Reflexive Verbs
Reflexive verbs are verbs that are used transitively to reflect back to the subject. Let us learn more. Follow the article.
What Are Reflexive Verbs?
'Reflexive verbs' transfer the action of the verb to the direct object and reflect it back to the subject of the sentence.
Why Do We Use Reflexive Verbs?
'Reflexive verbs' are only used when the subject and the direct object of the verb are the 'same.' It means the doer and the receiver of the action are the same.
Take a look at the examples to get to know them.
Sara
The dog
How Can You Define Reflexive Sentences?
'Reflexive' sentences are made of three main parts. Check this list out:
Subjects of Reflexive Verbs
Any kind of subject can be used as the subject of a reflexive verb. Check the examples out for more clarification:
Reflexive Verbs
'Reflexive verbs' are transitive verbs since they all need a direct object to be meaningful, on the contrary, transitive verbs are not all considered reflexive.
Check out the examples:
✓ I
✗ I
So, it is just important to decide which transitive verbs are reflexive based on their meaning in a statement.
Prepositions with Reflexive Verbs
There are some 'prepositions' that can be used after the reflexive verb and before the reflexive pronoun. 'To, for, of, at, about' are the most famous prepositions that are used with Reflexive pronouns.
Check out the examples for more clarification:
He was talking
Just look
He always boasted
The old woman prayed
After prepositions of place, we are not allowed to use a reflexive pronoun. After these prepositions, we use 'objective pronouns.' Check out the following examples.
✓ I told him to stand behind
✗ I told him to stand behind myself
Warning
When you use the preposition 'by' in combination with a reflexive verb, we make an emphatic sentence using reflexive verbs, so, no reflexive sentence is made. One of the ways to differentiate between emphatic and reflexive sentences is to check whether we can omit the reflexive pronoun or not. If you can omit the reflexive pronoun it means the sentence is an emphatic sentence. Check out these examples:
I did the dishes
In this example; there is an emphatic sentence.
She threw the party all
Tip!
Sometimes using reflexive pronouns after verbs change the meaning of the whole verbal phrase. Sometimes the new phrase has a slight similarity to the main verb when it is used alone. Check out the examples:
She
She
using a reflexive verb in a sentence
There is a list of these verbs on the following table:
| Help | help yourself |
|---|---|
| Find | find yourself |
| Enjoy | enjoy yourself |
Reflexive Pronouns
The last step to make a meaningful reflexive sentence is to add a reflexive pronoun following the reflexive verb. Reflexive pronouns reflect back to the subject. Here are the reflexive pronouns:
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| myself | ourselves |
| yourself | yourselves |
| herself, himself, itself | themselves |
Check out the examples:
They introduced
Hanna tried to encourage
Review
'Reflexive verbs' are transitive verbs that redirect a clause back to the subject. The important point is to know that the object and the subject are the same.
'Reflexive sentences' are formed with three main factors
- subject
- reflexive verb
- reflexive pronoun (object)
Reflexive verbs follow the subjects and they themselves are followed by reflexive pronouns. Here is the formula to make it easy for you to make sentences:
- Subject + reflexive verbs + reflexive pronouns (object)
I
She
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