English Grammar Guide for ESL

Reflexive Pronouns

On this page: Description, Exercises

Description

Overview

Reflexive pronouns refer back to the subject of the sentence. They are often used when the subject and object are the same person or thing.

Examples:

  • I hurt myself.

  • She taught herself English.

  • We enjoyed ourselves at the party.

Reflexive pronouns can also be used for emphasis:

Example:

  • I will do it myself.

Forms

English reflexive pronouns are:

  • myself

  • yourself

  • himself

  • herself

  • itself

  • oneself

  • ourselves

  • yourselves

  • themselves

Common ESL Errors

  • Write reflexive pronouns as one word:

    • ✔ myself

    • ✘ my self

  • Do not use a reflexive pronoun as the subject of a sentence:

    • ✔ I will help you.

    • ✘ Myself will help you.

  • Do not use a reflexive pronoun after a subject joined by and:

    • ✔ Laurie and I will oversee the procedure.

    • ✘ Laurie and myself will oversee the procedure.

  • Use themselves, not themself:

    • ✔ The students introduced themselves.

    • ✘ The students introduced themself.

  • Do not write hisself:

    • ✔ He hurt himself.

    • ✘ He hurt hisself.

Tip

Use a reflexive pronoun when the subject and object are the same person or thing:

  • ✔ I looked at myself in the mirror.

  • ✔ They blamed themselves for the mistake.

  • ✘ I looked at me in the mirror. (less natural in standard English)

Exercises

Choose the correct form:

She made the cake by (herself, herselfs, her).
I looked at (me, myself, my) in the mirror.
The children enjoyed (them, themselves, theirselves) at the party.
He cut (him, himself, hisself) while cooking.
We taught (ourselves, us, ourself) how to play chess.
Did you hurt (yourself, you, yourselves)?
The cat cleaned (it, itself, its) after eating.
They painted the house (theirselves, themselves, them).
I will do it by (myself, me, mine).
Please help (yourself, you, yourselves) to some fruit.
She blamed (herself, her, she) for the mistake.
We enjoyed (ourself, ourselves, us) on vacation.
The dog scratched (itself, it, its) behind the ear.
John and Mary introduced (themselves, them, theirselves) to the new teacher.
You should be proud of (you, yourself, yourselves).

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