Is there any difference between ‘a picture of me’, ‘a picture of myself’, ‘my picture’ and ‘a picture of mine’? Are these expressions interchangeable?
In my view, yes, there is.
‘A picture of me’ is not acceptable.
‘A picture of myself’ is possible.
‘My picture’ means an image of something/someone that I have/possess/own.
‘A picture of mine’ means an image of my own. (My own photograph, say, my portrait)
Hi Anglophile,
I disagree. ‘A picture of myself’ doesn’t work because the reflexive pronoun has to refer back to the subject. It would be possible to say: I took a picture of myself and also: That’s a picture of me/him/her and so on.
Alan
I beg to differ:
a picture of me – means it is a picture of myself (I am the one in the picture.)
a picture of myself - means it is a picture of me (I am the one in the picture.)
a picture of mine - means it is a picture which belongs to me, but is not necessarily of me
my picture – can mean that it is a picture of me / that it is a picture which belongs to me / both. Context will clarify which.
I might be wrong! 
Yes, I agree - ‘a picture if mine’ is a picture that belongs to me.
Alan/Beeesneees,
- I’m feeling sorry for myself.
1a. I’m feeling sorry for me. - I shaved myself.
2a. I shaved me.
Are all these sentences correct?
Alan, I’m afraid I am confused.
Well, please distinguish between ‘This is Churchill’s portrait’ and ‘This is the portrait of Churchill’
Hi Alan,
Does this mean that “This is a picture of myself.” is ungrammatical?
Thank you!
It’s simply the wrong use of the reflexive pronoun.
The trouble with all these phrases out of the air and not in situ is that they can be misconstrued. This could mean that this is Churchill’s portrait of … his . wife. To avoid ambiguity I would say: This is a portrait of Churchill.
Alan/Beeesneees,
Please answer my above query.
Thanks.
In your sentences, ‘myself’ is correct.
‘Myself’ refers back to ‘I’ and is the same person.
The explanation can be found in this recent thread:
english-test.net/forum/ftopic136550.html
Hi Cristina,
I have a picture of myself. The object pronoun refers back to the subject ‘I’ and is the same person.
This is a picture of me. The object pronoun refers back to the subject ‘this (picture)’ and not to a person at all, let alone the same person.
The thread that I’ve directed Allifathima to in my last message might be of further use. It contains additional links to websites that explain reflexive pronouns.
Does that help?
Thanks a lot! You made it clear.
Hi Bev,
Thank you very much for your explanation.
Ta!
Beeesneees,
- She had a few friends with her/herself.
- He came out of the interview looking pleased with him/himself.
- He washed himself in cold water.
- He always shaved himself before going out in the evening.
- Mohan dressed himself and got ready for the party.
Please correct the above.
Thanks.
- She had a few friends with her.
- He came out of the interview looking pleased with himself.
The alternatives you write for the above two sentences are not correct. All the others are fine.
Beeesneees,
- She mended the car herself.
1a. She mended the car by herself. - She walked home herself.
2a. She walked home by herself. - She likes to go on holiday herself.
3a. She likes to go on holiday by herself.
Please check and correct the above sentences.
They have different meanings:
by herself: she did it alone
herself: she did it unaided
- She mended the car herself. <-- she didn’t get someone else to do it.
1a. She mended the car by herself. <-- she didn’t have any help to do it. - She walked home herself. <-- doesn’t make any logical sense except in a comparison to someone else who also walked home. Otherwise, you are saying she walked home and someone else didn’t walk for her.
2a. She walked home by herself. <-- she walked home alone. - She likes to go on holiday herself. <-- comment as 2. Can only be used as a comparison to someone else who likes to go on holiday.
3a. She likes to go on holiday by herself. <-- she goes alone.