Pronouns: Reflexive Pronouns

skip navigation

On this page:
Reflexive v. Obj. Pronouns
Reflexive Pronouns
Refers to All or Part
Reflexive Verbs
Reflexive Dative Verbs
Myself
Common Mistakes
Practice 1
Practice 2

Reflexive Pronouns

self dressed

I dressed myself !

Referring to Oneself

Reflexive vs. Object Pronouns

SAME PERSON	DIFFERENT PERSON
A reflexive pronoun (ending in -self or -selves) is used when the subject and the object are the same person. The reflexive pronoun points back to the subject of the sentence. Specific verbs use the reflexive pronoun.	A personal pronoun can take the place of an object noun when the subject and object are different persons (or things).

I washed myself.	I washed it / them. the floor(s)
He dressed himself.	He dressed him. his son
She bathed herself.	She bathed them.
You rinsed yourselves.	You rinsed it.
They dried themselves.	They dried her.
It prepared itself.	It prepared us.

Reflexive Pronouns

SINGULAR	PLURAL
I – myself	We – ourselves
You – yourself	You (all) – yourselves
She – herself / He – himself	They – themselves
It – itself / One - oneself

Refers to All or Part

ALL	PART
A reflexive pronoun refers to all or the whole (subject) person. The specifics are not stated.	A possessive pronoun and noun is used to refer to a specific part of the (subject) person.
I hurt myself.	I hurt my foot.
He enjoyed himself at the party.	He enjoyed his time at the party.
We marketed ourselves well.	We marketed our ideas well.
She denied herself any luxuries.	She denied her desires.
They encouraged themselves.	They encouraged their efforts.
You washed yourself.	You washed your face. (brushed your teeth, shampooed your hair, cut your nails, etc.)

to deny oneself – to decide not to have something that you would like, especially for moral or religious reasons

Reflexive Verbs and Verb Phrases

He believes in himself.	He hurt himself.	He takes care of himself.
She blames herself.	He introduced himself.	She talks to herself.
He cut himself.	He excused himself.	He teaches himself.
She enjoys herself.	They killed themselves.	She tells herself not to worry.
He feels sorry for himself.	He pinched himself.	He works for himself.
She helps herself.	They marketed themselves well.	They wished themselves good luck.
She denied herself any luxuries.	He hates himself for forgetting his keys.	She encouraged herself to keep working.
He is pleased with himself.	She is proud of herself.	He is comfortable with himself.

Reflexive Pronouns with Dative Verbs

Reflexive pronouns can be used with dative verbs if the subject (agent) is the same person as the object (receiver). Dative verbs take an indirect object: He gave himself (obj.) a break (indirect obj.); and may use a preposition: He made a sandwich for himself. / He sent a letter to himself.
He made himself a sandwich. (for himself)	He called himself a taxicab. (for himself)	He paid himself a compliment. (to himself)
He caused himself a lot of trouble. (for himself)	He cost himself a lot of money.	He did himself a favor. (for himself)
He wrote himself a note. (to himself)	He sent himself an email. (to himself)	He gave himself a break. (to himself)
He bought himself a new car. (for himself)	He allowed himself some extra time.	He asked himself a question.

Also see Indirect Objects (dative verbs)

Myself

Emphasizing an Accomplishment

Self Emphasis

LESS EMPHASIS	MORE EMPHASIS
Stating an accomplishment without myself/ himself / herself gives less emphasis to the person or persons involved in the accomplishment. Other people may have helped.	A reflexive pronoun can be used after the direct object to indicate accomplishment by one individual.

I fixed it.	I fixed it myself. (by myself)
I bought my own car.	I bought it myself. (by myself)
I learned to do it.	I learned to do it myself. (by myself)
I did it.	I did it myself. (by myself)
I am here.	I am by myself. (expression – alone)

Also see Get Passives

Common Mistakes

ERROR	FIX
A man needs to be comfortable with hisself before he can be comfortable with anyone else. Pop-q 02/14/2010	A man needs to be comfortable with himself before he can be comfortable with anyone else. (hisself is not a word.)
They taught theirselves to use computers.	They taught themselves to use computers. (theirselves is not a word.)
After swimming, I dried me off.	After swimming, I dried myself off. (Use myself, not me, if the subject and object are the same.)
My wife and myself just moved to San Francisco.	My wife and I just moved to San Francisco. (Use I, notmyself, as a subject pronoun.)
Dr. Roberts gave my wife and myself a second chance.	Dr. Roberts gave my wife and I a second chance. (Use me, not myself, if the subject is different from the object.) I gave my wife and myself a second chance. My wife gave herself and me a second chance.

Practice 1

Match the Reflexive Pronoun

Decide on which reflexive pronoun goes with each subject.

Select the word from each menu that best completes the sentence.
Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right.


1.	The actress was proud of when she won an Oscar award.
2.	Jack was pleased with .
3.	We have done well for .
4	They blamed for losing the game.
5	I called by accident.
6	You can build it if you follow the directions .
7	One should take care of .
8	The mouse hurt when it took the cheese.

Practice 2

Select the Pronoun

Decide whether to use an object pronoun, a possessive pronoun or a reflexive pronoun.

Select the word from each menu that best completes the sentence.
Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right.

#	YOUR RESPONSE	ANSWER
9.	At six o'clock, my roommate woke up .
10.	I got out of bed and walked to the bathroom.
11.	I washed face and brushed teeth.
12.	My roommate washed in the shower.
13.	I quickly dressed and then went to the kitchen.
14.	I made breakfast.
15.	Then I called a taxi.
16.	My roommate works at home, so he spends the day .
17.	On the way to work, I bought a cup of coffee.
18.	My assistant encourages to do well.
19.	This year, I bought new computers.
20.	"One should always give time to do a job well."
21.	I like that she encourages .
22.	My roommate, on the other hand, discourages .
23.	Maybe he shouldn't work .