What Are Reflexive Pronouns?
Reflexive pronouns are words like “myself,” “yourself,” “himself,” “herself,” “itself,” “ourselves,” “yourselves,” and “themselves.”
They are used when the subject and the object of a sentence are the same — that is, when someone does something to or for themselves.
Common Reflexive Pronouns
| Subject | Reflexive Pronoun |
|---|---|
| I | myself |
| you (singular) | yourself |
| he | himself |
| she | herself |
| it | itself |
| we | ourselves |
| you (plural) | yourselves |
| they | themselves |
When to Use Reflexive Pronouns
1. When the subject and object are the same
- I taught myself how to play the guitar.
- She hurt herself while running.
In these sentences, the action reflects back on the subject.
2. For emphasis (Intensive Pronouns)
Sometimes reflexive pronouns are used to emphasize who did the action.
- The president himself visited our office.
- I made this cake myself!
These can often be removed from the sentence without changing its basic meaning.
3. After certain verbs
Some verbs commonly take reflexive pronouns. Common verbs include: enjoy – help – introduce – prepare – behave- dress- seat – hide
- He introduced himself to the group.
- We enjoyed ourselves at the party.
- She dressed herself quickly.
4. In fixed expressions
Reflexive pronouns are also used in idiomatic expressions:
- Please help yourself to some snacks.
- They need to pull themselves together.
- He finally talked himself into accepting the job.
Common Mistakes
Don’t use reflexive pronouns when not needed:
❌ I went to the store with myself.
✅ I went to the store with my friend.
(Only use “myself” if there’s no other noun before it.)
Another example:
❌ Myself and John went to the park.
✅ John and I went to the park.
