English Grammar Understanding the Basics - Evelyn P. Altenberg, Robert M. Vago 2010
Lesson 22: Reflexive pronouns
Unit 7: Pronouns
Part I: Kinds of words
Do the following sentences seem strange to you?
1. John Smith saw John Smith in the mirror.
2. My friends were talking among my friends.
3. Sam’s only cat was grooming Sam’s only cat.
These sentences are strange because they’re missing reflexive pronouns, those pronouns that end in -self or -selves. As you can see from the sentences below, we use reflexive pronouns whenever we refer to the same person or thing more than once in the same basic sentence. Sentences 1-3 should be stated like this:
4. John Smith saw himself in the mirror.
5. My best friends were talking among themselves.
6. Sam’s only cat was grooming herself.
Here are some more examples, first without and then with a reflexive pronoun.
7a. The boy washed the boy.
7b. The boy washed himself.
8a. Tom and Harry watched Tom and Harry on the video.
8b. Tom and Harry watched themselves on the video.
9a. You can see you doing that.
9b. You can see yourself doing that.
Notice that if we hear, for example, The boy washed the boy, without a reflexive pronoun, then we assume that someone’s talking about two different boys. Similarly, the sentence He shaved him suggests that the person (a male) who did the shaving and the person (a male) who received the shaving are not the same. The reflexive pronoun lets the listener know that the speaker is referring to the same person or thing.
Quick tip 22.1 lists the reflexive pronouns. They’re easy to identify because they all end in -self or -selves (Quick tip 22.2).
Quick tip 22.1
The reflexive pronouns are: myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves.
Quick tip 22.2
All the reflexive pronouns end in -self (singular) or -selves (plural).
Test yourself 22.1
Underline the reflexive pronouns in each of the sentences below.
Sample: That computer is so smart it can repair itself.
Getting started (answers on p. 99)
1. John was a person who always pushed himself to the limit.
2. Watch yourself!
3. We prided ourselves on being silly.
4. The directors of that company can blame no one but themselves.
5. I see myself as a successful writer someday.
More practice (answers on the website)
6. All of you should be ashamed of yourselves!
7. Rosanna treated herself to a lavish vacation.
8. I wish my car started itself in the dead of winter.
9. Would everyone in the room please identify himself?
10. You should take better care of yourself!
Test yourself 22.2
Underline the reflexive, subject, and object pronouns in each of the sentences below. Label each as reflexive, subject, or object. Some sentences will have more than one pronoun.
Sample: Greta’s perseverance benefitted both herself and the rest of the staff. (reflexive)
Getting started (answers on p. 99)
1. I have found that I can do it when the room is quiet.
2. He noticed that she often immersed herself in a book.
3. We have known her for years.
4. Some guests told us that they forced themselves to get up at 6 a.m.
5. You don’t need to explain yourself to me.
More practice (answers on the website)
6. Mr. Ballantine said that he appreciated us.
7. If you want to leave, please let me know.
8. Who among us wants to commit himself to another year of service?
9. Jay’s wife promised herself never to do it again.
10. Reflexive pronouns are easy to identify, don’t you agree?