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.

Note: Don’t use reflexive pronouns when the object is a different person: “He saw me” (not “He saw myself”).

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

Examples:

• “I hurt myself.”
• “She taught herself English online.”
• “They enjoyed themselves at the party.”

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 did it to himself or herself	“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.

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 some prepositions of place or accompaniment, English uses an object pronoun even when it refers to the subject:

• “She took the bag with her.” (the bag is with 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.”

Examples:

• “I did it myself.” (not someone else)
• “She made the cake herself.”
• “We fixed the car ourselves.”

6. By Myself / Yourself / etc.

We use by + reflexive pronoun to mean:

• alone
• without help

Examples:

• “I did the homework by myself.”
• “He lives by himself.”
• “They finished the project by themselves.”

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.