Reflexive pronouns

How Reflexive Pronouns Work

We form reflexive pronouns by adding "-self" for singular nouns (like "myself," "yourself") and "-selves" for plural nouns (like "ourselves," "yourselves"). They match the subject in number (singular or plural) and person (first, second, or third).

Examples of Reflexive Pronouns

• "I taught myself to play the guitar." (The speaker is both teaching and learning.)
• "They looked at themselves in the mirror." (They are looking at their own reflections.)

Role in Communication

Emphasizing the Doer: Highlights that the action is done by the subject itself. 🔍 Clarifying Actions: Prevents confusion about who is performing or receiving an action. 🔄 Expressing Autonomy: Shows that someone did something independently. 💪

Common Mistakes to Avoid

✅ Correct: "She made herself a cup of tea." (Correct use of reflexive pronoun)

❌ Incorrect: "She made her a cup of tea." (If "her" refers to the same person as "she," it should be "herself.")

✅ Correct: "We enjoyed ourselves at the party." (Shows that "we" were both the enjoyers and the ones being enjoyed.)

❌ Incorrect: "We enjoyed us at the party." (Incorrect use of object pronoun instead of reflexive)

✅ Correct: "He prides himself on his work." (Correct reflexive pronoun for emphasis)

❌ Incorrect: "He prides him on his work." (Lacks the reflexive pronoun to indicate that the action is done to himself)