by oneself，for oneself，in oneself，of oneself
这四个词组的意义有所不同。
By oneself的意思是单独地、靠自己地（ alone or independently）。例：
His father lives by himself in the village．
他的父亲独自一个人住在村里。
All his friends have deserted him and he is all by himself now．
他所有的朋友都离弃他，现在他孤独一人。
For oneself的意义为为自己（for himself or for herself）。例：
One should not live only for oneself．
人不应单为自己而活。
In oneself的意思是就其本身或本性而言。例：
This wood is hard in itself．
这种木头本要就是硬的。
Of oneself的意思是自然地、自发地、自动地（of ones own accord）。例：
Every day I awake of myself at half past five．
每天早上我都是五点半就自己醒来。
The door opened of itself．
门是自己开的。
The fire went out of itself．
火自己熄灭了。
与上列四个短语相类似的还有两个词组，即beside oneself和 to oneself，前者义：失常、发狂；后者是独自占有或享用。例：
He was beside himself with joy．
他欣喜若狂。
When one dines in a restaurant，one likes a table to oneself．
人们在饭店吃饭时，总是喜欢独占一桌。
Oneself和 ones self的区别也是值得我们注意的。Oneself是反身强调代词，意指自己；ones self则是代词加名词，意指个人的本性。它们的区别如同myself和my self；yourself和your self ；himself和his self；ourselves 和our selves ；themselves和their selves一样。例：
She made a cup of tea for herself．
她为自己烧了一杯茶。
She looked just like her old self．
她看上去和从前依然一模一样。
请注意，myself可以在句中表示me的涵义，这是其他反身代词所没有的特性。例：
They invited my father and myself（=me）to their party．
他们邀请我父亲和我参加他们的聚会。
He saw neither myself nor Mary in the street．
在马路上他既没有看见我，也没有看见玛丽。