Reflexive pronouns are an essential part of English grammar, allowing us to convey actions that relate back to the subject. they end in -self (singular) or -selves (plural), and indicate that the action of the verb is performed by the subject on themselves.The singular reflexive pronouns are “myself”, “yourself”, and “himself/herself/itself”, while the plural forms are “ourselves”, “yourselves”, and “themselves”. Reflexive pronouns are used when the subject and the object of a sentence are the same person or group. For example, in the sentence “I taught myself how to play the piano”, “myself” refers back to “I”.
List of Reflexive Pronouns
| Subject pronouns | Reflexive pronouns | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| I | Myself | I looked at myself in the mirror. |
| You | Yourself | Did you do this all by yourself ? |
| He | Himself | He bought himself a new jacket. |
| She | Herself | She did it herself. |
| It | Itself | The cat cleaned itself. |
| We | Ourselves | We hurt ourselves while playing. |
| You | Yourselves | You should treat yourselves with kindness. |
| They | Themselves | They hurt themselves while climbing. |
When Do We Use Reflexive Pronouns
Reflexive pronouns are used in several cases:
- For Emphasis: To emphasize that someone did something on their own
He built the house himself.
I did it myself.
- Direct Object: When the action of the verb is directed back to the subject
They hurt themselves while playing.
She taught herself how to cook.
- With Certain Verbs: Some verbs are often used with reflexive pronouns
Introduce yourself.
Blame yourself.
Common Mistakes with Reflexive Pronouns
1 – Using Reflexive Pronouns Instead of Subject Pronouns
incorrect —-> Myself went to the school
correct —-> I went to the school
2 – Confusing Reflexive Pronouns with Personal Pronouns
incorrect —-> He called myself
correct —-> He called me
3 – Using the Wrong Reflexive Pronoun
incorrect —-> She taught himself French
correct —-> She taught herself French
4 – Forgetting to Use Reflexive Pronouns When Necessary
incorrect —-> I cut the paper for me
correct —-> I cut the paper for myself
Examples of Reflexive Pronouns in Sentences
She cut herself while cooking dinner.
They enjoyed themselves at the party.
He blames himself for the mistake.
We prepared ourselves for the exam.
She introduced herself to the new neighbors.
You should give yourself a break after working so hard.
They completed the project by themselves.
I bought myself a new book.
We enjoyed ourselves at the beach.
You should believe in yourself
The dog chased itself in circles.
They took a moment to compose themselves before the speech.
She defended herself against the accusations.
We need to focus on ourselves first.
He enjoyed spending time with himself.
I made this cake by myself.