Optional use of reflexive pronouns after certain verbs

Other verbs which can point the action back to the subject (e.g. dress, hide, shave, wash) can be intransitive, so we don't need reflexive pronouns, though it would not be 'wrong' to use them. When these verbs are intransitive, it is assumed that the subject is doing the action to himself:

/ must dress/wash (as opposed to dress/wash myself) We often use (and stress) reflexive pronouns after such verbs when referring to children, the very old, invalids, etc. to indicate that an action is performed with conscious effort:

Polly's nearly learnt how to dress herself now

Verbs which are not normally reflexive

Verbs such as get up, sit down, stand up, wake up and combinations with gef (get cold/hot/tired, dressed, married), often reflexive in other European languages, are not normally so in English: / got up with difficulty

Reflexives would be used for special emphasis only: Will you get yourself dressed? We're late

Reflexive pronouns as objects of ordinary verbs

Reflexive pronouns can be used after many ordinary verbs if we wish to point back to the subject:

/ got such a shock when I saw myself in the mirror. Reflexives can be used as indirect objects:

The boss gave himself a rise (= gave a rise to himself)

Note there are a number of short conversational expressions with reflexive pronouns: e.g. Help yourself, Make yourself at home¹, Don't upset yourself!; and also a few fixed expressions: e.g. hear (yourself) speak, make (yourself) heard I couldn't make myself heard above the noise

There is a difference in meaning between themselves and each other after verbs such as accuse, blame, help, look at [compare > 5.28]:

The two bank clerks blamed themselves for the mistake

(= They both took the blame.)

The two bank clerks blamed each other for the mistake

(= The one blamed the other.)