Learning English Grammar Fixing problems
Mar 17, 2026
Listeners hear stories about fixing a garden gate and a punctured bike. Clear explanations explore reflexive pronouns like itself, by itself and in itself. Examples show how these forms add emphasis and indicate being alone. A quick interactive quiz helps practise choosing the right reflexive pronoun.
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Phil's Gate Needed Multiple Fixes
- Phil tried multiple DIY fixes for a fallen garden gate, including glue and drilling, before finally adding a wooden post that let it stand up by itself.
- The screws pulled out and the garage was asbestos, forcing creative problem-solving and multiple attempts.
Becca's Puncture Turned Into A Walk Home
- Becca cycled until she noticed her wheels getting harder to pedal and realised she had a puncture that wouldn't fix itself.
- She walked the bike home over countryside hills and then got help from her dad to repair it.
What Reflexive Pronouns Do
- Reflexive pronouns end in self/selves and show the subject and object are the same, e.g., itself in "it wasn't going to fix itself."
- Georgie highlights that here the bike (it) is both actor and receiver of the action.