Reflexive pronouns are essential components of English grammar, adding nuance and clarity to sentences. Understanding how to use them correctly is crucial for both native speakers and English language learners.
This article provides a comprehensive guide to reflexive pronouns, covering their definition, structure, usage rules, common mistakes, and advanced applications. Whether you’re a student preparing for an exam, a professional aiming to improve your writing, or simply someone interested in refining your English skills, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and practice needed to confidently use reflexive pronouns.
This guide will delve into the intricacies of reflexive pronouns, offering clear explanations, numerous examples, and practical exercises. By the end, you will have a solid understanding of when and how to use reflexive pronouns effectively, enhancing the precision and sophistication of your communication.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Definition of Reflexive Pronouns
- Structural Breakdown
- Types of Reflexive Pronouns
- Examples of Reflexive Pronouns
- Usage Rules
- Common Mistakes
- Practice Exercises
- Advanced Topics
- FAQ
- Conclusion
Definition of Reflexive Pronouns
A reflexive pronoun is a type of pronoun that refers back to the subject of a sentence or clause. It is used when the subject and the object of a verb are the same person or thing.
In other words, the action of the verb “reflects” back onto the subject. Reflexive pronouns end in “-self” (singular) or “-selves” (plural).
Reflexive pronouns are essential for conveying actions performed by the subject upon themselves, ensuring that the sentence is grammatically correct and logically sound. Without reflexive pronouns, the meaning of certain sentences would be unclear or incorrect.
Structural Breakdown
Reflexive pronouns are formed by adding “-self” or “-selves” to personal pronouns. The singular forms use “-self,” while the plural forms use “-selves,” except for “himself,” “herself,” and “itself.” The structure directly relates to the subject it refers back to.
Here’s a breakdown of how reflexive pronouns are formed:
- Singular: myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself
- Plural: ourselves, yourselves, themselves
The choice of which reflexive pronoun to use depends entirely on the subject of the sentence. The pronoun must agree in number and person with the subject.
Misusing the reflexive pronoun can lead to confusion and grammatical errors.
Types of Reflexive Pronouns
While there aren’t different “types” of reflexive pronouns in the sense of distinct categories, it’s important to understand their function within a sentence. They primarily serve two roles:
Essential Reflexive Pronouns
These are pronouns that are necessary for the sentence to make sense. If the reflexive pronoun is removed, the sentence would be grammatically incorrect or have a different meaning.
These are used when the subject performs an action on itself.
Intensive Reflexive Pronouns
Also known as emphatic pronouns, these emphasize the subject of the sentence. They are not essential to the sentence’s basic meaning and can be removed without affecting the grammatical correctness.
They simply add emphasis.
Examples of Reflexive Pronouns
To fully understand reflexive pronouns, let’s explore various examples, categorized by their function in a sentence. These examples will illustrate the difference between essential and intensive uses, and how they interact with different verbs and sentence structures.
Essential Reflexive Pronouns Examples
These examples demonstrate instances where the reflexive pronoun is crucial for the sentence’s meaning. Removing the reflexive pronoun would result in an incomplete or incorrect sentence.
| Sentence | Explanation |
|---|---|
| I hurt myself while cooking. | The subject “I” is also the object of the verb “hurt.” |
| He blamed himself for the mistake. | “He” is both the subject and the recipient of the blame. |
| She taught herself to play the piano. | “She” is both the teacher and the student. |
| The cat groomed itself meticulously. | The cat is performing the action of grooming on itself. |
| We consider ourselves lucky to be here. | “We” are the ones who are considering “ourselves” lucky. |
| You should be ashamed of yourselves. | “You” (plural) are the ones who should feel ashamed. |
| They injured themselves during the game. | “They” are the ones who suffered the injuries. |
| He introduced himself at the meeting. | He is performing the action of introducing on himself. |
| I found myself in a difficult situation. | “I” am the one who is in the difficult situation. |
| She saw herself in the mirror. | “She” is the one being seen in the mirror. |
| The dog scratched itself behind the ear. | The dog is performing the action of scratching on itself. |
| We prepared ourselves for the test. | “We” are the ones preparing for the test. |
| You must protect yourselves from harm. | “You” (plural) are the ones who need to be protected. |
| They convinced themselves that everything was fine. | “They” are the ones who are being convinced. |
| I enjoyed myself at the party. | “I” am the one who enjoyed the party. |
| He availed himself of the opportunity. | “He” is the one taking advantage of the opportunity. |
| She prided herself on her accomplishments. | “She” is the one taking pride in her accomplishments. |
| The company rebranded itself to appeal to a younger audience. | The company is performing the action of rebranding on itself. |
| We deceived ourselves into thinking it would be easy. | “We” are the ones who are being deceived. |
| You should express yourselves clearly. | “You” (plural) are the ones who need to express yourselves. |
| They busied themselves with preparations. | “They” are the ones keeping themselves busy. |
| I acquitted myself well during the presentation. | “I” performed well during the presentation. |
| He resigned himself to his fate. | “He” accepted his fate. |
| She perjured herself in court. | “She” lied under oath. |
Intensive Reflexive Pronouns Examples
These examples showcase how reflexive pronouns can be used to emphasize the subject. Removing the pronoun does not change the core meaning of the sentence, but it does reduce the emphasis.
| Sentence | Explanation |
|---|---|
| I myself saw the accident. | Emphasizes that *I*, and no one else, witnessed the accident. |
| He himself fixed the car. | Highlights that *he*, personally, repaired the car. |
| She herself wrote the entire novel. | Emphasizes that *she* single-handedly wrote the novel. |
| The president himself attended the ceremony. | Highlights that the president *personally* attended. |
| We ourselves will handle the arrangements. | Emphasizes that *we*, and not others, will manage the arrangements. |
| You yourselves are responsible for the outcome. | Highlights that *you* are the ones responsible. |
| They themselves admitted their mistake. | Emphasizes that *they* personally admitted the error. |
| I myself baked the cake. | Emphasizes that *I*, and not someone else, baked the cake. |
| He himself designed the building. | Highlights that *he* personally designed the building. |
| She herself organized the entire event. | Emphasizes that *she* single-handedly organized the event. |
| The CEO himself made the announcement. | Highlights that the CEO *personally* made the announcement. |
| We ourselves witnessed the event. | Emphasizes that *we*, and not others, witnessed the event. |
| You yourselves need to take responsibility. | Highlights that *you* are the ones who need to take responsibility. |
| They themselves built the entire house. | Emphasizes that *they* personally built the house. |
| I myself will deliver the package. | Emphasizes that *I*, and not someone else, will deliver the package. |
| He himself painted the portrait. | Highlights that *he* personally painted the portrait. |
| She herself proofread the document. | Emphasizes that *she* single-handedly proofread the document. |
| The judge himself reviewed the evidence. | Highlights that the judge *personally* reviewed the evidence. |
| We ourselves will clean up the mess. | Emphasizes that *we*, and not others, will clean up the mess. |
| You yourselves created this problem. | Highlights that *you* are the ones who created the problem. |
| They themselves wrote the code. | Emphasizes that *they* personally wrote the code. |
| I myself will handle the situation. | Emphasizes that *I*, and not someone else, will handle the situation. |
| He himself approved the project. | Highlights that *he* personally approved the project. |
| She herself prepared the meal. | Emphasizes that *she* single-handedly prepared the meal. |
Reflexive Pronouns with Prepositions
Reflexive pronouns are also used after prepositions when the object of the preposition is the same as the subject of the sentence. This usage is crucial for clarity and correct grammar.
| Sentence | Explanation |
|---|---|
| He was talking to himself. | The preposition “to” is followed by the reflexive pronoun “himself” because he is talking to himself. |
| She kept the secret to herself. | The preposition “to” is followed by the reflexive pronoun “herself” because she is keeping the secret to herself. |
| They were laughing at themselves. | The preposition “at” is followed by the reflexive pronoun “themselves” because they are laughing at themselves. |
| I bought a gift for myself. | The preposition “for” is followed by the reflexive pronoun “myself” because I bought the gift for myself. |
| She blamed it on herself. | The preposition “on” is followed by the reflexive pronoun “herself” because she blamed it on herself. |
| He did it all by himself. | The preposition “by” is followed by the reflexive pronoun “himself” because he did it by himself. |
| We kept the information to ourselves. | The preposition “to” is followed by the reflexive pronoun “ourselves” because we kept the information to ourselves. |
| They divided the cake among themselves. | The preposition “among” is followed by the reflexive pronoun “themselves” because they divided the cake among themselves. |
| I rely on myself to get things done. | The preposition “on” is followed by the reflexive pronoun “myself” because I rely on myself. |
| She was beside herself with joy. | The preposition “beside” is followed by the reflexive pronoun “herself” because she was beside herself. |
| He invested in himself by taking courses. | The preposition “in” is followed by the reflexive pronoun “himself” because he invested in himself. |
| They built the house by themselves. | The preposition “by” is followed by the reflexive pronoun “themselves” because they built the house by themselves. |
| I was thinking about myself. | The preposition “about” is followed by the reflexive pronoun “myself” because I was thinking about myself. |
| She did it for herself. | The preposition “for” is followed by the reflexive pronoun “herself” because she did it for herself. |
| He kept the money with himself. | The preposition “with” is followed by the reflexive pronoun “himself” because he kept the money with himself. |
| We are responsible for ourselves. | The preposition “for” is followed by the reflexive pronoun “ourselves” because we are responsible for ourselves. |
| They are dependent on themselves. | The preposition “on” is followed by the reflexive pronoun “themselves” because they are dependent on themselves. |
| I pride myself in taking care of myself. | The preposition “in” is followed by the reflexive pronoun “myself” because I pride myself in taking care of myself. |
| She wrapped the blanket around herself. | The preposition “around” is followed by the reflexive pronoun “herself” because she wrapped the blanket around herself. |
| He poured a drink for himself. | The preposition “for” is followed by the reflexive pronoun “himself” because he poured a drink for himself. |
| We are working for ourselves. | The preposition “for” is followed by the reflexive pronoun “ourselves” because we are working for ourselves. |
Usage Rules
Using reflexive pronouns correctly requires understanding a few key rules. These rules ensure that your sentences are grammatically sound and convey the intended meaning.
Failing to adhere to these rules can lead to incorrect and confusing sentences.
- Rule 1: The reflexive pronoun must refer to the subject of the clause.
- Rule 2: The reflexive pronoun must agree in number and gender with the subject.
- Rule 3: Reflexive pronouns are necessary when the subject and object of the verb are the same.
- Rule 4: Use reflexive pronouns after prepositions when the object of the preposition is the same as the subject.
- Rule 5: Reflexive pronouns can be used for emphasis, but they are not always required.
Exceptions: Some verbs are commonly used with reflexive pronouns in certain contexts, even though they might not seem strictly necessary. For example, “to behave oneself” is a common idiom that requires a reflexive pronoun.
Common Mistakes
One of the most common mistakes is using a reflexive pronoun when a personal pronoun is needed. This often occurs when the object of the verb is different from the subject.
Another common mistake is using the incorrect form of the reflexive pronoun, such as using “hisself” instead of “himself.”
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| My friend and myself went to the store. | My friend and I went to the store. | “Myself” should not be used as a subject. |
| He gave the book to myself. | He gave the book to me. | “Myself” is not needed because the object is not the same as the subject. |
| She bought a gift for herself and I. | She bought a gift for herself and me. | “I” should be “me” as it is part of the prepositional phrase. |
| The manager himself spoke to I. | The manager himself spoke to me. | “I” should be “me” as it is the object of the preposition “to.” |
| They invited my wife and myself to the party. | They invited my wife and me to the party. | “Myself” is incorrectly used here; “me” is the correct personal pronoun. |
| Hisself did the work. | He himself did the work. | “Hisself” is not a correct reflexive pronoun. |
| I and myself went to the movies. | My friend and I went to the movies. | “Myself” cannot act as the subject of the sentence. |
| Give it to yourself and I. | Give it to yourself and me. | “I” should be “me” as it is the object of the preposition “to.” |
| He sent a letter to myself. | He sent a letter to me. | “Myself” is not needed; use the personal pronoun “me.” |
| She saw herself and I in the mirror. | She saw herself and me in the mirror. | “I” should be “me” as it is the object of the verb “saw.” |
Practice Exercises
Test your knowledge of reflexive pronouns with these practice exercises. Each exercise focuses on different aspects of reflexive pronoun usage, from identifying the correct pronoun to correcting common mistakes.
Exercise 1: Choose the Correct Reflexive Pronoun
Fill in the blank with the correct reflexive pronoun.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| I accidentally cut ____ while chopping vegetables. | myself |
| He blamed ____ for the failure of the project. | himself |
| She taught ____ how to play the guitar. | herself |
| The cat groomed ____ meticulously. | itself |
| We consider ____ lucky to have such great friends. | ourselves |
| You should all be ashamed of ____. | yourselves |
| They hurt ____ during the soccer game. | themselves |
| I bought ____ a new book. | myself |
| She poured ____ a glass of wine. | herself |
| He introduced ____ to the new colleagues. | himself |
Exercise 2: Identify the Correct Sentence
Choose the correct sentence from the options provided.
| Question | Correct Answer |
|---|---|
|
a) He gave the book to myself. b) He gave the book to me. |
b) He gave the book to me. |
|
a) My friend and myself went to the park. b) My friend and I went to the park. |
b) My friend and I went to the park. |
|
a) She bought a gift for herself and I. b) She bought a gift for herself and me. |
b) She bought a gift for herself and me. |
|
a) They invited my husband and myself to dinner. b) They invited my husband and me to dinner. |
b) They invited my husband and me to dinner. |
|
a) I saw myself in the mirror. b) I saw me in the mirror. |
a) I saw myself in the mirror. |
|
a) He did it all by hisself. b) He did it all by himself. |
b) He did it all by himself. |
|
a) We enjoyed ourselves at the party. b) We enjoyed us at the party. |
a) We enjoyed ourselves at the party. |
|
a) The dog scratched itself behind the ear. b) The dog scratched him behind the ear. |
a) The dog scratched itself behind the ear. |
|
a) You should be proud of yourself. b) You should be proud of you. |
a) You should be proud of yourself. |
|
a) They prepared them for the journey. b) They prepared themselves for the journey. |
b) They prepared themselves for the journey. |
Exercise 3: Correct the Sentences
Correct the sentences that use reflexive pronouns incorrectly.
| Incorrect Sentence | Correct Sentence |
|---|---|
| He gave the present to myself. | He gave the present to me. |
| My sister and myself are going to the concert. | My sister and I are going to the concert. |
| She bought a new dress for herself and I. | She bought a new dress for herself and me. |
| The teacher asked my friend and myself to stay after class. | The teacher asked my friend and me to stay after class. |
| I saw me in the reflection. | I saw myself in the reflection. |
| He did the project by hisself. | He did the project by himself. |
| We consider us lucky to be part of this team. | We consider ourselves lucky to be part of this team. |
| You should be proud of you. | You should be proud of yourself. |
| They prepared them for the challenges ahead. | They prepared themselves for the challenges ahead. |
| She hurt her when she fell. | She hurt herself when she fell. |
Advanced Topics
For advanced learners, it’s important to understand the nuances of reflexive pronoun usage in complex sentence structures and idiomatic expressions. This includes recognizing when reflexive pronouns are used for stylistic effect and understanding their role in more sophisticated writing.
Stylistic Use: In some cases, writers may use reflexive pronouns to create a particular tone or emphasize a point, even if it’s not strictly grammatically necessary. This is more common in literary or creative writing.
Idiomatic Expressions: Many idiomatic expressions incorporate reflexive pronouns. Understanding these expressions is crucial for comprehending nuanced meanings. Examples include “make yourself at home,” “help yourself,” and “behave yourself.”
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about reflexive pronouns:
-
What is the difference between a reflexive pronoun and a personal pronoun?
A reflexive pronoun refers back to the subject of the sentence, indicating that the subject is also the object of the action. A personal pronoun, on the other hand, replaces a noun and can function as either the subject or the object of a sentence. For example, in “I hurt myself,” “myself” is a reflexive pronoun because it refers back to “I.” In “He gave the book to me,” “me” is a personal pronoun functioning as the object of the preposition “to.”
-
Can I use a reflexive pronoun as the subject of a sentence?
No, reflexive pronouns cannot be used as the subject of a sentence. They must always refer back to an existing subject. For example, “Myself went to the store” is incorrect. The correct sentence would be “I went to the store” or “I myself went to the store” (using the intensive pronoun for emphasis).
-
When should I use a reflexive pronoun after a preposition?
Use a reflexive pronoun after a preposition when the object of the preposition is the same as the subject of the sentence. For example, “He was talking to himself.” Here, “himself” is used because he is talking to himself, not to someone else.
-
What is the difference between “myself” and “I”?
“I” is a personal pronoun used as the subject of a sentence. “Myself” is a reflexive pronoun used when the subject and object of the verb are the same, or for emphasis. It is incorrect to use “myself” in place of “I” as the subject of a sentence. For example, you should say “My friend and I went to the park,” not “My friend and myself went to the park.”
-
Is it ever correct to say “hisself” or “theirselves”?
No, “hisself” and “theirselves” are not correct reflexive pronouns. The correct forms are “himself” and “themselves,” respectively.
-
How can I avoid common mistakes with reflexive pronouns?
To avoid mistakes, always ensure that the reflexive pronoun refers back to the subject of the sentence and agrees with it in number and gender. Double-check that you are not using a reflexive pronoun when a personal pronoun is needed, especially in compound subjects or objects. Practice using reflexive pronouns in different contexts to reinforce your understanding.
-
What is an intensive pronoun, and how does it differ from a reflexive pronoun?
An intensive pronoun, also known as an emphatic pronoun, is used to emphasize the subject of a sentence. It is similar in form to a reflexive pronoun (myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves) but its function is different. While a reflexive pronoun is essential to the meaning of the sentence (the action reflects back on the subject), an intensive pronoun is not. The intensive pronoun can be removed without changing the basic meaning of the sentence. For example: “I myself made the cake” (intensive) vs. “I made the cake myself” (reflexive).
-
Are there any verbs that commonly require reflexive pronouns?
Yes, some verbs are often used with reflexive pronouns, although not strictly required, to convey a specific meaning. These include: ‘avail oneself of’ (to take advantage of), ‘pride oneself on’ (to be proud of), ‘apply oneself’ (to work diligently), ‘resign oneself to’ (accept something reluctantly), and ‘acquit oneself’ (to behave or perform in a specified way). For example: “He availed himself of the opportunity” or “She prides herself on her baking skills.”
Conclusion
Mastering reflexive pronouns is a crucial step in achieving fluency and accuracy in English. By understanding their definition, structure, usage rules, and common mistakes, you can significantly improve your writing and speaking skills.
Remember to always ensure that the reflexive pronoun agrees with the subject and that it is used correctly in relation to the verb and any prepositions.
Continue practicing with various exercises and examples to solidify your understanding. Pay attention to how reflexive pronouns are used in everyday conversations and written texts.
With consistent effort, you will become confident in using reflexive pronouns correctly and effectively, enhancing your ability to communicate clearly and precisely.