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Reflexive pronouns are special pronouns used when the subject and the object of a sentence refer to the same person or thing. Words like myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, and themselves are all reflexive pronouns. They are essential for expressing actions that the subject performs on itself, and they also serve important emphatic functions in English. This comprehensive guide covers all the rules, uses, and common mistakes associated with reflexive pronouns.
Table of Contents
What Are Reflexive Pronouns?
A reflexive pronoun is used when the subject of a verb is also its object—in other words, when the person or thing performing the action is also receiving it. All reflexive pronouns end in -self (singular) or -selves (plural).
I cut myself while cooking. (I = subject, myself = object; same person)
She taught herself to play guitar. (She is both teacher and learner)
The cat cleaned itself. (The cat performed the action on itself)
Reflexive pronouns reflect the action back to the subject, which is why they are called "reflexive"—they reflect like a mirror. Without them, the sentence would imply a different object and change the meaning entirely.
Complete List of Reflexive Pronouns
| Subject Pronoun | Reflexive Pronoun | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I | myself | I made myself a sandwich. |
| you (singular) | yourself | Did you hurt yourself? |
| he | himself | He introduced himself. |
| she | herself | She bought herself flowers. |
| it | itself | The machine turned itself off. |
| we | ourselves | We enjoyed ourselves at the party. |
| you (plural) | yourselves | Help yourselves to the food. |
| they | themselves | They prepared themselves for the exam. |
Note: Themself is increasingly used as a gender-neutral singular form ("Everyone should prepare themself"), though "themselves" in this context is also widely accepted.
Reflexive Use: Subject and Object Are the Same
The primary function of reflexive pronouns is to show that the subject and object refer to the same person or thing. This is the core reflexive use.
I blamed myself for the mistake.
She looked at herself in the mirror.
He accidentally locked himself out of the house.
They introduced themselves to the new neighbors.
The children can dress themselves now.
Compare the difference that the reflexive pronoun makes:
She hurt herself. (She caused her own injury)
She hurt her. (She caused injury to another woman)
Emphatic Use: Adding Emphasis
Reflexive pronouns can also be used for emphasis to stress that someone did something personally, without help. In this use, the reflexive pronoun is not grammatically necessary—the sentence would be complete without it—but it adds emphasis.
I myself saw the accident happen. (emphasis: I personally witnessed it)
The president himself attended the meeting. (emphasis: the president, not a representative)
She made the cake herself. (emphasis: she did it, no one helped)
We ourselves were surprised by the result.
When used emphatically, the reflexive pronoun can appear directly after the noun/pronoun it emphasizes or at the end of the sentence. Both positions are correct.
By + Reflexive Pronoun: Alone or Without Help
The phrase "by + reflexive pronoun" means either "alone" or "without help from anyone."
She lives by herself. (She lives alone.)
He built the bookshelf by himself. (He did it without help.)
Can the children do their homework by themselves?
I prefer to travel by myself.
Common Verbs Used with Reflexive Pronouns
Some verbs are particularly likely to be used with reflexive pronouns in English:
| Verb | Example |
|---|---|
| enjoy | We enjoyed ourselves at the concert. |
| hurt / cut / burn | She burnt herself on the stove. |
| introduce | Let me introduce myself. |
| teach | He taught himself to code. |
| blame | Don't blame yourself. |
| help | Help yourself to some coffee. |
| express | She expresses herself through art. |
| prepare | They prepared themselves for the interview. |
| behave | The children behaved themselves. |
| pride | She prides herself on her cooking. |
When NOT to Use Reflexive Pronouns
Unlike many other languages, English does not use reflexive pronouns with everyday personal care actions when the meaning is obvious. In Spanish, French, and German, for example, you would use reflexive forms for washing, dressing, and shaving. In English, this is usually unnecessary.
✅ I washed my hands. (NOT "I washed myself my hands")
✅ She got dressed. (NOT "She dressed herself" — though this is not wrong)
✅ He shaved this morning. (NOT necessarily "He shaved himself")
✅ I need to concentrate. (NOT "I need to concentrate myself")
However, reflexive pronouns are used with these verbs when there is potential ambiguity or when you want to emphasize that the subject performed the action on themselves rather than on someone else:
The little girl can now dress herself. (emphasis on independence)
He cut himself while shaving. (clarifies he wasn't cutting something else)
Do Not Use After Prepositions of Place
After prepositions of place and movement, use personal pronouns (me, him, her) rather than reflexive pronouns, unless the subject and object are the same.
She closed the door behind her. (NOT "behind herself" — unless emphasizing)
He pulled the blanket over him.
Reflexive vs. Reciprocal Pronouns
Reflexive pronouns should not be confused with reciprocal pronouns (each other and one another). Reflexive pronouns indicate the subject acts on itself; reciprocal pronouns indicate two or more subjects act on each other.
They looked at themselves in the mirror. (Each person looked at their own reflection)
They looked at each other. (Person A looked at Person B, and B looked at A)
| Reflexive | Reciprocal |
|---|---|
| They introduced themselves. (each said own name) | They introduced each other. (A introduced B, B introduced A) |
| They hurt themselves. (each hurt self) | They hurt each other. (they hurt one another) |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Using "Hisself" or "Theirself"
❌ He did it hisself.
✅ He did it himself.
❌ They helped theirselves.
✅ They helped themselves.
Mistake 2: Using Reflexive Instead of Object Pronoun
❌ Please send the report to John and myself.
✅ Please send the report to John and me.
❌ Myself and Sarah will attend.
✅ Sarah and I will attend.
Rule: Only use a reflexive pronoun when the subject and object are the same person. If not, use a regular personal pronoun (me, him, her, etc.).
Mistake 3: Unnecessary Reflexive with Certain Verbs
❌ I need to relax myself.
✅ I need to relax.
❌ She concentrated herself on the task.
✅ She concentrated on the task.
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct reflexive pronoun or decide if one is needed.
1. She looked at _______ in the mirror.
Answer: herself
2. We enjoyed _______ at the party.
Answer: ourselves
3. He taught _______ to play chess.
Answer: himself
4. Please help _______ to some cake. (you, singular)
Answer: yourself
5. The cat was cleaning _______.
Answer: itself
6. They blame _______ for what happened.
Answer: themselves
7. I _______ made this bread. (emphatic)
Answer: myself
8. She lives by _______ in a small apartment.
Answer: herself
Reflexive pronouns are important tools for expressing self-directed actions and adding emphasis in English. By understanding when to use them—and equally importantly, when not to—you will communicate with greater precision and avoid common errors that can change the meaning of your sentences entirely.
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