Reflexive pronouns

Reflexive pronouns

By Alina Chilikina

In this lesson you will:

1) Test your previous knowledge
2) Learn some grammar
3) Test your newly acquired skills

Multiple Select

Which of these words are pronouns?

• They

• Are

• She

• So

​Do you know how to use reflexive pronouns like myself, yourself or themselves? 

Look at these examples to see how reflexive pronouns are used.

She looked at herself in the mirror.
I'm trying to teach myself Italian with an app.
Our children walk to school by themselves.

Reflexive pronouns are words like myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves and themselves. They refer back to a person or thing.

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Grammar explanation

We often use reflexive pronouns when the subject and the object of a verb are the same. 

I cut myself when I was making dinner last night.
I hope you enjoy yourselves at the party tonight!
We need to believe in ourselves more.

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Grammar explanation

Adding emphasis

We can add a reflexive pronoun for emphasis when it's unusual or different.

He wants to pass his driving test so that he can drive himself to work.

We can use reflexive pronouns to emphasise that someone does it personally, not anybody else.

The door was definitely locked. I locked it myself.

We can also use a reflexive pronoun together with the noun it refers to in order to emphasise it.

We talked to the manager herself, and she agreed to give us our money back.

Notice the difference between plural reflexive pronouns and reciprocal pronouns (each other, one another).

They're buying themselves a new television.
They're buying each other small gifts.

Reciprocal pronouns

We can use by + reflexive pronoun to mean alone.

He usually goes on holiday by himself.
Do you enjoy being by yourself?

By + reflexive pronoun

Multiple Choice

We said goodbye and never saw ... again.

• each other

• ourselves

• themselves

• herself

Multiple Choice

The children made this cake ...

• itself

• themselves

• each other

• them

Multiple Choice

Welcome to the group, Jana and Peggy! Can you introduce ... ?

• itself

• myself

• her

• yourselves

Remember!

Well done!