yourself
(jɔːˈsɛlf; jʊə-) pron,
pl -selves1. a. the reflexive form of you
b. (intensifier): you yourself control your destiny.
2. (preceded by a copula) your normal or usual self: you're not yourself these days.
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
your•self
(yʊərˈsɛlf, yɔr-, yoʊr-, yər-)
pron., pl. -selves (-ˈsɛlvz) 1. a reflexive form of
you (used as the direct or indirect object of a verb or the object of a preposition):
Did you ever ask yourself, “Why” ? You can think for yourself. 2. (used as an intensifier): a letter you yourself wrote.
3. (used in absolute constructions): Yourself so sensitive, how can you ignore my feelings?
4. (used in place of
you in various compound and comparative constructions):
Ted and yourself have been elected; a girl no older than yourself. 5. your normal or customary self: You'll soon be yourself again.
6. oneself: The surest way is to do it yourself.
[1275–1325]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
yourself
yourselvesWhen you is the subject of a verb and refers to one person, you use yourself as the object of the verb or of a preposition in the clause to refer to the same person.
Are you feeding yourself properly?
You're making a fool of yourself.
When you refers to more than one person, you use yourselves as the object of the verb or preposition.
I hope you both behaved yourselves.
Are you looking after yourselves?
Yourself and yourselves are often used in imperative structures.
Control yourself.
Please help yourselves to another drink.
Yourself and yourselves can also be used to emphasize the subject of a clause.
You don't even know it yourself.
You must sort this out yourselves.
If you do something yourself, you do it without any help from anyone else.
Did you write this yourself?
When you are using you to refer to people in general, the reflexive form is yourself, not 'yourselves'.
If you find yourself in debt you must start dealing with it immediately.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012