3.30 reflexive pronouns used for emphasis

Some verbs which normally do not have objects, because they involve only the performer of the action, can have a reflexive pronoun as object if you want to emphasize that the subject is doing something that affects himself or herself. You can therefore say 'Bill washed himself' rather than 'Bill washed'.

• I always wash five times a day.
• Children were encouraged to wash themselves.
• I stood in the kitchen while he shaved.
• He prefers to shave himself before breakfast.
• Ashton had behaved abominably.
• He is old enough to behave himself like a gentleman.
• The Eskimoes are adapting to change.
• You've got to be willing to adapt yourself.

Here is a list of verbs which have senses in which you can use a reflexive pronoun for emphasis:

• acclimatize, adapt, behave, dress, hide, move, readjust, shave, undress, wash