Speaking: My Favourite Film / Grammar: Reflexive pronouns

Speaking: My Favourite Film / Grammar: Reflexive pronouns
Task 1. My Favourite Film
Among different types of films (that is comedy, romantic drama, western, adventure
film, police drama or detective film, psychological thriller, horror film, historical film) best of
all I like comedy and romantic drama, because such films are very cheerful and full of life. I
don't like horror films and I find them quite disgusting. Sometimes I may watch a police
drama or a historical film, but I'm not very keen on these types of films. Now let me tell you
about one of my favourite films "Gone with the wind" by the novel by Margaret Mitchell.
Unfortunately, I don't remember the name of its producer, but I like the acting. Scarlett
O'Hara — there is no more lively character, which makes the reader and the spectator
palpitate (in the film this role was played by Vivian Lee). Maybe the words from the Irish
song are about Scarlett: "if the Irish eyes are laughing, oh, they' re stealing your heart".
Scarlett goes through many trials and troubles, but her sharp and strong mind, her strong will
help her to survive. And not only to survive, but to render and to develop moral values in this
cruel world. Ratt was telling her in vain that they were both scoundrels. He is cynical by
conviction, she is under the pressure of circumstances. Scarlett is a symbol of wonderful
America, the child, who was crippled with greed,but didn't lose inner beauty. Even her name,
which was found at the last moment in the publishing house contained the ideal and vice,
innocence and regeneration. In English it sounds like Scarlett flower and illness (scarlet
fever). Much in common, though their characters and fates are different, has Scarlett with the
character of another film Jane Eyre. They are too different, but at the same time too similar.
Scarlett is very beautiful, flighty and noisy. Jane isn't beautiful. She is modest and peaceful.
But they are both strong in the difficult minutes of the life. Skarlett and Jane for the sake of
love can pass through all the difficulties. They are faithful to their men. And I like it, that
they, thank to their mind and abilities reached a lot in life. And eventually people get to
appreciate both of them.
Questions:
1. What is your favourite film? My favourite films is Titanic
2. What types of films do you know? I know melodrama, serials, thrillers, horror, fantastic types of films.
3. Who is the author and producer of your favourite film? The author and producer of my favourite film is James Cameron.
4. What other books, written by this author, are known to you? He is a filmmaker he do not write books.
5. For what features of character do you like or dislike the main hero? Jack`s person is optimistic, witty, and wild. Jack is the epitome of youth. He can be naïve in his world-view, but is well traveled and hard-lived enough to know a few things about survival and the ways of the world. Although Jack could be bitter about some of the challenges he's faced in his life, he feels truly blessed.
Vocabulary:
to palpitate — трепетать
spectator — зритель
scoundrel — подлец
conviction — убеждение
pressure — давление
circumstance — обстоятельство
greed — жадность
scarlet fever — скарлатина
for the sake of love — радилюбви
faithful — преданный

Task 2. Reflexive pronouns

We use a reflexive pronoun when we want to refer back to the subject of the sentence or
clause. Reflexive pronouns end in "-self" (singular) or "-selves" (plural).
There are eight reflexive pronouns:
reflexive pronoun
singular myself
yourself
himself, herself, itself
plural ourselves
yourselves
themselves
Look at these examples:
reflexive pronouns
the underlined words are NOT the same
person/thing
the underlined words are the SAME
person/thing
John saw me. I saw myself in the mirror.
Why does he blame you? Why do you blame yourself?
David sent him a copy. John sent himself a copy.
David sent her a copy. Mary sent herself a copy.
My dog hurt the cat. My dog hurt itself.
We blame you. We blame ourselves.
Can you help my children? Can you help yourselves?
They cannot look after the babies. They cannot look after themselves.
Intensive pronouns
Notice that all the above reflexive pronouns can also act as intensive pronouns, but the
function and usage are different. An intensive pronoun emphasizes its antecedent. Look at
these examples:
 I made it myself. OR I myself made it.
 Have you yourself seen it? OR Have you seen it yourself?
 The President himself promised to stop the war.
 She spoke to me herself. OR She herself spoke to me.
 The exam itself wasn't difficult, but exam room was horrible.
 Never mind. We'll do it ourselves.
 You yourselves asked us to do it.
 They recommend this book even though they themselves have never read it. OR They
recommend this book even though they have never read it themselves.