Reflexive Pronouns

Using myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves

beginner

When to Use

•When subject and object are the same: I hurt myself. She taught herself.
•For emphasis: I did it myself. The president himself attended.
•After certain verbs: enjoy yourself, help yourself, behave yourself.
•With by for alone: He lives by himself. I finished it by myself.
•Not used after feel/relax/concentrate (no object needed): I feel good (not myself).

How to Form

Affirmative (+)

Subject + verb + reflexive pronoun (matching subject)

Negative (-)

Subject + don't/doesn't + verb + reflexive pronoun

Question (?)

Did + subject + verb + reflexive pronoun?

💡 Singular: myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself. Plural: ourselves, yourselves, themselves.

Examples

✓She cut herself while cooking.

✗She cut her while cooking.

Same person = reflexive.

✓Help yourself to some food.

✗Help you to some food.

Fixed expression with reflexive.

✓I did the work myself.

✗I did the work by me.

Emphasis uses reflexive; alone uses by + reflexive.

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

• Match reflexive to subject: I → myself, you → yourself, he → himself, etc.
• Use for same subject/object or emphasis.
• By + reflexive = alone: by myself, by yourself.
• Don't use after feel, relax, concentrate, meet.

relative-pronouns subject-object-pronouns possessive-pronouns 📝 pronouns-beginner 📝 reflexive-pronouns-quiz

Reflexive Pronouns

Using myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves

beginner

When to Use

•When subject and object are the same: I hurt myself. She taught herself.
•For emphasis: I did it myself. The president himself attended.
•After certain verbs: enjoy yourself, help yourself, behave yourself.
•With by for alone: He lives by himself. I finished it by myself.
•Not used after feel/relax/concentrate (no object needed): I feel good (not myself).

How to Form

Affirmative (+)

Subject + verb + reflexive pronoun (matching subject)

Negative (-)

Subject + don't/doesn't + verb + reflexive pronoun

Question (?)

Did + subject + verb + reflexive pronoun?

💡 Singular: myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself. Plural: ourselves, yourselves, themselves.

Examples

✓She cut herself while cooking.

✗She cut her while cooking.

Same person = reflexive.

✓Help yourself to some food.

✗Help you to some food.

Fixed expression with reflexive.

✓I did the work myself.

✗I did the work by me.

Emphasis uses reflexive; alone uses by + reflexive.

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

• Match reflexive to subject: I → myself, you → yourself, he → himself, etc.
• Use for same subject/object or emphasis.
• By + reflexive = alone: by myself, by yourself.
• Don't use after feel, relax, concentrate, meet.

relative-pronouns subject-object-pronouns possessive-pronouns 📝 pronouns-beginner 📝 reflexive-pronouns-quiz

Reflexive Pronouns

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

Related

Reflexive Pronouns

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

💡 Practice Tips

Related

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

✗He hurt hisself.

✗They enjoyed themself.

✗I feel myself tired.

💡 Practice Tips

Related

When to Use

How to Form

Examples

Common Mistakes

✗He hurt hisself.

✗They enjoyed themself.

✗I feel myself tired.

💡 Practice Tips

Related