LoginReflexive Pronouns For Intermediate learners
This lesson covers Reflexive Pronouns with easy-to-follow explanations and useful examples to help reinforce your understanding.
What Are Reflexive Pronouns?
When the subject and the object of a sentence are the same, we use reflexive pronouns in order to avoid repetition. Below is a table of reflexive pronouns in English:
Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
First | ||
Second | ||
Third |
Pay attention to the examples below:
She drowned herself in the river.
Here, the reflexive pronoun is used as the object.
I've started talking positively to myself.
Warning!
Although in many cases, the second-person singular and plural pronouns are the same (You), in the case of reflexive pronouns they are different (Yourself/Yourselves). Remember to use the appropriate reflexive pronoun based on the number of the subject. For example:
Pay attention to these examples:
If you want to succeed, you have to believe in yourself.
You can make yourselves at home while I prepare dinner.
Tip!
We can also use an object pronoun instead of a reflexive pronoun when referring to the first person singular pronoun, but it is not allowed for other pronouns. Look at the following example:
I saw me in the water. (Also, I saw myself in the water).
Not she saw her in the water.
Uses
We can use reflexive pronouns in many different contexts. However, their two main purposes are:
When the subject and the object of the sentence are the same
When a reflexive verb is used in the sentence
When the Subject and the Object Are the same
Sometimes the object and subject are the same in a sentence, in these cases, we can use reflexive pronouns to avoid repetition. Look at the following examples:
She took herself on a fancy ride last week.
I hurt myself when I was cooking yesterday.
As you can see, the subject is talking about himself/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 |
Behave oneself | to act appropriately |
Help oneself | to eat or drink |
Hurt oneself | to get injured (usually accidentally) |
Take a look at some examples:
He took himself on a trip yesterday.
I tripped on the stairs and hurt myself
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