Reflexive vs Non-Reflexive Verbs - Intermediate
A2-B1 Level
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The questions include phrases that many learners overuse with reflexives because of translation from another language. In English, people usually complain, listen, rest, and settle without adding themselves. But you do need a reflexive in sentences like make yourselves at home, found themselves lost, prides herself on, and got itself stuck. The skill is to read the whole sentence and decide whether the reflexive adds a necessary object or meaning. Several answers are complete verbs, not pronouns, so grammar and vocabulary work together. This is especially useful if your first language uses reflexive forms more often than English does normally.
Quick Rule
reflexive object when needed; ordinary verb form when English does not use one
- 1.Please make yourselves at home.
- 2.My grandmother did not complain about the noise.
- 3.The hikers found themselves lost in the forest.
- 4.She prides herself on her cooking skills.
- 5.They embraced at the airport after years apart.
All 20 questions
Complete each sentence with the correct reflexive pronoun OR type '-' if no reflexive is needed.
Please make _____ at home — the kitchen is through there. (yourselves / -)
My grandmother _____ about the noise from the construction site. (complained herself / complained)
The hikers found _____ lost in the middle of the forest. (themselves / -)
He _____ well for the job interview last Monday. (prepared himself / prepared)
She prides _____ on her excellent cooking skills. (herself / -)
The tourists _____ at the local market for two hours. (met themselves / met)
I couldn't stop _____ from laughing during the serious presentation. (myself / -)
The dog _____ in the garden after its bath. (dried itself / dried)
We need to ask _____ whether this is really the best solution. (ourselves / -)
She _____ to the classical music playing softly in the café. (listened herself / listened)
Don't blame _____ — it wasn't your fault at all. (yourself / -)
They _____ about the poor service at the restaurant. (complained themselves / complained)
He locked _____ out of the house and had to call a locksmith. (himself / -)
The students _____ for the exam by reviewing all their notes. (prepared themselves / prepared)
She told _____ that everything would be fine. (herself / -)
I _____ very well after the holiday at the beach. (rested myself / rested)
He expressed _____ clearly during the business meeting. (himself / -)
We _____ at the hotel and went straight to the pool. (settled ourselves / settled)
The cat somehow managed to get _____ stuck in the tree. (itself / -)
They _____ at the airport after a long separation. (embraced themselves / embraced)
Continue Practising
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