08/31/2023 | News release | Distributed by Public on 08/31/2023 12:17
Reflexive pronouns have a number of different uses in English, so learners will find them in unexpected places! Luckily, there are just a few forms to learn, and these tips will help you identify and practice the most common situations where you'll need a reflexive pronoun.
What are reflexive pronouns in English?
When to use reflexive pronouns in English
Tips for learning English reflexive pronouns
Examples of reflexive pronouns in English
Reflexive pronouns are used when the subject of a verb is also the object of the verb: The action is caused by the subject, and it happens to the subject, too! For example, in I bought myself a new book, "I" am the person buying the book *and* receiving it-the book was for me.
Here are all the reflexive pronouns in English:
Subject pronoun | Reflexive pronoun |
I | myself |
you | yourself |
he | himself |
she | herself |
it | itself |
we | ourselves |
you all | yourselves |
they | themselves |
The reflexive pronouns are formed by combining a personal pronoun with -self for singular forms and -selves for plurals. Note that most forms use the possessive adjective (my, your, etc), but a couple use the object pronoun form instead (himself, themselves).
There are 3 main uses of reflexive pronouns in English: to show that the subject and object are the same, to put emphasis on a noun, and with by or for to indicate that something happened on its own. Let's look at a few examples!
1️⃣ Subject and object are the same
When the subject is the same as the object, use a reflexive pronoun for the object. This works when it's the object of a verb *or* the object of a preposition!
2️⃣ Emphasis on a noun
Reflexive pronouns are also used to emphasize a noun, for example, to show that the subject really is the one who is doing the action of the verb.
3️⃣ With by or for to show that something happened on its own
You'll find reflexive pronouns used with the prepositions by and for to show that the subject is doing the action without any help.
Mastering reflexive pronouns in English will take time and practice, so use these tips to keep progressing in your learning:
Reflexive pronouns are straightforward to memorize, and you can focus on their most common uses as you continue in your English journey.
Subject pronoun | Reflexive pronoun | Example with reflexive pronoun |
I | myself | I sing to myself in the shower. |
you | yourself | You always make yourself laugh with that joke! |
he | himself | He'll give himself a headache if he doesn't rest. |
she | herself | Lin kept herself busy while she waited for the call. |
it | itself | That little bird locked itself in the garage. |
we | ourselves | Bea and I bought ourselves flowers to celebrate. |
you all | yourselves | Can you all find yourselves in the picture? |
they | themselves | Zari and Lily wrote silly stories about themselves. |