Reflexive Pronouns.

Reflexive pronouns are used when the subject and the object are the same person or thing.
They are also used for emphasis and in some common expressions.

1.What Are Reflexive Pronouns?

Reflexive pronouns end in -self / -selves.

Reflexive pronouns for each subject are:

• I → myself
• you → yourself / yourselves
• he → himself
• she → herself
• it → itself
• we → ourselves
• they → themselves

2.Basic Use (Same Subject and Object)

We use reflexive pronouns when the subject and object are the same.
Structure: Subject + verb + reflexive pronoun

Why?

The person does the action and receives the action.

3.Reflexive Pronouns vs Reciprocal Pronouns

Use a reflexive pronoun when people direct an action at themselves. Use each other or one another when people direct the action at the other person or people.

Meaning	Example
each person blamed only themselves	“Leo and Mia blamed themselves.”
Leo blamed Mia, and Mia blamed Leo	“Leo and Mia blamed each other.”
the players helped the other players	“The players helped one another.”

Each other and one another have the same meaning in most modern English.

For one person of unspecified gender, singular they/themselves (and sometimes themself) is now common.

4.After Prepositions

Use a reflexive pronoun after a preposition when the prepositional object is the same as the subject:

• “She is talking to herself.”
• “He kept the money for himself.” (= for his own use)

Compare these with an object pronoun for a different person:

• “She is talking to her.” (= to another woman)
• “He kept the money for him.” (= for another man)

After prepositions of place, direction, or accompaniment, English often uses an object pronoun even when it refers to the subject. This includes behind, in front of, near, around, and with when someone carries something:

• “She took the bag with her.” (the bag is with her)
• “He closed the door behind him.”
• “She looked around her.”

5.For Emphasis

We use reflexive pronouns to emphasize the subject.

Common positions for emphasis:

1. After the subject: Subject + reflexive pronoun + verb: “I myself made it.”
2. At the end: Subject + verb (+ object) + reflexive pronoun: “I made it myself.” / “I did it myself.”

The end position is the usual everyday choice. The position after the subject is more formal or strongly emphatic.

6.By Myself / Yourself / etc.

We use by + reflexive pronoun in two ways:

• alone: “He lives by himself.”
• without help: “I did the homework by myself.”

On my/your/her own is a common everyday alternative: She lives on her own.

7.Common Expressions

Some expressions use reflexive pronouns:

• “Help yourself.”
• “Make yourself at home.”
• “Behave yourself.”

8.Verbs That Do Not Normally Need a Reflexive Pronoun

English does not automatically use a reflexive pronoun whenever an action affects the subject. Unlike in some other languages, verbs such as concentrate, relax, and feel normally appear without one:

• ✓ “I can’t concentrate.” / ✗ “I can’t concentrate myself.”
• ✓ “She relaxed after work.” / ✗ “She relaxed herself after work.”
• ✓ “I feel good today.” / ✗ “I feel myself good today.”

A reflexive pronoun can add a different meaning or special emphasis: “She dressed herself.” emphasizes that she did it without help.

9.Easy Way to Remember

Use a reflexive pronoun when:

• (1) subject = object (I hurt myself)
• (2) for emphasis (I did it myself)
• (3) in fixed phrases (Help yourself)

Use each other / one another, not a reflexive pronoun, when people do the action to the other person or people.

10.Avoid myself as a formal substitute

Do not use myself instead of me or I just to sound formal: ✗ Please contact myself or Anna. → ✓ Please contact me or Anna. / ✗ John and myself attended. → ✓ John and I attended.