Reflexive Pronouns for intermediate learners
Reflexive Pronouns are used to show that the subject and object of a sentence are exactly the same person or thing or there is a direct connection between them.
What Are Reflexive Pronouns?
Tip!
Although in many cases, the second-person singular and plural pronouns are the same, here they are different. Remember to use each according to the structure needed.
Let us take a look at the examples below:
Here, the reflexive pronoun is used as the object.
Warning!
We can also use an object pronoun instead of a reflexive pronoun but remember that it is only possible when we are talking about the first person singular pronoun. Look at the following example:
Not she saw her in the ….
Uses
We can use these reflexive pronouns in many different contexts. However, here we are going to talk about their two main purposes:
- When the subject and the object are the same
- When we have a reflexive verb
When the Subject and the Object Are the same
It happens sometimes that the object and subject are the same in a sentence, in such cases, we can use reflexive pronouns to avoid repetition. Look at the following examples:
As you can see, the subject is talking about herself so a reflexive pronoun is used.
When We Have a Reflexive Verb
Some verbs in English take an object that is the same as their subject. They are called reflexive verbs. Look at the table to learn some common reflexive verbs in English:
| Reflexive Verbs | Their Meanings |
|---|---|
| Take oneself | to go on a trip |
| Enjoy oneself | to have a good time |
| Welcome oneself | to take pleasure in what you are doing |
| Help oneself | to eat or drink |
Let us look at some examples now:
Comments
