Reflexive Pronouns
Reflexive pronouns refer back to the subject of the sentence. They are used when the subject and object are the same person or thing â and for emphasis.
What are reflexive pronouns?
A reflexive pronoun ends in -self (singular) or -selves (plural). It is used when the subject performs an action on itself, or to add emphasis to a noun or pronoun.
The eight reflexive pronouns
| Subject pronoun | Reflexive pronoun | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I | myself | I cut myself. |
| you (singular) | yourself | Did you hurt yourself? |
| he | himself | He taught himself guitar. |
| she | herself | She made herself a coffee. |
| it | itself | The cat licked itself. |
| we | ourselves | We enjoyed ourselves. |
| you (plural) | yourselves | Help yourselves to food. |
| they | themselves | They built the house themselves. |
Use 1 â Reflexive actions (subject = object)
Use a reflexive pronoun when the subject and object refer to the same person or thing.
She burned herself on the oven.
He blamed himself for the mistake.
The program updated itself automatically.
Use 2 â Emphasis (intensive use)
Reflexive pronouns can emphasise that the subject did something without help. In this use they are called intensive pronouns and can be removed without changing the core meaning.
I myself spoke to the manager.
The president himself signed the letter.
She baked the cake herself.
Use 3 â Fixed expressions
Several common expressions always use a reflexive pronoun.
| Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| by myself / yourself⦠| alone, without help |
| enjoy yourself/ourselves⦠| have a good time |
| help yourself/yourselves | take what you want (food, drink) |
| behave yourself | act properly |
| make yourself at home | feel comfortable |
| be yourself | act naturally |
Common mistake: Do not use a reflexive pronoun where a simple object pronoun is correct. â She gave the tickets to John and myself. â â She gave the tickets to John and me.
Tip: "Each other" and "one another" are reciprocal pronouns, not reflexive â they describe an action done mutually: They helped each other.