Reflexive Pronouns: A Comprehensive Guide
What is the Reflexive Pronoun?
Reflexive pronouns are special types of pronouns used when the subject and the object of a sentence are the same person or thing. In other words, the action of the verb reflects back on the subject.
List of Reflexive Pronouns
Here’s a table listing all the reflexive pronouns in English:
| Subject Pronoun | Reflexive Pronoun |
|---|---|
| I | myself |
| you (singular) | yourself |
| he | himself |
| she | herself |
| it | itself |
| we | ourselves |
| you (plural) | yourselves |
| they | themselves |
Examples in Sentences
- I made myself a cup of tea.
- She looked at herself in the mirror.
- They taught themselves how to code.
- You should treat yourself to a day off.
- The cat cleaned itself after eating.
How to Use Reflexive Pronouns in Sentences
Reflexive pronouns are typically used when the subject performs an action on itself. Here’s how they are commonly used:
- As the Direct Object: When the subject and the object of the verb are the same.
- Example: “He injured himself during the game.”
- As the Indirect Object: When the subject is both giving and receiving the action, but there’s also another object involved.
- Example: “She bought herself a new book.”
- As the Object of a Preposition: When the reflexive pronoun comes after a preposition.
- Example: “They were talking among themselves.”
Uses of Reflexive Pronouns
- Object of a Verb: Used when the subject and the object are the same.
- Example: “I blame myself for the mistake.”
- Object of a Preposition: Used after prepositions when referring back to the subject.
- Example: “She made it all by herself.”
- For Emphasis: Sometimes, reflexive pronouns are used to emphasize the subject.
- Example: “I did it myself.” (emphasizing that no one else did it)
Caution
Be careful not to use reflexive pronouns when they are not needed. For example, saying “I hurt myself” is correct because the subject and object are the same. But saying “I hurt myself the dog” is incorrect because “the dog” is the object.
Emphatic Pronouns
Definition
Emphatic pronouns are the same words as reflexive pronouns, but they are used to emphasize who performed the action. They do not reflect the action back on the subject.
List of Emphatic Pronouns
Emphatic pronouns are identical to reflexive pronouns:
| Subject Pronoun | Emphatic Pronoun |
|---|---|
| I | myself |
| you (singular) | yourself |
| he | himself |
| she | herself |
| it | itself |
| we | ourselves |
| you (plural) | yourselves |
| they | themselves |
Use of Emphatic Pronouns
Emphatic pronouns are used to stress the subject or the importance of the action. They often come immediately after the subject or at the end of the sentence.
- Example: “I will do it myself.” (emphasizing that I, and not anyone else, will do it)
Difference Between Reflexive and Emphatic Pronouns
- Reflexive Pronouns: Reflect back to the subject and are necessary for the meaning of the sentence.
- Example: “She prepared herself for the meeting.” (The action is done by the subject to itself)
- Emphatic Pronouns: Simply add emphasis to the subject, but the sentence would still make sense without them.
- Example: “She herself prepared for the meeting.” (Emphasizes that she did the preparation)
Read more About “Reciprocal Pronouns“
In summary, while reflexive and emphatic pronouns look the same, their functions in a sentence are different. Reflexive pronouns are used when the action of the verb reflects back on the subject, whereas emphatic pronouns are used to emphasize the subject.
Common Mistake Between Reflexive and Emphatic Pronouns
One of the most common mistakes is using a reflexive pronoun when an emphatic pronoun is needed, or vice versa. This often happens when someone tries to add emphasis but accidentally implies that the subject is acting on itself.
Example of the Mistake:
- Incorrect: “She herself hurt.”
- Explanation: The speaker intended to emphasize that “she” was the one who was hurt, but by using the reflexive pronoun without a verb following it, the sentence is incomplete and confusing.
- Correct: “She herself was hurt.”
- Explanation: Here, “herself” is used correctly as an emphatic pronoun to emphasize that “she” was the one who was hurt.
Another mistake is using reflexive pronouns unnecessarily:
- Incorrect: “John and myself went to the store.”
- Explanation: “Myself” is incorrectly used in place of “I.” There is no need for a reflexive pronoun here because there is no action reflecting back on the subject.
- Correct: “John and I went to the store.”
- Explanation: The correct subject pronoun “I” is used instead of the reflexive pronoun “myself.”
In short, the most common mistake is using reflexive pronouns for emphasis or in place of regular subject or object pronouns, leading to sentences that sound awkward or incorrect.
FAQs for Reflexive and Emphatic Pronouns
What is a reflexive pronoun?
A reflexive pronoun is used when the subject and object of a sentence are the same person or thing, indicating that the action of the verb reflects back on the subject.
Can you give examples of reflexive pronouns in sentences?
Yes, examples include: “She looked at herself in the mirror,” “They taught themselves how to code,” and “I made myself a sandwich.”
What are the reflexive pronouns in English?
The reflexive pronouns in English are: myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, and themselves.
How do you use reflexive pronouns correctly?
Reflexive pronouns are used when the subject and object are the same, as the object of a verb, or as the object of a preposition. For example: “He hurt himself.”
What is the difference between reflexive and emphatic pronouns?
Reflexive pronouns reflect the action back onto the subject (e.g., “She prepared herself”), while emphatic pronouns are used for emphasis and do not change the meaning of the sentence (e.g., “She herself prepared”).
Can reflexive pronouns be used for emphasis?
Yes, reflexive pronouns can also be used as emphatic pronouns to add emphasis to the subject. For example: “I will do it myself.”
What is an emphatic pronoun?
An emphatic pronoun is used to emphasize the subject of a sentence. It is the same word as a reflexive pronoun but used for emphasis.
What are some common mistakes when using reflexive pronouns?
A common mistake is using a reflexive pronoun when it’s not needed, such as saying “I hurt myself the dog” instead of “I hurt the dog.”
Why do we use reflexive pronouns?
We use reflexive pronouns to show that the subject of the sentence is performing an action on itself, as in “She taught herself to play the piano.”
Can a reflexive pronoun be the object of a preposition?
Yes, reflexive pronouns can be the object of a preposition, especially when the subject is doing something to itself, like “They kept the secret to themselves.”
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