Grammar Tips & Articles »

2. Reflexive Pronouns - The -self Words

This Grammar.com article is about 2. Reflexive Pronouns - The -self Words — enjoy your reading!


2:40 min read
6,125 Views
  Ed Good  —  Grammar Tips
Font size:

Myself and Other Mistakes

These are the reflexive ‑self pronouns, and we use them in the objective function to handle situations where the subject and the object of the sentence are the same person. (As discussed below, we also use these words as intensive pronouns).

Repeat after me: We use the reflexive ‑self pronouns in the objective function when the subject and object of the sentence are the same.

Also, these reflexive pronouns will immediately follow a verb or a preposition. You might repeat that to yourself 10 times or so.

‑self Words, Reflexive Pronouns

Suppose Amberinflicted some injury on Amber; the subject (Amber) and the object (Amber) are the same. If I say, Amber hurt her or She hurt her, you have no clue about whetherAmber hurtAmber orAmber hurt somebody else.

To solve this problem, Amber, Igor, and Miss Hamrick developed the reflexive pronoun so that action could reflect back on the actor. Thus:

Amber hurt herself.

The following table shows the reflexive and intensive pronouns:

Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns, A List

Here, memorize the ‑self words:

Person Singular Plural
First Person myself ourselves
Second Person yourself yourselves
Third Person himself herself itself themselves

 

‑self Words, Used as Objects

Again, repeat after me: We use the reflexive ‑self pronouns in the objective function when the subject and object of the sentence are the same. Focus in on that, please: when the subject and the object are the same.

Thus, study these examples where the subject and object refer to the same person or people:

Amber hurt herself. We gave ourselves a party. Do yourself a favor. (The implied subject is you.)

As mentioned above, the reflexive ‑self pronoun should follow either the verb or a preposition:

He punished himself for his stupidity. (Follows the verb punished.) She gave a present to herself. (Follows the preposition to.)

‑self  Words, Remember Two Things

1. Use the ‑self pronoun only when the subject of the sentence and an object in the sentence are one and the same. 2. Never use a ‑self pronoun as a subject, only as an object.

The reflexive ‑self pronoun should not be used unless the person referred to and the subject are one and the same. When two people are involved so that the subject and object are not the same, in formal settings it’s incorrect to use the reflexive pronoun and say:

Wrong: He hurt myself. Right: He hurt me.

Wrong: The opponent sent the report to Fred and myself. Right: The opponent sent the report to Fred and me.

Wrong: Please research this issue for Jane and myself. Right: Please research this issue for Jane and me.

The reflexive pronouns should always serve as objects, never as subjects. In formal settings, it is a grammatical mistake to use a reflexive pronoun as the subject of a sentence:

Wrong: The committee and myself will decide this issue. Right: The committee and I will decide this issue.

Wrong: Jane and myself enjoyed the dinner at your house. Right: Jane and I enjoyed the dinner at your house.

The ‑self words also act as intensive pronouns.

 

Previous: Sexism - Other Solutions

Next: 2. Intensive Pronouns - The -self Words

Rate this article:

Have a discussion about this article with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add this article to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "2. Reflexive Pronouns - The -self Words." Grammar.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Mar. 2024. <https://www.grammar.com/2-reflexive-pronouns-the-self-words>.

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Check your text and writing for style, spelling and grammar problems everywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Check your text and writing for style, spelling and grammar problems everywhere on the web!

    Browse Grammar.com

    Free Writing Tool:

    Instant
    Grammar Checker

    Improve your grammar, vocabulary, and writing -- and it's FREE!


    Quiz

    Are you a grammar master?

    »
    Identify the sentence with correct use of the preposition 'over':
    A The bird flew over the trees.
    B The cat is sleeping over the bed.
    C He jumped over the fence.
    D She sat over the edge of the cliff.

    Improve your writing now:

    Download Grammar eBooks

    It’s now more important than ever to develop a powerful writing style. After all, most communication takes place in reports, emails, and instant messages.