Reflexive Pronouns in English: A Comprehensive Guide

 Reflexive pronouns are used in English when the subject and the object of the sentence are the same, meaning the subject performs the action on itself. This can occur in both everyday conversations and more complex situations. Reflexive pronouns are essential for understanding how certain verbs and actions work in English.

What Are Reflexive Pronouns?

A reflexive pronoun is a type of pronoun that reflects back to the subject. It is used when the subject and the object are the same entity. The reflexive pronouns in English are:

• Myself – used for "I" (yo mismo)
• Yourself – used for "you" (tú mismo)
• Himself – used for "he" (él mismo)
• Herself – used for "she" (ella misma)
• Itself – used for "it" (a sí mismo)
• Ourselves – used for "we" (nosotros mismos)
• Themselves – used for "they" (ellos mismos)

For example:

• "We really enjoyed ourselves on holiday."
• "I prepared the meal myself."

When Do We Use Reflexive Pronouns?

1. For Actions Done by the Subject to Itself: Reflexive pronouns are commonly used when the subject of the sentence is performing an action on itself. This happens with many transitive verbs, such as blame, cut, enjoy, help, hurt, introduce, prepare, teach, and many others. Let’s look at some examples:

   • "How did he hurt himself?"
   • "I blame myself for the mistake."

2. For Emphasis: Reflexive pronouns can also be used to emphasize the subject of a sentence, highlighting who performed the action. This is often seen when the reflexive pronoun appears at the end of the sentence. Here are some examples:

   • "We painted the house ourselves." (This emphasizes that we did it without help.)
   • "I baked the bread myself." (This emphasizes that I was the one who baked the bread.)

3. With the Preposition "By": Reflexive pronouns are often used with the preposition "by" to indicate that someone did something alone or without any help. Examples:

   • "The children got dressed by themselves." (They did it alone.)
   • "I prepared the entire meal by myself." (I did it without anyone helping me.)
   • "He lived by himself in a big house." (He lived alone.)

4. To Emphasize the Person or Thing: Reflexive pronouns can be used to emphasize the specific person or thing being referred to, especially in a situation where the subject is well-known or famous. Examples include:

   • "Kendal itself is quite a small town." (Emphasizing the town itself.)
   • "Sir Paul McCartney himself sang the final song." (Emphasizing that Sir Paul McCartney, specifically, performed.)

Reflexive Pronouns in Advanced Contexts

Some verbs change their meaning when combined with reflexive pronouns. This can create new meanings or add a sense of emphasis to the action. Here are some examples:

• "Help yourself" means "take more for yourself" or "serve yourself."
• "Behave yourself" means "act properly" or "be well-behaved."
• "He found himself lying on the road" means that he was surprised to realize he was in that position.
• "She applied herself to the job" means she worked very hard at it.

These examples show how reflexive pronouns can add subtle changes to the meaning of a sentence or emphasize a certain action.

Everyday Conversations Using Reflexive Pronouns

In casual conversations, reflexive pronouns frequently appear in exchanges between people. Here are some examples from everyday life:

Conversation 1:

• A: Did you watch the eight o’clock news last night?
• B: Yes, it was terrible. A man shot himself in his house.
• C: Mom! Mom! I made myself dirty.
• B: Clean yourself! And don’t interrupt us. Be a good boy!
• A: I think he was disappointed with his lover.
• B: Sure!
• C: Mom! Betty fell from her bicycle. She hurt herself, too.
• B: Why didn’t you tell me earlier?

Conversation 2:

• Husband: A nice, relaxing vacation in some tropical location would be so great, honey.
• Wife: Hmm… with you surrounded by Polynesian beauties, right?
• Husband: I wasn’t thinking of myself; I was thinking of you! You’ve been working too hard lately.
• Wife: Oh, please! You want that vacation for yourself, not for us!
• Husband: Nothing could be further from the truth!

In these conversations, reflexive pronouns like "myself" and "herself" show that the actions are directed back at the speaker or others.

Reflexive Pronouns in the Workplace

Reflexive pronouns are also useful when discussing work, personal goals, and self-improvement. For example, you can ask your classmates questions about their career goals or aspirations. Here are some examples of how reflexive pronouns can be used in a job context:

• Student A: Elena, what job do you imagine yourself having someday?
• Student B: I imagine myself working for a high-tech company someday.
• Would you like a job where you can give yourself time off whenever you need it?
• What kind of work environment do you see yourself in?
• Do you want a job where you constantly challenge yourself?
• Do you imagine yourself being the boss someday?
• Can you push yourself to work hard, or do you need someone else to push you?

In these examples, reflexive pronouns like "myself" and "yourself" are used to talk about one's own actions, goals, or situations in a work environment.

Conclusion

Reflexive pronouns are a key part of English grammar. They are used when the subject and the object of a sentence are the same, or to add emphasis. They also appear in many everyday situations, both in casual conversation and in professional settings. By understanding how and when to use reflexive pronouns, English learners can speak and write more clearly and accurately.

References

English Grammar in Use (2020). Reflexive Pronouns. Cambridge University Press.

Murphy, R. (2019). English Grammar in Use (5th ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.