Reflexive pronouns

Form

myself
yourself
himself / herself / itself
ourselves
yourselves (plural)
themselves

Functions and examples

1. We use reflexive pronouns when the subject and object are the same.

I burnt myself on the stove this morning.
NOT: I burnt me on the stove this morning.

You can help yourselves to drinks.
NOT: You can help you to drinks.

He blames himself for the accident.
NOT: He blames him for the accident.

2. We use reflexive pronouns to emphasize the subject, meaning "that person or thing and nobody/nothing else".

"Did someone paint your house?" "No, I painted it myself."
He was planning to ask his assistant to go, but in the end he went himself.

Important points

1. We do not use reflexive pronouns after feel, meet, concentrate and relax, and we do not normally use them after wash, shave and dress, unless it is necessary to make it clear who does the action.

He finds it difficult to relax.
NOT: He finds it difficult to relax himself.
When I got up, I washed.
NOT: When I got up, I washed myself.

2. If it is clear that the meaning is reflexive, it is not necessary to use a reflexive pronoun.

He gave the present to him.
He gave the present to himself.
(We need a reflexive pronoun to clarify who the present is for.)

I took my mother with me
NOT: I took my mother with myself
(The only possible meaning is reflexive so we don't use a reflexive pronoun.)

3. We can use by + reflexive pronoun to mean alone.

She likes to go on holiday by herself.

4. We cannot use a reflexive possessive pronoun: we use my / your... own.

They all did their own work.
NOT: They all did themselves work.

How do you teach reflexive pronouns?

• Your name
  
  Optional - we will identify you as Anonymous if you don't provide it.
• Your email address
  
  Optional. We won't publish your email address. Privacy policy
• Your ideaPlease enter your idea
  

Please wait...

Top of page