Reflexive Pronouns

Note: Please click on the link below and watch the video for better understanding of the lesson.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfqjgCvPuM8

reflexive (adj.) [grammar]: reflecting back on the subject, like a mirror

We use a reflexive pronoun when we want to refer back to the subject of the sentence or clause.
Reflexive pronouns end in "-self" (singular) or "-selves" (plural).

There are eight reflexive pronouns:

reflexive pronoun

singular myself
yourself
himself, herself, itself

plural ourselves
yourselves
themselves

Look at these examples:

non-reflexive REFLEXIVE pronouns

the underlined words are NOT the same the underlined words are the SAME
person/thing person/thing

John saw me. I saw myself in the mirror.

Why does he blame you? Why do you blame yourself?

David sent him a copy. John sent himself a copy.

David sent her a copy. Mary sent herself a copy.

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 non-reflexive REFLEXIVE pronouns
the underlined words are NOT the same the underlined words are the SAME
person/thing person/thing

My dog hurt the cat. My dog hurt itself.

We blame you. We blame ourselves.

Can you help my children? Can you help yourselves?

They cannot look after the babies. They cannot look after themselves.

Intensive Pronouns

Notice that all the above reflexive pronouns can also act as intensive pronouns, but the function and
usage are different. An intensive pronoun emphasizes its antecedent. Look at these examples:

I made it myself. OR I myself made it.

Have you yourself seen it? OR Have you seen it yourself?

The President himself promised to stop the war.

She spoke to me herself. OR She herself spoke to me.

The exam itself wasn't difficult, but the exam room was horrible.

Never mind. We'll do it ourselves.

You yourselves asked us to do it.

They recommend this book even though they themselves had never read it. OR They recommend this
book even though they had never read it themselves.

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Exercise: Reflexive Pronouns

Directions: Circle the reflexive pronoun in each sentence below.

Example
A: He told himself to never be foolish again.
Answer: himself
1. Make sure to remind yourself of the things you need to do.

2. She thought to herself while she was in the library.

3. I saw myself in the mirror.

4. We blamed ourselves for the mistake.

5. Can you help yourselves?

6. They cannot look after themselves.

7. Why do you blame yourself for everything?

8. Please help yourself to some food.

9. Don’t be ashamed of yourself.

10. I bought a gift for myself.

Exercise 2:

Directions: Write a sentence with each reflexive pronoun given below.

Example
A: himself
Answer: He told himself to never be foolish again.
1. yourself- ____________________________________________________

2. myself- _____________________________________________________

3. himself - ____________________________________________________

4. herself- _____________________________________________________

5. itself- ______________________________________________________

6. themselves- _________________________________________________

jdpnhsenglish10sy2018-2019