Reflexive pronouns are used for two reasons; discover them in this post and practice them in our conversation groups on making a free profile on our site.
| REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS |
| I | MYSELF |
| YOU | YOURSELF |
| HE | HIMSELF |
| SHE | HERSELF |
| IT | ITSELF |
| THEY | THEMSELVES |
| WE | OURSELVES |
| YOU (PLURAL) | YOURSELVES |
WATCH OUT: If you do not know the gender of a person, use they and themself, even though they are singular.
When do you we use reflexive pronouns?
We use reflexive pronouns when we have a subject and an object in a sentence and they are the same thing. For instance:
I am looking at myself in the mirror.
I have been talking to myself all day.
You are listening to yourself in a recording.
We are watching ourselves on TV.
Not: I am talking to me.
We also use reflexive pronouns to emphasize the fact that someone needs to do something alone; we normally do this by using the imperative.
Do it yourself = You must do it alone.
Clean it yourself = You have to clean it by yourself.
Speaking practice:
- Do you ever talk to yourself?
- Do you spend a long time looking at yourself in the mirror each day?
- What is the best way a language learner can healp themself improve their level?
- Do you prefer to ask for help or do things yourself?
- When was the last time you asked someone for money instead of paying for something yourself?
