language note: Themselves is the third person plural reflexive pronoun.
1. pronoun
You use themselves to refer to people, animals, or things when the object of a verb or preposition refers to the same people or things as the subject of the verb.
They all seemed to be enjoying themselves.
The men talked amongst themselves.
All artists have part of themselves that they can never share with anyone else.
2. pronoun
You use themselves to emphasize the people or things that you are referring to. Themselves is also sometimes used instead of 'them' as the object of a verb or preposition.
[emphasis]
Many people with serious health issues are themselves unhappy about the idea of communitycare.
Cities themselves are changing rapidly.
Care-givers get a chance to socialize with people in the same position as themselves.
3. pronoun
You use themselves instead of 'himself or herself' to refer back to the person who is the subject ofa sentence without saying whether it is a man or a woman. Some people think this use is incorrect.
What can a patient with emphysema do to help themselves?
Nobody was prepared to commit themselves.
4. pronoun
You use themselves instead of 'himself or herself' to emphasize the person you are referring to withoutsaying whether it is a man or a woman. Themselves is also sometimes used as the object of a verb or preposition. Some people thinkthis use is incorrect.
[emphasis]
Each student makes only one item themselves.
After all, what more can anyone be than themselves?
English Easy Learning GrammarReflexive pronounsReflexive pronouns are used: person singular plural 1st2nd3rd masculine3rd feminine3rd neuterGeneral myselfyourselfhimselfherselfitselfoneselfourselvesyourselvesthemselvesthemselvesthemselves ... Read more
themselves in British English
(ðəmˈsɛlvz)
pronoun
1.
a.
the reflexive form of they or them
b.
(intensifier)
the team themselves voted on it
2. (preceded by a copula)
their normal or usual selves
they don't seem themselves any more
3. Also: themself not standard
a reflexive form of an indefinite antecedent such as one, whoever, or anybody
everyone has to look after themselves
themselves in American English
(ðɛmˈsɛlvz)
pronoun
a form of they, used:
a.
as an intensifier
they saw it themselves
b.
as a reflexive
they hurt themselves
c.
with the meaning “their real, true, or normal selves” [they are not themselves today]
in this construction them functions as an adjective and selves as a noun; when they are separated, the form their is used [their own sweet selves]
Word origin
Late (Northern) ME thaim selfe for ME hemselve(n) (see they) + -s, pl. suffix
Examples of 'themselves' in a sentence
themselves
Investors were also positioning themselves ahead of results this week.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It will make many women ask themselves if they can trust these high street brands.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Some of them are people who consider themselves fans.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
England could also tell themselves they are not far from turning things around.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She argues that the discs say lots about how people represent themselves.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Whether they should come out and say so publicly is a question only the players themselves can answer.
The Sun (2016)
About half the people in care homes will be paying the full fees themselves, many using the equity in their houses.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The Saints have hardly been in great form themselves, but we can see them nicking it.
The Sun (2017)
They may also find themselves being taught by their old bosses.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
They can also block out weeks when they want to use the property themselves.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Yet few companies can organise themselves to let their staff pick and choose.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
You have to keep them on the pitch and patiently wait as they play themselves into form.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
They can put in a tackle and look after themselves but also have the creative spark.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The schools themselves would use their experience to recruit and appoint teachers.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Wealthy people with good accountants can protect themselves much better.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
United are hardly in shabby form themselves.
The Sun (2007)
Regional food producers are also helping themselves.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Teach them how to fish and they can feed themselves and others.
O'Connor, Joseph & Seymour, John Training with N.L.P. (1994)
These orphans have now formed themselves into two large groups.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Most people work for themselves because they want to.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Other friends who had lost money in property investments had also killed themselves in recent years.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
But savvy consumers can help themselves by switching to cheaper tariffs.
The Sun (2008)
Some had formed themselves into an extensive island in the middle.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Do people resist committing themselves to a ministry group?
Christianity Today (2000)
In doing so they will also guarantee themselves lower bills through the next two winters.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
But only now are people asking themselves what they really want out of the medium.
Corporate Research Foundation TOP MARKETING AND MEDIA COMPANIES IN THE UK (2002)
Most people who use it on themselves find it easiest to write a note which they read again and again.
Vera Peiffer POSITIVELY FEARLESS: Breaking free of the fears that hold you back (2001)
They form themselves into a queue.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Men who didn't pay were likely to find themselves being used as a demonstration in a weapons test.
Tepper, Sheri S. A Plague of Angels (1993)
In other languages
themselves
British English: themselves /ðəmˈsɛlvz/ PRONOUN
You use themselves to talk about people, animals, or things that you have just talked about.
They all seemed to be enjoying themselves.
American English: themselves
Arabic: أَنْفُسُهُم
Brazilian Portuguese: eles mesmos
Chinese: 他们自己
Croatian: oni sami
Czech: se
Danish: sig selv
Dutch: zichzelf meervoud
European Spanish: se ellos
Finnish: he itse
French: eux-mêmes
German: sie selbst
Greek: αυτοί οι ίδιοι
Italian: loro stessi
Japanese: 彼ら自身
Korean: 그들 자신
Norwegian: seg
Polish: siebie
European Portuguese: eles mesmos
Romanian: înșiși
Russian: себя
Latin American Spanish: se
Swedish: sig själva
Thai: ด้วยตัวของพวกเขาเอง
Turkish: kendileri
Ukrainian: себе
Vietnamese: tự họ
Chinese translation of 'themselves'
themselves
(ðəmˈsɛlvz)
pl pron
(referring to men, boys, mixed group) 他们(們)自己 (tāmen zìjǐ)
(referring to girls, women) 她们(們)自己 (tāmen zìjǐ)
⇒ Have they hurt themselves?他们/她们伤了自己吗？ (Tāmen/tāmen shāngle zìjǐ ma?)
⇒ They cooked the meal themselves.他们/她们自己做的饭。 (Tāmen/tāmen zìjǐ zuò de fàn.)
⇒ They only care about themselves.他们只关心自己。 (Tāmen zhǐ guānxīn zìjǐ.)