A reflexive pronoun is combination of self with one of the personal pronoun or with the impersonal pronoun one, generally refers to an
animate being usually a person. The most common use of the reflexive pronoun is as an object that reflects back to the subject; it is used:
35
1. as the direct object of the verb You must not blame yourself for that mistake. The subject you and the object
yourself have the same identity. 2. as the indirect object of the verb
I bought myself a beautiful watch or I bought a beautiful watch for myself. He has never denied himself anything.
3. as a prepositional object Of a verb: We should depend on ourselves rather than on others.
Of a adjective: She is angry with herself for making such a mistake. In some prepositional phrases with reflexive pronouns that do not refers
back to the subject and often regarded as informal are such as: This is strictly between ourselves or us
The fault lies in ourselves or us not in our stars. Did anyone see the money beside yourself or you?
In popular speech, reflexive pronoun is sometime used in the last part of a compound subject or object.
My wife and myself were invited to the party Her teacher asked her friend and herself to help with the decoration.
A special use of reflexive pronoun is to intensify a noun or pronoun as subject or object.
As subject: We ourselves will lead the discussion we and no one else. Or we will lead the discussion ourselves
As object: I saw the chief himself They want us to lead the discussion ourselves.
We spoke to the victims themselves.
35
Ibid., P. 32
3. Personal Pronoun Problems
Most of the learners have some difficulties in using the right Personal Pronoun. Here is some problem that learner face:
36
a. A pronoun with two possible antecedents Example: Whenever John is able to help his brother financially,
He is very happy. Corrected to: John is happy when he is able to help his brother financially.
Or: John’s brother is happy to receive financially help from John.
b. An unnecessary personal pronoun after a noun subject. e.g; my friends, they told me the whole story
Corrected to: My friends told me the whole story c. Vague it. The personal pronoun it is used without a definite antecedent.
e.g; Because Jane had once had a bad accident while driving. She was afraid to try it again.
Corrected to: ... She was afraid to try to drive again. In certain colloquial idioms, a definite antecedent is not required for the personal
pronoun it. e. g; I hope you will like it here
The strain of final examinations is to great, I can’t take it
d. Too many it’s near each other personal it appears in close proximity with
impersonal or anticipatory it. e. g ; We like it very much in this hotel. It is wonderful to relax in its comfortable
atmosphere. It is possible we’ll stay in it again on our next vacation.
e. Loose use of it or they as subject It or they is sometimes used as the subject of a verb, while the agent that should
actually be the subjects is put in prepositional phrase. e. g ; in the news paper, it says that the concert was canceled
Corrected to: The newspaper says that the concert was canceled. e. g ; At the university, they require an examination for all entering freshmen
Corrected to: The University requires an examination for all entering freshmen.
36
Ibid. P. 44
f. Shift Pronoun number e. g : The student must be made to understand how each lesson can be of value to
them. Corrected to: The student change to be students or Them changes to be him
g. Shift Person Third person is not used in one part of a sentence if it is shifted back to the
personal you Example : A good song lends comfort to people, so that you feel less alone.
Corrected to: A good song lends comfort to you… Or..., so that feel less alone.
h. Choice of case Over corrected it happens when there are two choices between subject
she and object her case forms of pronouns. Many students tend to use objective forms when Standard English uses subject ones him and me are friends, they
automatically ―Overcorrect‖ in certain situations:
D Obj D Obj
Example : They appointed she and I to a subcommittee As direct objects, the pronouns are supposed to be her and me.
The fact that there are two direct objects instead of one, so nothing should be changed. It is not allowed the case of a pronoun to be determined by a
following appositive. Example; parking is a tragic dilemma for we professor actually, it
doesn’t mean to write for we, so it is not allowed to write for we professor.
Pronoun complements it appears when the pronoun complements are often used in the objective case that is him: it is them, they are supposed to be that is
she and it is they. Only for pronoun me and us have special exception for this rule. Pronoun following than or as, after than or as, a pronoun can be either subjective
or objective case, depending on the intended meaning, it would be better to supply the omitted words:
a. Biff tackled Otto harder than he did me
b. He is stronger than I am
c. She is as tall as they are.
37
C. The Factor of Difficulties
Muhibin Syah said that the internal factors are divided into two aspects; physiological aspect and psychological aspect.
38
The factors of student’s difficulties were divided into two factors. The first is internal factor and the second is external factor. According to Abu Ahmadi and
Widodo Supriyono, the intern factor is divided into two kinds, namely physichological and physiological factor. However, the extern factor includes
social and nonsocial factors. 1.
Internal Factor a.
Physiological This factor is most influential for students’ success while they are
studying there are the factors which cause physically, namely sick, less healthy, and physical defect. They will be tired easily and difficult to
concentrate while learning. Finally, the physical defect also can be a problem in learning process because their sense such as auditory does
not works well.
b. Physichological
When studying, the students need to prepare spiritual in order to receive the lesson well. If the students do not have it, they will get
the problem because they are not calm while they are following the learning process. These case is caused by any factors, namely:
1 Intelligence
These are classification or grade IQ of students. Firstly, IQ of students who are genius, are about up to 140. Secondly, IQ
37
Frederick Crews, The Random House Handbook New York: Random House, 198. P.287- 288
38
Abu Ahmadi and Widodo Supriyono , 199. P. 75
of students who are intelligent, are about 110-140. Thirdly, IQ of students who are normal, are about 90-11-. Therefore, IQ of
students who are mental weal, are about low 90. These students who often get the problem in learning.
2 Talent
Talent is the basic potential or basic competence which is gotten from born. Everyone has different talent. For example,
someone whose talent in music or dance will develop the talent easily. However, when students are taught something that is not
their talent, they will get problem and give up easily, bored, along with unhappy until they get a bad score.
3 Interest
Interest is very important in learning. In case students do not have it, they will get difficult in learning. The indicator of
students who have no interest can be shown from their ways to follow learning, whether complete or incomplete their notes,
and take attention or nor while they are following the lesson. 4
Motivation Motivation functions to encourage someone in order to
study. This can be successful factor in learning. The higher motivation, the higher success which they get. On the other
hand, the students who didn’t have the motivation they will get the problem and easily despondent, didn’t pay attention to
learn, and like annoying in their class. The characteristics of students whose motivation. Are they always read a books and
will never give up. 5
Mental Health In learning the students is not only need intelligence, but
they are also need good mental until they can easily receive the lesson in learning process. Mental and learning has effectual
