Introduction
Have you ever read a sentence like “I bought me a new book” and felt it sounded a little odd? Or perhaps you’ve wondered when to say “myself” instead of “me.” Understanding reflexive pronouns is the key to fixing these common hiccups and making your English sound more natural and accurate.
What Is a Reflexive Pronoun?
A reflexive pronoun is a special type of pronoun that “reflects” back to the subject of the sentence. We use it when the person or thing doing the action is also the person or thing receiving the action. In simple terms, it’s used when the subject and the object are the same.
Rules for Reflexive Pronouns
- Reflexive pronouns must always refer back to the subject. The pronoun in the sentence must match the subject.
- Each personal pronoun has its own reflexive form. You cannot mix them (e.g., you cannot use “hisself” or “theirselves”).
- They are used for two main reasons: when the subject and object are the same, and for emphasis.
- They can be objects (direct, indirect, or object of a preposition) but they are never the subject of a sentence.
How to Use Reflexive Pronouns
Let’s break down the two main ways to use these pronouns correctly.
Step 1: Identify the Subject and Object
First, find the subject (who is doing the action) and the object (who is receiving the action). If they are the same person or thing, you likely need a reflexive pronoun.
Example: She saw her in the mirror. (Here, “she” and “her” are the same person, so it should be reflexive.)
Correct: She saw herself in the mirror.
Step 2: Choose the Correct Pronoun
Match the reflexive pronoun to the subject. Here is the complete list:
- I → myself
- You (singular) → yourself
- He → himself
- She → herself
- It → itself
- We → ourselves
- You (plural) → yourselves
- They → themselves
Step 3: Use for Emphasis (Intensive Use)
You can also use reflexive pronouns to emphasize that the subject did something personally and alone. You can often remove the pronoun and the sentence still makes sense, but the emphasis is lost.
Example: “The chef himself came to our table.” This emphasizes that it was the chef, not a waiter.
Examples in Sentences
- I taught myself to play the guitar.
- Please help yourself to some cake.
- He cut himself while shaving.
- She is very proud of herself for passing the exam.
- The cat cleaned itself carefully.
- We built this shed ourselves.
- Children, please behave yourselves at the museum.
- They prepared themselves for the long journey.
- I need to remind myself to call my mom.
- You should be kinder to yourself.
- The door opened by itself.
- She told herself everything would be okay.
Common Mistakes
Watch out for these frequent errors with reflexive pronouns.
Mistake 1: Using “myself” incorrectly instead of “me.”
❌ My friend and myself went shopping.
✅ My friend and I went shopping. (Use “I” because it’s the subject.)
Mistake 2: Using incorrect forms like “hisself” or “theirselves.”
❌ He did it hisself.
✅ He did it himself.
Mistake 3: Using a reflexive pronoun when the subject and object are different.
❌ She gave the book to myself.
✅ She gave the book to me. (The subject “she” and object “me” are different.)
Mistake 4: Forgetting the reflexive pronoun when it is needed.
❌ He feels proud of him.
✅ He feels proud of himself. (He is proud of he? No, he is proud of himself.)
Quick Summary
- Reflexive pronouns end in “-self” (singular) or “-selves” (plural).
- They reflect the action back to the subject.
- Use them when the subject and object are the same person/thing.
- Use them to add emphasis (the intensive use).
- Never use them as the subject of a sentence.
Practice Exercises
Fill in the blank with the correct reflexive pronoun (myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves).
- I need to believe in __________ more.
- They organized the party all by __________.
- The computer will restart __________ in a minute.
- Did you hurt __________, Tom?
- We promised __________ we would finish on time.
Answers:
1. myself
2. themselves
3. itself
4. yourself
5. ourselves
Conclusion
Mastering reflexive pronouns like myself, yourself, and himself is a fantastic step towards more precise and fluent English. By remembering that these pronouns must always mirror the subject, you can avoid common pitfalls and communicate with greater confidence. Keep practicing, and soon it will become second nature!
FAQ
Q1: Can I use “myself” to be more polite or formal, like in “Please contact myself or John”?
A: No, this is incorrect. “Myself” should not be used as a polite substitute for “me.” The correct sentence is “Please contact John or me.” Use the reflexive pronoun only when the subject and object are the same (“I contacted myself” is very rare!) or for emphasis (“I will do it myself”).
Q2: What is the difference between “yourself” and “yourselves”?
A: “Yourself” is singular, referring to one person (“you”). “Yourselves” is plural, referring to two or more people (“you all”). For example: “Sarah, you can choose for yourself.” vs. “Class, you can all choose for yourselves.”
Q3: Is “itself” used for animals and things?
A: Yes, exactly. We use the reflexive pronoun “itself” for animals, objects, and concepts when they are both the doer and receiver of the action. For example: “The dog scratched itself.” or “The problem solved itself.”
Q4: When do we use “by” with reflexive pronouns, as in “by myself”?
A: The phrase “by + reflexive pronoun” means “alone” or “without help.” For example, “I live by myself” means I live alone. “She fixed the car by herself” means she fixed it without anyone’s assistance. It’s a very common and useful expression.