Reflexive Pronouns

Overview

Reflexive pronouns refer back to the subject of the sentence. They are often used when the subject and object are the same person or thing.

Examples:

• I hurt myself.

• She taught herself English.

• We enjoyed ourselves at the party.

Reflexive pronouns can also be used for emphasis:

Example:

• I will do it myself.

Forms

English reflexive pronouns are:

• myself

• yourself

• himself

• herself

• itself

• oneself

• ourselves

• yourselves

• themselves

Common ESL Errors

• Write reflexive pronouns as one word:

  • ✔ myself

  • ✘ my self

• Do not use a reflexive pronoun as the subject of a sentence:

  • ✔ I will help you.

  • ✘ Myself will help you.

• Do not use a reflexive pronoun after a subject joined by and:

  • ✔ Laurie and I will oversee the procedure.

  • ✘ Laurie and myself will oversee the procedure.

• Use themselves, not themself:

  • ✔ The students introduced themselves.

  • ✘ The students introduced themself.

• Do not write hisself:

  • ✔ He hurt himself.

  • ✘ He hurt hisself.

Tip

Use a reflexive pronoun when the subject and object are the same person or thing:

• ✔ I looked at myself in the mirror.

• ✔ They blamed themselves for the mistake.

• ✘ I looked at me in the mirror. (less natural in standard English)