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The unstressed forms we and ze are always written separately from zelf.
Note the difference in the third person between the reflexive pronoun and
the object forms:
Hij heeft een boek voor zichzelf gekocht.
He bought a book for himself.
Het boek is voor hemzelf.
The book is for him himself (not for anyone else).
The pronoun zelf on its own
As an independent demonstrative pronoun, zelf can be connected with nouns
and pronouns to stress that that object or person is meant and not something
or someone else. In combination with personal pronouns, it often
means ‘without help from others’.
Hij heeft dat huis zelf gebouwd. He built that house himself.
Ik wil dat liever zelf doen. I would rather do that myself.
Het huis zelf is klaar, de garage The house itself is finished, the
nog niet. garage isn’t.
Note: In reflexive constructions, it can be unclear whether the reflexive
pronoun is meant or the personal pronoun with zelf. Examples:
De patiënt wast zich zelf. The patient washes himself (on his own,
without help).
De patiënt wast zichzelf. The patient washes himself.
In speech, the difference is audible in the stress on zelf in the separated
forms. Note the difference in intonation in the following sentences:
De patiënt wast zich zelf. De patiënt wast zichzelf.
The reciprocal pronoun elkaar
The pronoun elkaar is used in an action in which two or more people are
involved doing something with, to, or for each other. Examples:
Mijn overbuurman en ik groeten elkaar niet meer.
My neighbor across the street and I, we don’t greet each other anymore.
Kunnen die twee elkaar vertrouwen?
Can those two trust each other?
The
pronoun
zelf on its
own
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