Question

Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word.
You know, Mary bought ___ a new dress yesterday.

• A. myself
• B. himself
• C. itself
• D. oneself
• E. herself

Answer 1

Answer: (E)

When the subject and the object of the verb is the same person or thing, we use a reflexive pronoun. When reflexive pronouns are used to put emphasis on a particular noun, they are called emphatic pronouns.

In the given sentence the subject and the object of the verb is 'Mary'.

The reflexive pronoun and reflexive pronoun for singular first person 'I' is 'myself'. Thus option A in incorrect.

The reflexive pronoun for singular third person is 'himself','herself' or 'itself' according to the gender of the noun. In the given sentence the noun is a female. So, the reflexive pronoun used must be 'herself'.

Thus option E is the correct answer. Options B and C are incorrect.

'Oneself' is used when the subject of the sentence is 'one' or when the subject of the sentence is not mentioned. Thus option D is incorrect.