Reflexive pronoun:
A reflexive pronoun is a type of pronoun that reflects back to the subject of a sentence. It is used when the subject of the sentence also performs the action on itself. Reflexive pronouns are formed by adding the suffix -self (singular) or -selves (plural) to certain personal pronouns. They help indicate that the subject is both the doer and the receiver of the action in a sentence. Examples of reflexive pronouns consist of
- myself,
- yourself,
- himself,
- herself,
- itself,
- ourselves,
- yourselves,
- themselves.
Reflexive pronouns are used to convey actions or states of being that involves self-reference or self-action.
| Personal pronoun | Reflexive Pronoun | Examples |
| I | Myself | I committed myself thousand times. |
| He | Himself | He created the master panting by himself. |
| She | Herself | She has so many coins and saved herself very carefully. |
| It | Itself | That LED screen can Adjust the picture resolution itself. |
| They | Themselves | People in the jungle from animals by themselves. |
| You (Singular) | Yourself | Are you ready to participate singing competition by yourself |
| You (Plural) | Yourselves | Good to see you at a party by yourselves. |
Reflexive pronouns rules:
- Reflexive pronouns are used whilst the difficulty and item of a sentence refer to the equal individual or factor. As an instance:
- She injured herself while playing Volleyball.
- They prepared themselves for the tournament.
- Reflexive pronouns can be used as the direct object of a verb when the action reflects back on the subject. For example:
- He cut himself while cutting an apple.
- We enjoyed ourselves at the party.
- Reflexive pronouns are used after certain prepositions including through, with, to, for, among, etc. when the action is accomplished by means of or to the issue. As an example:
- She bought perfume for herself.
- They talked among themselves.
- Reflexive pronouns also are used for emphasis, to emphasize the subject, or to add depth to the sentence. In such cases, the reflexive pronoun is not essential for the sentence’s grammatical shape. for example:
- I made the decision myself.
- The cat opened the cupboard all by itself.
- Reflexive pronouns should not be used when the action is not performed by the subject on itself. For example, it would be incorrect to say:
- She bought a gift for her.
- He cut him while shaving.
These rules should help you understand and use reflexive pronouns correctly in English sentences.