English Collocations with SELF

In this post you will learn useful English collocations with SELF.

SELF is a short word of only four letters and is usually used as a reflexive pronoun.

English reflexive pronouns MYSELF, HIMSELF, OURSELVES are all variations of this.

However, the following are alternative uses of SELF and it can be added to a huge number of other words in the English language to give you some really interesting collocations.

I have set out some of my favourites together with useful examples to explain their use in more detail.

Harry

Harry is a native English teacher with over 10 years of experience both online and in face-to-face lessons. With his extensive experience in business, he specialises in Business English lessons but happily teaches ESL students with any English learning needs.

self-made

Often we hear the expression “he is a self-made man” or “he is simply self-made”.

This usually means he did everything himself. He set up his business, made it successful without help from anyone.

Example:

Peter set up his first retail store when he was 20 years old. Now he has ten stores all over the city. He is a self-made man, he did it all without any bank loans or assistance from anyone.

Intermediate to Advanced English Marathon

INSANITY: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Albert Einstein

What you'll learn:
better understanding of more complex grammar structures
advanced English vocabulary words
British & American slang
perfect your listening skills through practing different accents

This marathon is for you if you're:
stuck at an intermediate English level
tired of confusing explanations
a mature student
shy & introverted

self-sufficient

When something or someone can operate independently of everyone or everything around it/him then we can refer to it as self-sufficient.

Example:

Within the city area, there is a small working farm. It is fully self-sufficient. It has cows and produces milk and cheese and butter. It has hens for eggs and meat and grows corn to make bread.

There is a farm shop on the farm selling all-natural products grown or produced on the farm. It is fully self-sufficient.

In fact, the electricity is produced from a small wind farm on the land and there is a natural well with fresh drinking water. It is really independent it is truly self-sufficient.

self-catering

There are many different types of holidays to decide from when choosing your holiday destination and type of accommodation.

When you want some independence to come and go as you please, to cook your own meals or stay in bed all day, then people usually opt for a self-catering package.

Catering is connected to the preparation and serving of food.

Therefore a self-catering holiday is one where you must cook your own meals at all times and prepare your own food.

Unfortunately, that also means dishwashing!

Example:

A 300-year-old mill has now been converted to offer self-catering accommodation.

Scroll down for more English collocations with SELF

English Collocations with SELF

self-addressed

Usually, an envelope on which you must write your name and address and send it to someone so that they can send it back to you.

Sometimes this envelope should also have an appropriate stamp (postage stamp) so that it can be delivered to you through the postal system.

Example:

All applicants should submit a self-addressed envelope to Ms Smith in order to receive their summer metrocard.

self-adhesive

The adhesive is also known as glue, which is a sticky substance that will stick two pieces of paper together.

When an envelope or form is stated as self-adhesive it usually means that you only have to peel off (remove) a cover and then press the two pieces together and they will stick immediately. This means you do not have to wet or lick (use your tongue) the envelope to get it to stick.

We also use little notelets or pieces of coloured paper (post-its) on which we write an important note or telephone number. We then stick this to a desk or computer so someone will notice it. It is stuck with the self adhesive tape on one side of the notelet.

Example: Mary rang Michael but he was out at lunch. The person who answered the phone promised to write a note on the self-adhesive post-it and stick it to Michael’s computer screen.

English Collocations with SELF

self-help

Book shops are still busy and popular and despite all the technology available we love to spend our time looking through the shelves for interesting books to read.

One of the most popular sectors is the SELF-HELP BOOKS. There are self-help books available on literally everything.

A SELF-HELP BOOK is a guide to show you how best to do something with out the need of hiring expensive professionals. There are self help books from computer programming to building shelves and from teaching you how to bake bread to growing tomatoes. Often these books are called “computers for Dummies”, DIY for Dummies and so on

Example:

Jane really needs to improve her knowledge of spreadsheets. She ran into the book store and began searching the shelves for such a book. She quickly came across 2 self-help books “Spreadsheets made easy” and “Microsoft for dummies”.

Do you know what does GOOD MAN YOURSELF expression mean?

Find out the meaning of this saying and learn other collocations with English reflexive pronouns with my Skype English Lessons.

Personal English tutors are waiting for you, go ahead and book your first English lesson for free!