- Reflexive pronouns are words ending in -self or -selves (myself, yourself, himself, etc.) that are used when the subject and the object of a sentence are the same (e.g., “She looked at herself in the mirror.”).
- The nine English reflexive pronouns are myself, yourself, himself, herself, oneself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, and themselves.
- Reflexive pronouns often serve as direct objects, receiving the action (e.g., “Jack rewarded himself.”), or as indirect objects, indicating for whom the action is done (e.g., “Cynthia pours herself tea.”).
- Reflexive pronouns can also function as intensive pronouns, adding emphasis without changing the sentence’s meaning (e.g., “Jack made his supper himself.”).
- Avoid misusing reflexive pronouns in compound subjects and objects (e.g., “Andrew and myself” should be “Andrew and I”).
Reflexive pronouns are used when the subject and object of a sentence are the same, but how exactly do they function, and when should you use them? Here, we’ll break down what reflexive pronouns are, how they work in sentences, and common mistakes to avoid.
Table of contents
Reflexive pronouns as direct or indirect objects
Reflexive pronouns and intensive pronouns
Reflexive pronoun for the singular they
Common mistakes with reflexive pronouns
What are reflexive pronouns?
Reflexive pronouns are words ending in -self or -selves that are used when the subject and the object of a sentence are the same (e.g., “I believe in myself.”). They can act as either objects or indirect objects.
The nine English reflexive pronouns are myself, yourself, himself, herself, oneself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, and themselves.
In Latin, the word reflexive is related to reflect; this is useful to remember because a reflexive pronoun reflects upon a sentence’s subject.
Reflexive pronoun examples
Here are some simple examples of reflexive pronouns used in sentences:
Each of these sentences uses a reflexive pronoun to indicate that the subject and object are the same.
Reflexive pronouns as direct or indirect objects
A reflexive pronoun can be a direct object in a sentence when the subject and the direct object are one and the same.
In the first sentence, Mary is the object of reward. In the second sentence, the subject, Jack, is the object of reward, so we use the pronoun himself.
Reflexive pronouns can also be an indirect object in a sentence.
It is worth noting that referring twice to the same noun as subject and object (rather than using a reflexive pronoun for the object) sounds a bit odd (e.g., “Jack decided to cook Jack a special supper.”).
Reflexive pronouns and intensive pronouns
Intensive pronouns are reflexive pronouns that are used to emphasize the subject or antecedent in a sentence, often in the sense of “and not someone else.”
You can tell when a word ending in -self or -selves is being used as an intensive pronoun because the sentence it is part of will not significantly change in meaning if you remove it.
Reflexive pronoun for the singular they
The Associated Press, Chicago Manual of Style, and American Heritage Dictionary all recognize the singular they for gender-neutral use.
In the past, writers were encouraged to use the more traditional, more complicated, he or she in place of they for indefinite singular pronouns. But the singular they has been used for precisely this purpose for hundreds of years. Not to mention, the singular they has been adopted as a personal pronoun among the nonbinary community.
You can still use the awkward him- or herself construction—but by no means do you have to.
Now that you’ve learned more about reflexive pronouns, give yourself a pat on the back.
Common mistakes with reflexive pronouns
The most common mistake with reflexive pronouns is misusing them with compound subjects or compound objects in a sentence. Here’s an example:
How do we know that myself does not belong as part of the compound subject (Andrew and the speaker) in this sentence? Remove Andrew from the equation to see if what remains functions correctly.
Clearly, myself does not work, but the subject pronoun I does.
The improper use of reflexive pronouns as objects is just as prevalent in today’s business world.
The subject of this sentence is you, and the indirect objects are Mr. Martin and the speaker. Taking Mr. Martin out of the sentence will reveal that myself will not work.
Instead, the sentence requires the object pronoun me.
Reflexive pronouns FAQs
What is a reflexive pronoun?
A reflexive pronoun is a pronoun that refers back to the subject of a sentence, such as myself, yourself, or themselves (e.g., “She looked at herself.”).
What are the nine English reflexive pronouns?
The nine reflexive pronouns are myself, yourself, himself, herself, oneself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, and themselves.
How do reflexive pronouns function in a sentence?
Reflexive pronouns act as direct or indirect objects when the subject and object are the same, as in “Frank rewarded himself” or “She poured herself a cup of coffee.”
What’s the difference between reflexive and intensive pronouns?
Intensive pronouns are reflexive pronouns used for emphasis, meaning they reinforce the subject but can be removed without changing the sentence’s meaning (e.g., “I fixed the problem myself.”).
What are common mistakes with reflexive pronouns?
A common mistake is misusing them in compound subjects and objects, such as “Raj and myself” instead of “Raj and I.” Another frequent error is using a reflexive pronoun when a standard object pronoun is needed, like “Please send the report to Sarah or myself” instead of “Please send the report to Sarah or me.”
