis sittin her lane. She was sitting by herself.	A wis aw ma lee lane. I was by myself. (all alone)
   We gaed wir lanes. We went by ourselves.	He leeved his lane. He lived alone.
   Thay stuid thir lane. They stood by themselves.	The auld aik stuid its lane. The old oak stood by itself.
   Gin ye'd hae telt him, he wad hae stuid by his lane. If you had told him, he would have stood alone.
   Is she by her lane? Is she on her own?

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