Reflexive Pronouns

1. What Are Reflexive Pronouns?

💡 Reflexive pronouns are used when the subject and the object of a sentence refer to the same person or thing. They are formed by adding “-self” (for singular) or “-selves” (for plural) to the appropriate personal pronoun.

2. When to Use Reflexive Pronouns

A. When the Subject and Object Are the Same

💡 Use a reflexive pronoun when the subject of the verb is also its object.

Examples:

• Myself: I hurt myself.
• Yourself: You should treat yourself with kindness.
• Himself: He teaches himself French.
• Herself: She is preparing herself for the meeting.
• Itself: The cat grooms itself.
• Ourselves: We enjoyed ourselves at the party.
• Yourselves: You should remind yourselves of the deadline.
• Themselves: They blame themselves for the mistake.

B. For Emphasis

💡 Reflexive pronouns can emphasize that the subject performed an action independently.

Examples:

• She herself solved the puzzle.
• He himself took care of the problem.
• We ourselves built the entire house.
• I myself completed the project on time.
• She herself prepared the entire meal.
• He himself taught the class without any help.
• We ourselves repaired the car after the breakdown.
• You yourself managed the team effectively.
• They themselves organized the event from start to finish.
• The dog itself found its way home.

C. In Fixed Expressions

💡 Reflexive pronouns appear in many common phrases.

Examples:

• By yourself: Can you complete this by yourself?
• Look at yourself: Look at yourself in the mirror!
• Teach yourself: You can teach yourself a new skill online.
• Express yourself: Art is a great way to express yourself.
• Fix it yourself: Try to fix it yourself before calling a mechanic.
• Remind yourself: Always remind yourself of your goals.
• Challenge yourself: It’s important to challenge yourself to grow.
• Read to yourself: You can read to yourself when practicing a speech.
• Motivate yourself: Find ways to motivate yourself to keep moving forward.
• Write about yourself: In this essay, write about yourself and your experiences.

3. Reflexive Pronouns vs. “Each Other”

💡 Reflexive pronouns are used when the subject and object are the same entity (e.g., “I hurt myself”). In contrast, “each other” is used when two or more people interact (e.g., “We helped each other”).

Examples Using “Each Other”:

• They helped each other with their homework.
• We gave gifts to each other.
• They wrote letters to each other.
• We called each other to plan the trip.
• The students discussed the topic with each other.
• They congratulated each other on their success.
• The artists inspired each other to create better work.
• The runners encouraged each other to keep going.
• They helped each other carry the groceries.
• The teammates shared notes with each other.
• The photographers shared tips with each other about lighting.
• The singers taught each other new songs.
• The workers supported each other during the project.
• The chefs tasted each other’s dishes for feedback.
• The players passed the ball to each other during the match.

4. Common Mistakes with Reflexive Pronouns

A. Overusing Reflexive Pronouns

💡 Some verbs that are reflexive in other languages are not reflexive in English. Avoid using a reflexive pronoun when it isn’t needed.

• ❌ Incorrect: She dressed herself quickly. | ✅ Correct: She dressed quickly.
• ❌ Incorrect: He washed himself before dinner. | ✅ Correct: He washed before dinner.
• ❌ Incorrect: We painted ourselves yesterday. | ✅ Correct: We painted yesterday.
• ❌ Incorrect: I put on clothes myself. | ✅ Correct: I put on clothes.
• ❌ Incorrect: They walked themselves to school. | ✅ Correct: They walked to school.
• ❌ Incorrect: He tied his shoes himself. | ✅ Correct: He tied his shoes.
• ❌ Incorrect: She read herself a story. | ✅ Correct: She read a story.
• ❌ Incorrect: I went to bed myself. | ✅ Correct: I went to bed.
• ❌ Incorrect: He ran himself to the park. | ✅ Correct: He ran to the park.
• ❌ Incorrect: We emailed ourselves the document. | ✅ Correct: We emailed the document.

B. Common Verbs That Are Not Reflexive in English

• Dress (e.g., “She dressed quickly.”)
• Wash (e.g., “I washed before dinner.”)
• Bathe (e.g., “He bathed and went to bed.”)
• Sit (e.g., “We sat down to eat.”)
• Relax (e.g., “They relaxed after work.”)

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