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Business English Reflexive Verbs
Reflexive Verbs in Business English
Table of Contents
Introduction
The use of reflexive verbs in English and Spanish can differ in terms of formality and frequency. In English, reflexive verbs are often used in a more casual and conversational context, while in Spanish, they may be seen as more formal and literary.
In Spanish, reflexive verbs are generally used when the subject and object are the same, just like in English. However, the direct equivalent of some English reflexive verbs may sound too formal or literary in Spanish, which is why they are not commonly used in everyday conversations.
For example, in Spanish, the equivalent of "market oneself as" would be "comercializarse como", which sounds more formal and less commonly used in everyday conversations. As a result, Spanish speakers might prefer to use a simpler, non-reflexive verb like "promocionarse como" (promote oneself as) in a business context.
Similarly, the Spanish equivalent of "hold oneself accountable to" would be "tenerse cuenta a si mismo", which also sounds more formal and less commonly used in everyday conversations. Spanish speakers might prefer to use a simpler, non-reflexive verb like "tener(se) responsabilidad" (have responsibility) in a business context.
Business English Reflexive Verb Examples
| Pronoun | Function |
|---|---|
| I | First person singular pronoun, subject |
| Me | First person singular pronoun, object |
| My | First person singular possessive pronoun |
| Mine | First person singular possessive adjective |
| Myself | Reflexive pronoun, first person singular |
Reflexive Verb: Market oneself as
Sample Business English Sentence: "She markets herself as an expert in project management."
- Explanation: The reflexive verb "market" is used here to indicate that the person is promoting or presenting herself as an expert in project management.
- Simpler Version: "She promotes herself as an expert in project management."
- Explanation: The reflexive verb "hold" is used to show that the person is responsible for keeping himself accountable to his team for meeting project deadlines.
- Simpler Version: "He is responsible for meeting project deadlines."
Reflexive Verb: Align oneself with
Sample Business English Sentence: "They align themselves with companies that share their values."
- Explanation: The reflexive verb "align" is used here to indicate that the person or group is positioning themselves in partnership with companies that share their values.
- Simpler Version: "They partner with companies that share their values."
Reflexive Verb: Introduce oneself (as/to)
Sample Business English Sentence: "She introduced herself as the new marketing manager."
- Explanation: The reflexive verb "introduce" is used to indicate that the person is presenting herself as the new marketing manager.
- Simpler Version: "She is the new marketing manager."
Reflexive Verb: Sell oneself short
Sample Business English Sentence: "He doesn't sell himself short when it comes to negotiating contracts."
- Explanation: The reflexive verb and phrase "to (do not) sell oneself short" is used here to show that the person is not undervaluing himself when it comes to negotiating contracts.
- Simpler Version: "He doesn't undervalue himself when negotiating contracts."
