Reflexive pronouns, also known as reflexive forms, are pronouns that are used to refer back to the subject of a sentence. They are formed by adding “-self” (singular) or “-selves” (plural) to certain personal pronouns. Reflexive pronouns emphasize that the subject of the sentence is also the object of the action.
For example, the reflexive pronouns in English include “myself,” “yourself,” “himself,” “herself,” “itself,” “ourselves,” “yourselves,” and “themselves.”
The fixed expression “in itself” is used as an intensifier to emphasize the inherent qualities or characteristics of something. It suggests that the thing being described has value, significance, or impact on its own, without external factors or influences.
In the English Grammar Profile, B2 point 74 in the category of PRONOUNS/reflexive is defined as:
the fixed expression ‘in itself’ as an intensifier.
An iWeb corpus investigation for collocations 4 spaces to the left and right and the B1 vocabulary that collocates with this is in red:
1 END 3908
2 ART 1437
CHALLENGE
THE WEEK4 INTERESTING 979
5 ACHIEVEMENT 859
She considered graduating from college as an impressive achievement in itself,
and she was proud of herself for accomplishing such a significant milestone.
The sentence highlights the accomplishment of graduating from college, emphasizing its inherent value and significance. The reflexive pronoun “herself” emphasizes that the subject (she) is also the one who achieved the accomplishment. The fixed expression “in itself” intensifies the notion of the achievement, emphasizing its independent worth.
6 SUFFICIENT 832
7 FEAT 830 9267
8 DESTINATION 680
9 ADVENTURE 615
10 TASK 576
11 MEAL 568
12 VALUABLE 395
13 IMPRESSIVE 394
14 REWARD 388
15 MIRACLE 387
16 ACCOMPLISHMENT
17 REMARKABLE 359
18 EVIL 351
19 SKILL 329
20 ATTRACTION 327
21 NECESSARILY 323
22 UNUSUAL 278
23 CONSTITUTE 271
24 PROOF 263 5795
25 FASCINATING 224
26 REWARDING 213
27 WORTHY 198
28 FULL-TIME 192
29 SIN 178 3657
30 SURPRISING 164
31 ENTITY 154
32 PROBLEMATIC 146
33 DESIRABLE 138
34 CONSTITUTES 136
35 SPEAKS 135
36 INDICATION 133
37 BLESSING 122
38 STRESSFUL 113
39 WORTHWHILE 112
40 HARMFUL 109
41 SINFUL 108
42 OFFENCE 106
43 VIRTUE 104
44 JUSTIFY 93
45 HARMLESS 90
46 CONTRADICTION 89
47 PROVES 88
48 UNDERTAKING 85
49 DAUNTING 83
50 MASTERPIECE 81
51 HONOUR 81
52 SPECTACLE 79
53 SUSPICIOUS 78
54 RACIST 75
55 INSUFFICIENT 74
56 IMPLIES 74
57 JUSTIFICATION 71
58 CHORE 70
59 SHOCKING 70
60 SATISFYING 69
61 MORALLY 67
62 UNLAWFUL 66
63 SYMPTOM 64
64 WORRYING 63
65 RARITY 60
66 SUFFICE 58
67 IMPLY 53 8705
68 RISKY 52 1088
69 MILESTONE 51
70 INTRIGUING 51
71 INDICATIVE 50
72 NOTEWORTHY 49
73 MEANINGLESS 49
74 HUGELY 49
75 LAWFUL 47
76 ASTONISHING 47
77 QUESTIONABLE 47
78 DETERRENT 45
79 UNJUST 45
80 CONTRADICTORY 45
81 ABSURD 45
82 ADMIRABLE 44
83 INHERENTLY 43
84 TRAUMATIC 43
85 TERRIFYING 41
86 FLAWED 40
87 PLEASURABLE 39
88 AMUSING 39