reflexive (adj.) [grammar]: reflecting back on the subject, like a mirror
We use a reflexive pronoun when we want to refer back to the subject of the sentence or clause. Reflexive pronouns end in "-self" (singular) or "-selves" (plural).
There are eight reflexive pronouns:
| reflexive pronoun | |
|---|---|
| singular | myself yourself himself, herself, itself |
| plural | ourselves yourselves themselves |
Look at these examples:
| non-reflexive the underlined words are NOT the same person/thing | REFLEXIVE pronouns the underlined words are the SAME person/thing |
|---|---|
| John saw me. | I saw myself in the mirror. |
| Why does he blame you? | Why do you blame yourself? |
| David sent him a copy. | John sent himself a copy. |
| David sent her a copy. | Mary sent herself a copy. |
| My dog hurt the cat. | My dog hurt itself. |
| We blame you. | We blame ourselves. |
| Can you help my children? | Can you help yourselves? |
| They cannot look after the babies. | They cannot look after themselves. |
Intensive pronouns
Notice that all the above reflexive pronouns can also act as intensive pronouns , but the function and usage are different. An intensive pronoun emphasizesits antecedent (the earlier word to which it refers). Two important points:
- We can remove an intensive pronoun and the sentence still makes sense. (If we remove a reflexive pronoun, the sentence no longer makes sense.)
- In most cases an intensive pronoun can go before of after the verb.
Look at these example intensive pronouns:
- I made it myself.
I myself made it. - Have you yourself seen it?
Have you seen it yourself? - The President himself promised to stop the war.
- She spoke to me herself.
She herself spoke to me. - The exam itself wasn't difficult, but the exam room was horrible.
- Never mind. We'll do it ourselves.
- You yourselves asked us to do it.
- They recommend this book even though they themselves have never read it.
They recommend this book even though they have never read it themselves.
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