Reflexive Pronouns

Reflexive Pronouns

by Keira Tran Nguyen

​We use reflexives...

1. as a direct object when the object is the same as the subject of the verb.

​

​Sometimes I cannot understand myself.

​

2. as an indirect object when the indirect object is the same as the subject of the verb:

​

We’ve brought ourselves something to eat.

3. as an object of a preposition when the object is the same as the subject of the verb:

​

He was feeling very sorry for himself.

​We also use reflexives...

• At the end of the clause when we are using it intensively for emphasis:

• She mended the car herself.

• To emphasise the person or thing we are referring to:

• Sir Paul McCartney himself sang the final song.

Reflexives with the preposition by:

​- to show that someone did something without any help:

​

The children got dressed by themselves.

I prepared the whole meal by myself.

​

​- to show that someone was alone:

​

He lived by himself in an enormous house.

She walked home by herself.

We can use a reflexive pronoun as direct object with most transitive verbs, but these are the most common:

Multiple Choice

Robert made this T-shirt _____

• Himself

• He

• His

• Herself

Multiple Choice

Every morning I wash ___________ and clean my teeth.

• myself

• herself

• itself

• himself

Multiple Choice

We helped _______to some Coke at the party.

• They

• our

• Ourselves

• We

Multiple Choice

Jane is a baby and she is too small to eat by _____________.

• myself
• herself
• itself
• himself

Multiple Choice

The lion can defend ______

• Itself

• Itselves

• Its

• It

Multiple Choice

Peter is very lazy.  He always copies his friends' homework and never does it by _______________.

• myself
• yourself
• yourselves
• himself

Multiple Choice

My mother often talks to ______

• Herselves

• She

• Her

• Herself

Multiple Choice

The children can decorate the Christmas tree by _______________.

• ourselves
• himself
• herself
• themselves

Multiple Choice

Alice and Doris collected the stickers ______

• Their

• Thenself

• Themselves

• Our

Multiple Choice

Don't help us, Dad.  Jill and I can paint the car all by ______________.

• myself
• themselves
• ourselves
• yourselves

Multiple Choice

Use a possessive adjetive

Leila likes ____ dog!

• His

• Her

• She

• Herself

Multiple Choice

Mary is looking at _____________ in the mirror.

• myself
• himself
• herself
• yourself

Multiple Choice

Where is ____ book?

• Me

• I

• I'm

• My

Multiple Choice

You are five years old, Danny.  You can comb your hair by ____________ now.

• yourself
• yourselves
• himself
• herself

Multiple Choice

Two students didn't do _____ mathematics homework.

• Their

• Thenself

• Thenselves

• They

Multiple Choice

The cat cleans ____________ with its tongue.

• yourself
• myself
• itself
• themselves

Multiple Choice

I have a car. ____ color is black.

• Itselves

• It

• Its

• Itself

Multiple Choice

Hi, Martin!  Hi, Rebecca!  Please come in and make ______________ at home. 

• yourself
• ourselves
• yourselves
• themselves

Multiple Choice

We go to a high school. _____ high school is fantastic

• We

• Ourself

• Ourselves

• Our

Multiple Choice

Julie, if you can't do this exercise by ____________, you should ask your teacher for help.

• herself
• myself
• yourself
• itself

Multiple Choice

 I tested ___________ on the spelling words.

• myself
• herself
• yourself
• itself

Multiple Choice

The children planned the party _________.

• ourselves
• themselves
• yourselves
• itself

Multiple Choice

We have the room all to _______________.

• themselves
• herself
• ourselves
• yourself

Multiple Choice

You should be proud of _______________.

• yourself
• myself
• himself
• herself

Multiple Choice

The nurse said that as long as I keep it clean, the cut will heal ______________.

• himself
• myself
• itself
• ourselves