Reflexive Pronouns
Learn Reflexive Pronouns in English and use myself, yourself, and themselves correctly in clear everyday sentences.
Reflexive pronouns show that the subject and the object are the same person or thing. They are used when someone or something does an action to itself. They can also add emphasis to a subject or object.
Each subject has its own reflexive pronoun. You choose the reflexive form that matches the subject in person and number. Singular subjects take singular forms, and plural subjects take plural forms.
| Subject | Form |
|---|---|
| I | myself |
| you | yourself |
| he | himself |
| she | herself |
| it | itself |
| we | ourselves |
| you | yourselves |
| they | themselves |
Use a reflexive pronoun when the subject and object are the same. It usually comes after the verb or after the verb and object phrase. The reflexive pronoun completes the meaning of the action.
| Rule |
|---|
| Use a reflexive pronoun when the subject does the action to itself 😊. |
| Place the reflexive pronoun after the main verb or after a short object phrase 😊. |
| Match the reflexive pronoun to the subject of the sentence 😊. |
Some verbs are often used with reflexive pronouns when people talk about usual daily actions and personal actions. In these cases, the reflexive pronoun stays close to the verb. It shows clearly that the action returns to the subject.
| Word or Phrase | Definition |
|---|---|
| introduce oneself | It means a person gives information about their own name or identity 😊. |
| behave oneself | It means a person controls their own actions and acts well 😊. |
| hurt oneself | It means a person causes an injury to their own body 😊. |
| teach oneself | It means a person learns something by their own effort 😊. |
Reflexive pronouns can add emphasis. In this use, they show that the subject did something alone or without help, or they give extra focus to a noun or pronoun. They are often placed right after the subject or at the end of the sentence.
| Rule |
|---|
| Use a reflexive pronoun for emphasis when you want extra focus on the subject 😊. |
| Place it after the subject for direct emphasis in the sentence 😊. |
| Place it at the end of the sentence to emphasize the whole action 😊. |
Reflexive pronouns usually come after the verb when they are the object. For emphasis, they come after the subject or at the end of the sentence. You can now choose the correct reflexive pronoun and place it correctly to show that the subject and object are the same person or thing.