A reflexive verb shows that the subject and the object are the same person or thing. The action “reflects back” to the subject, so the subject both does and receives the action. In English, reflexive meaning is usually expressed with a reflexive pronoun like myself or themselves. Reflexive meaning is different from ordinary transitive meaning, where the action happens to someone else.

English forms reflexive verbs by pairing a verb with a reflexive pronoun that matches the subject. The reflexive pronoun is required when the object is the same as the subject, and it must agree in person and number. Reflexive pronouns are also used for emphasis, but that is a different function from reflexive meaning.

Word/Phrase	Definition	Example
myself	first person singular reflexive pronoun	I taught myself to cook.
yourself	second person singular reflexive pronoun	You should treat yourself kindly.
himself	third person singular masculine reflexive pronoun	He introduced himself to the team.
herself	third person singular feminine reflexive pronoun	She blamed herself for the mistake.
itself	third person singular inanimate or animal reflexive pronoun	The cat cleaned itself.
ourselves	first person plural reflexive pronoun	We prepared ourselves for the exam.
yourselves	second person plural reflexive pronoun	Please help yourselves to snacks.
themselves	third person plural reflexive pronoun	They described themselves in one sentence.

Many English reflexive verbs are ordinary verbs that can be used transitively, intransitively, or reflexively depending on meaning. A verb is reflexive in a sentence when the object is a reflexive pronoun referring back to the subject. Not all verbs work naturally with reflexive objects, so reflexive usage often reflects common collocations and typical meanings. Some reflexive meanings can also be expressed without a reflexive pronoun when English prefers an intransitive pattern.

Use a reflexive pronoun when the subject does something to itself and English expects an object. Without the reflexive pronoun, the sentence may be incomplete or may change meaning by implying a different object. This is common with verbs like hurt, blame, and introduce when the receiver is the same as the doer. If the verb naturally takes a direct object, reflexive pronouns make that object clearly identical to the subject.

Rule	Example
Use a reflexive pronoun when the verb needs an object and the object is the subject	He hurt himself.
Use a reflexive pronoun to prevent the listener from assuming another object	She introduced herself to the manager.
Keep agreement between the subject and the reflexive pronoun	We congratulated ourselves.

Sometimes English allows the reflexive pronoun but does not require it because the verb can be intransitive with the same meaning. In these cases, adding the reflexive pronoun can sound more deliberate, formal, or emphatic, but the basic reflexive idea may already be clear. This is common with actions people do to their own bodies or daily routines. When the meaning stays the same, prefer the simpler intransitive form in neutral style.

Rule	Example
If the verb is naturally intransitive, the reflexive pronoun can be omitted	He shaved.
Adding the reflexive pronoun can sound more explicit or emphatic	He shaved himself.
For routine actions, English often prefers the non-reflexive form	She dressed quickly.

Reflexive meaning is about one subject acting on itself, while reciprocal meaning is about two or more subjects acting on each other. English often uses each other or one another for reciprocal meaning, not reflexive pronouns. Confusing the two can change meaning: they hurt themselves means each person hurt their own body, while they hurt each other means they hurt one another. Choosing the right structure depends on whether the action stays within each individual or goes between people.

Rule	Example
Use a reflexive pronoun when the subject and object are the same	They introduced themselves.
Use each other or one another for mutual actions between people	They introduced each other.

Reflexive pronouns also have an emphatic, or intensive, use where they emphasize the subject rather than act as an object. In emphatic use, the sentence would still be grammatical if you remove the pronoun, and the pronoun often appears right after the subject or at the end of the clause. In reflexive use, the pronoun is an object required by the verb’s meaning and grammar. Distinguishing these uses helps you interpret sentences like I made it myself, where myself emphasizes who did it, not who received the action.

Rule	Example
If removing the pronoun changes grammar or meaning, it is reflexive	She blamed herself.
If removing the pronoun keeps the sentence grammatical with similar meaning, it is emphatic	She herself fixed the problem.
Emphatic pronouns often appear after the subject or at clause end	I met the director myself.

Reflexive pronouns can be objects of prepositions when the prepositional phrase refers back to the subject. This is common after by, for, to, and with when the meaning is self-directed or self-contained. A frequent pattern is by myself, meaning alone, which is not reflexive action but a fixed phrase showing independence. When a preposition requires an object, the reflexive pronoun must still match the subject.

Rule	Example
Use a reflexive pronoun after a preposition when it refers back to the subject	I kept the secret to myself.
By myself is a common phrase meaning alone	She traveled by herself.
Keep agreement between subject and reflexive pronoun in prepositional phrases	They did it by themselves.

Some verbs are especially common in reflexive constructions because they often describe actions directed toward the self, such as blaming, preparing, and introducing. Learning these as frequent patterns helps you sound natural and understand reflexive meaning quickly. Many of these verbs can also take non-reflexive objects when the action is directed at someone else. The key is whether the reflexive pronoun points back to the subject in that specific sentence.

Word/Phrase	Definition	Example
introduce oneself	say who you are to others	He introduced himself at the meeting.
blame oneself	hold yourself responsible	She blamed herself for the delay.
prepare oneself	get ready mentally or physically	We prepared ourselves for the interview.
enjoy oneself	have a good time	They enjoyed themselves at the party.
cut oneself	injure yourself with something sharp	I cut myself while cooking.
teach oneself	learn without a teacher	He taught himself Spanish.

Reflexive pronouns improve clarity when it might be unclear who receives the action, especially with third person subjects. They also help avoid ambiguity in longer sentences with multiple possible objects. In formal writing, reflexive pronouns should be used only when they are grammatically justified as reflexive or emphatic, not as a replacement for me or him. Choosing the reflexive form should always be driven by meaning and structure, not by a desire to sound more formal.

Rule	Example
Use a reflexive pronoun to remove ambiguity about the object	Alex reminded himself to call.
Do not use reflexive pronouns as a formal substitute for object pronouns	She spoke to me.
Prefer the simplest natural structure when no ambiguity exists	They sat down.