Reflexive Pronouns
Reflexive pronouns add information to a sentence by pointing back to a noun or pronoun near the beginning of the sentence. Reflexive pronouns end in -self or -selves. The English reflexive pronouns are myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves and themselves.
- I cut myself shaving this morning.
Emphatic pronouns also end in -self or -selves, but they just add emphasis to the noun or pronoun.
- I will tell him myself.
- I wouldn't sell this to the King himself.
Use
Reflexive pronouns are used to talk about actions where the subject and object are the same person.
- I cut myself shaving this morning.
- Alice saw herself in the mirror.
- John doesn't know what to do with himself.
A reflexive pronoun can refer to other things besides the subject of a clause.
- His letters are all about himself.
- I am going to tell her a few facts about herself.
Emphatic use
We can use reflexive pronouns as subject or object emphasisers to mean 'that person/thing and nobody/nothing else'.
- She herself admitted her mistake.
- The manager spoke to me himself.
- I myself cleaned the house.
Reflexives used instead of personal pronouns
Reflexives are often used instead of personal pronouns after as, like, but (for) and except (for).
- These shoes are specially designed for heavy runners like yourself. (OR ... like you.)
- Everybody was happy except myself. (OR ... except me.)
Reflexives not used
Certain verbs are not used with reflexive pronouns in English. Examples are: open, sell, concentrate, feel etc.
- Suddenly the door opened. (NOT Suddenly the door opened itself.)
- His books are selling well. (NOT His books are selling themselves well.)
- I tried to concentrate. (NOT I tried to concentrate myself.)
Sections in this article
Pronouns
Kinds of pronouns
Personal pronouns
Possessive pronouns
Reflexive pronouns
Demonstrative pronouns
Relative pronouns
Correct usage of personal pronouns
See also
Common mistakes in the use of nouns
Common mistakes in the use of nouns | Exercise 1
Common mistakes in the use of nouns | Exercise 2
Common mistakes in the use of nouns | Exercise 3
More CBSE English Grammar worksheets
Passive voice worksheet | Simple past tensePassive voice worksheet | Past continuous tense
Passive voice worksheet | Simple future tense
Passive voice worksheet | Future perfect tense