What are reflexive pronouns? Understanding the proper use of reflexive pronouns is important for effective communication in English. Whether writing a formal essay or having a casual conversation, using reflexive pronouns correctly can help to avoid confusion and ensure that the intended message is conveyed clearly.
Reflexive Pronouns – Picture
Contents
What Are Reflexive Pronouns?
Reflexive pronouns are a specific type of pronoun that are used when the subject and object of a sentence are the same. They are formed by adding the suffix -self or -selves to certain personal pronouns, such as myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, and themselves.
Reflexive pronouns are called “reflexive” because they reflect back to the subject of the sentence. They are used to indicate that the subject is performing an action on itself. For example, in the sentence “I cut myself while shaving,” the reflexive pronoun “myself” refers back to the subject “I” and indicates that the subject performed the action on itself.
In addition to their reflexive function, these pronouns can also be used as intensive pronouns. In this case, they are used to emphasize the subject of the sentence. For example, in the sentence “She herself wrote the novel,” the reflexive pronoun “herself” is used as an intensive pronoun to emphasize that the subject “she” wrote the novel.
Reflexive pronouns are different from other pronouns in that they do not replace an antecedent. Instead, they are used to show that the subject is performing an action on itself. They are commonly used in sentences with verbs that describe actions that a person can do to themselves, such as “cut,” “wash,” “dress,” or “brush.”
Examples of Reflexive Pronouns
Reflexive pronouns are pronouns that refer back to the subject of the sentence. These pronouns end in -self or -selves, depending on the number of the subject. Here are some examples of reflexive pronouns used in sentences:
- She hurt herself while playing soccer.
- He talked to himself in the mirror.
- They congratulated themselves on a job well done.
- The cat groomed itself for hours.
- The students reminded themselves to study for the exam.
In each of these sentences, the reflexive pronoun refers back to the subject of the sentence. In the first sentence, “herself” refers to “she.” In the second sentence, “himself” refers to “he.” In the third sentence, “themselves” refers to “they.” In the fourth sentence, “itself” refers to “the cat.” In the fifth sentence, “themselves” refers to “the students.”
Reflexive pronouns can also be used for emphasis, and in these cases, they are called intensive pronouns. Here are some examples of intensive pronouns used in sentences:
- I myself saw the accident happen.
- She herself baked the cake from scratch.
- He himself completed the project on time.
- They themselves decided to cancel the trip.
- The company itself admitted to the mistake.
In each of these sentences, the intensive pronoun emphasizes the subject of the sentence. In the first sentence, “myself” emphasizes “I.” In the second sentence, “herself” emphasizes “she.” In the third sentence, “himself” emphasizes “he.” In the fourth sentence, “themselves” emphasizes “they.” In the fifth sentence, “itself” emphasizes “the company.”
Subject and Object Pronouns
Subject Pronouns
Subject pronouns are used to replace the subject of a sentence. They are the ones who do the action in the sentence. The following table shows the subject pronouns in English:
Singular | Plural |
---|---|
I | we |
you | you |
he/she/it | they |
Object Pronouns
Object pronouns are used to replace the object of a sentence. They are the ones who receive the action in the sentence. The following table shows the object pronouns in English:
Singular | Plural |
---|---|
me | us |
you | you |
him/her/it | them |
When the subject and object of a sentence are the same, we use reflexive pronouns. For example, “I hurt myself” or “They enjoyed themselves.”
In recent years, there has been a push towards using gender-neutral pronouns, such as “they” or “them” as singular pronouns. This is particularly important for nonbinary individuals who do not identify as strictly male or female. It is important to respect an individual’s pronoun preferences and use them correctly.
Singular Reflexive Pronouns
A reflexive pronoun is used to refer back to the subject of the sentence. Singular reflexive pronouns are used when the subject and object of the sentence are the same. The most common singular reflexive pronouns are “myself,” “yourself,” “himself,” “herself,” “itself,” and “oneself.” These pronouns end with “-self” or “-selves.”
Myself
The reflexive pronoun “myself” is used to refer back to the subject “I.” For example, “I hurt myself while playing basketball.” In this sentence, “myself” is the direct object of the verb “hurt.”
Yourself
The reflexive pronoun “yourself” is used to refer back to the subject “you.” For example, “You can do it yourself.” In this sentence, “yourself” is the direct object of the verb “do.”
Himself
The reflexive pronoun “himself” is used to refer back to the subject “he.” For example, “He saw himself in the mirror.” In this sentence, “himself” is the direct object of the verb “saw.”
Herself
The reflexive pronoun “herself” is used to refer back to the subject “she.” For example, “She made herself a cup of tea.” In this sentence, “herself” is the direct object of the verb “made.”
Itself
The reflexive pronoun “itself” is used to refer back to the subject “it.” For example, “The cat licked itself clean.” In this sentence, “itself” is the direct object of the verb “licked.”
Oneself
The reflexive pronoun “oneself” is used to refer back to an indefinite subject. For example, “One should always take care of oneself.” In this sentence, “oneself” is the direct object of the verb “take care of.”
In conclusion, singular reflexive pronouns are used in sentences where the subject and object are the same. The most common singular reflexive pronouns are “myself,” “yourself,” “himself,” “herself,” “itself,” and “oneself.” These pronouns end with “-self” or “-selves.”
Plural Reflexive Pronouns
Plural reflexive pronouns are used to refer to more than one person or thing and are formed by adding the suffix “-selves” to the corresponding personal pronoun. Here are the plural reflexive pronouns:
- ourselves
- yourselves
- themselves
These pronouns are used when the subject and object of the sentence are the same and there are multiple subjects. For example:
- They enjoyed themselves at the party.
- We need to remind ourselves of our goals.
- You should be proud of yourselves for completing the project.
Plural reflexive pronouns can also be used for emphasis. For instance:
- They themselves admitted to the mistake.
- We ourselves witnessed the event.
It is important to note that plural reflexive pronouns should not be confused with plural personal pronouns, which are used to refer to multiple subjects but not necessarily the same subject and object. For example:
- They are going to the park. (personal pronoun)
- They are enjoying themselves at the park. (reflexive pronoun)
Emphatic Pronouns
Emphatic pronouns are a type of pronoun that emphasizes the subject or object of a sentence. They are the same as reflexive pronouns in form, but they are used for emphasis rather than to indicate that the subject and object are the same.
Emphatic pronouns include “myself,” “yourself,” “herself,” “himself,” “itself,” “ourselves,” and “themselves.” They are often used to add emphasis to a sentence and can be used in a variety of ways.
For example, consider the sentence “I myself am responsible for my actions.” In this sentence, the emphatic pronoun “myself” emphasizes the subject “I” and adds emphasis to the statement.
Emphatic pronouns can also be used in questions, as in “Did you yourself see the accident?” In this case, the pronoun “yourself” emphasizes the subject “you” and adds emphasis to the question.
In addition, emphatic pronouns can be used in sentences with prepositions, as in “She gave the award to herself.” In this sentence, the pronoun “herself” emphasizes the object “she” and adds emphasis to the action.
Common Mistakes with Reflexive Pronouns
When it comes to reflexive pronouns, there are some common mistakes that people tend to make. These mistakes can lead to confusion and misunderstandings, so it’s important to be aware of them and avoid them whenever possible.
One of the most common mistakes is using reflexive pronouns in place of subject or object pronouns. For example, saying “Me and himself went to the store” instead of “He and I went to the store” is incorrect. Similarly, saying “Her and myself are going to the movies” instead of “She and I are going to the movies” is also incorrect.
Another mistake is using a misspelling such as “hisself” instead of “himself” or “theirselves” instead of “themselves”. These misspellings are not only incorrect but also make the speaker sound uneducated.
It’s also important to avoid using reflexive pronouns in compound subjects or compound objects in a sentence. For example, saying “John and myself went to the store” instead of “John and I went to the store” is incorrect.
In addition to these mistakes, it’s important to remember that reflexive pronouns are only used when the subject and the object of a verb are the same. Using them in other situations can be confusing and incorrect.
Common Mistakes with Reflexive Pronouns |
---|
Using reflexive pronouns in place of subject or object pronouns |
Using misspellings such as “hisself” or “theirselves” |
Using reflexive pronouns in compound subjects or objects |
Using reflexive pronouns when the subject and object of a verb are not the same |
Frequently Asked Questions
Reflexive pronouns can be a bit tricky to understand, so here are some frequently asked questions to help clarify their usage.
What is a reflexive pronoun?
A reflexive pronoun is a type of pronoun that refers back to the subject of a sentence. These pronouns always end in “-self” or “-selves” and are used to show that the subject is performing an action on itself.
When should reflexive pronouns be used?
Reflexive pronouns should be used when the subject of a sentence is also the object of the verb. For example, “He hurt himself” uses the reflexive pronoun “himself” because the subject “he” is also the object of the verb “hurt.”
Can reflexive pronouns be used as emphasis?
Yes, reflexive pronouns can also be used for emphasis, especially in spoken English. For example, “I myself saw the accident” emphasizes the speaker’s personal experience.
What are some common reflexive pronouns?
Here are some common reflexive pronouns and their corresponding subjects:
Subject | Reflexive Pronoun |
---|---|
I | myself |
You | yourself |
He/She/It | himself/herself/itself |
We | ourselves |
They | themselves |
Are there any exceptions to using reflexive pronouns?
Yes, there are some verbs that do not require reflexive pronouns even when the subject and object are the same. These include “enjoy,” “hurt,” “kill,” “wash,” and others. For example, “She hurt her ankle” is correct, but “She hurt herself ankle” is not.