And it‘s not because you‘re not smart enough,
it‘s simply that you don’t apply yourself.
The reflexive pronoun “yourself” is used as the direct object of the verb “apply.” The verb “apply” means “to use or put something to a particular purpose.” In the sentence, the speaker is telling the listener to use their own efforts or abilities to achieve a goal. The reflexive pronoun “yourself” refers back to the listener, who is the subject of the verb “apply.”
All I did was bury myself in my work.
to rest your pretty little head
In the English Grammar Profile, B1 Point 55 in the category of PRONOUNS is defined as:
increasing range of singular reflexive pronouns with an increasing range of verbs to refer to actions where the subject and object of the verb are the same.
A2 Point 12:
range of singular reflexive pronouns (‘myself’, ‘yourself’) with a limited range of verbs (‘enjoy’, ‘buy’) to refer to actions where the subject and object of the verb are the same.
An iWeb search for:
_V _PPX1
1 FIND YOURSELF 147331
2 ASK YOURSELF 77655 C2 in the EVP
So before you run out and change the world,
ask yourself what do you really want?
3 FOUND MYSELF 67627
4 FIND MYSELF 66650
5 GIVE YOURSELF 48966
6 GET YOURSELF 37386
7 FOUND HIMSELF 36150
8 PROTECT YOURSELF 33910
9 MAKE YOURSELF 29174
10 FINDS HIMSELF 27253
11 PUT YOURSELF 23358
12 SAVE YOURSELF 22644
13 TREAT YOURSELF 22258
14 CONSIDER MYSELF 21734
15 SEE MYSELF 21521
16 IS ITSELF 20189
17 PRIDES ITSELF 20057
18 DO YOURSELF 19743
19 LENDS ITSELF 19649
20 KEEP YOURSELF 16400
TLC STUDENT SPEAKING TEST:
What do you do to keep yourself fit?
male India B1
21 IMMERSE YOURSELF 16323
22 ALLOW YOURSELF 16306
23 SEE YOURSELF 16065
24 PREPARE YOURSELF 15657
25 FOUND HERSELF 14169
26 FINDS HERSELF 13738
27 SET YOURSELF 13733
28 BE YOURSELF 13286
29 FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF 13149
30 MAKE MYSELF 12436
31 CONSIDER YOURSELF 12009
32 REMIND YOURSELF 11803
33 REMIND MYSELF 11753
34 GET MYSELF 11297
35 LET YOURSELF 11243
36 ASKING YOURSELF 11055
37 INTRODUCE YOURSELF 10949
38 PRESENTS ITSELF 10748
39 FIND HIMSELF 10632
40 ASK MYSELF 10367
41 PUSH YOURSELF 10153
42 GIVE MYSELF 10117
43 ESTABLISHED ITSELF 10096
44 EDUCATE YOURSELF 10016
45 PUT MYSELF 9715
46 BRING MYSELF 9135
47 CHALLENGE YOURSELF 9105
48 ESTABLISHED HIMSELF 8994
49 TOLD MYSELF 8989
50 SURROUND YOURSELF 8849
51 FINDS ITSELF 8826
52 FOUND ITSELF 8820
53 TELL MYSELF 8711
54 HELP YOURSELF 8605
55 EXPRESS YOURSELF 8577
56 MANIFESTS ITSELF 8484
57 ENJOY YOURSELF 8474 (‘A2 range’ according to EGP)
1 ENJOY YOURSELF 8474
2 BUY YOURSELF 4718
3 ENJOY MYSELF 2454
4 BUY MYSELF 1765
PELIC STUDENT EXAMPLE:
Therefore, you will be sure to choose this place to visit
if you‘d like to have a rest and enjoy yourself.
Chinese, Female, Level 4, Writing Class
A2:
bring, call, calls, herself, himself, itself, keep, kill, killed, lend, lends, let, lose, myself, prepare, push, save, set, yourself
B1:
allow, challenge, consider, defend, imagine, introduce, limit, position, protect, prove, remind, setting, surround
C2
APPLY YOURSELF 1389
ASSERT YOURSELF 686
BURY MYSELF 226
Pull yourself together! = recover control of one’s emotions. Control your emotions.