Those boys will have to blame … for not listening to advice

Analyze the question: The sentence is "Those boys will have to blame __ for not listening to advice." We need a word that correctly completes it. The grammar topic here is reflexive pronouns.

Explain the concept: A reflexive pronoun is used when the subject and the object of a verb are the same person or people. It must agree with the subject in person and number:

• I → myself
• we → ourselves
• you → yourself / yourselves
• he → himself
• they / those boys → themselves

Step-by-step solution:

1. The subject is "Those boys", which is third person plural (they).
2. The boys are the ones who failed to listen, so they are also the ones to blame. The subject and object are the same people, so a reflexive pronoun is needed.
3. Test the options: • A. each other – This suggests the boys blame one another. The meaning doesn't fit, since the sentence says they should blame themselves for their own failure. • B. ourselves – This is first person plural, so it doesn't agree with "those boys". • C. the other – This is incomplete and doesn't fit the grammar or meaning. • D. themselves – This is third person plural reflexive and agrees with "those boys". ✔

Answer: D. themselves

Full sentence: Those boys will have to blame themselves for not listening to advice.

Exam tip: When a question has a blank after a verb and the doer and receiver of the action are the same, look for the reflexive pronoun (-self/-selves) that matches the subject. Always check person and number: "boys" → "themselves", never "ourselves".