Reflexive Pronouns
01 · Quick explanation
Reflexive pronouns (myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves) show that the subject and object of a verb are the same person or thing: I cut myself while cooking.
02 · Full explanation
We use reflexive pronouns when the subject and the object of the action are the same: She hurt herself. They also emphasise that someone did something without help, often placed at the end of the sentence: I fixed the car myself. The phrase by myself/yourself/etc. means 'alone': He lives by himself. Do not use reflexive pronouns after prepositions of place when they are not needed, or confuse them with each other and others (who shows mutual action: They helped each other).
03 · Formula
04 · Affirmative
+ Subject + verb + reflexive pronoun
- I taught myself to play the guitar.
- She looked at herself in the mirror.
- They enjoyed themselves at the party.
05 · Negative
− Subject + do/does/did + not + verb + reflexive pronoun
- He didn't hurt himself badly.
- We didn't introduce ourselves properly.
- She doesn't talk to herself.
06 · Question
? Did + subject + verb + reflexive pronoun?
- Did you hurt yourself?
- Did they enjoy themselves at the concert?
- Does he ever talk to himself?
07 · Examples
ENI cut myself while chopping vegetables.
KZМен көкөніс турап жатқанда өзімді кесіп алдым.
RUЯ порезался, когда резал овощи.
ENShe looked at herself in the mirror before leaving.
KZОл шығар алдында айнадан өзіне қарады.
RUОна посмотрела на себя в зеркало перед уходом.
ENWe really enjoyed ourselves at the wedding.
KZБіз үйлену тойында шынымен көңіл көтердік.
RUМы действительно хорошо провели время на свадьбе.
ENHe taught himself to play the piano.
KZОл фортепианода ойнауды өзі үйренді.
RUОн сам научился играть на пианино.
ENThe children behaved themselves very well today.
KZБалалар бүгін өздерін өте жақсы ұстады.
RUДети сегодня очень хорошо себя вели.
ENDid you hurt yourself when you fell?
KZЖыққанда өзіңді жарақаттадың ба?
RUТы поранился, когда упал?
ENThe cat was washing itself in the sun.
KZМысық күн астында өзін жуып жатты.
RUКот умывался на солнце.
ENI made this cake myself.
KZМен бұл тортты өзім жасадым.
RUЯ сам испёк этот торт.
ENHe lives by himself in a small flat.
KZОл кішкентай пәтерде жалғыз тұрады.
RUОн живёт один в маленькой квартире.
ENPlease introduce yourselves to the new students.
KZЖаңа оқушыларға, өтінемін, өздеріңді таныстырыңдар.
RUПожалуйста, представьтесь новым ученикам.
08 · Signal words
09 · Common mistakes
✗ He hurt hisself.
✓ He hurt himself.
The correct form is himself, not hisself.
✗ They enjoyed themself at the party.
✓ They enjoyed themselves at the party.
With they/plural use themselves, not themself.
✗ We helped ourselves to pass the exam.
✓ We helped each other to pass the exam.
Use each other for mutual action between two or more people, not a reflexive pronoun.
10 · Compare with similar grammar
Reflexive Pronouns vs Each Other
Reflexive pronouns show the subject doing something to itself (She blamed herself), while each other/one another shows two or more people doing something to one another (They blamed each other).
She blamed herself for the mistake.
They blamed each other for the mistake.
He introduced himself to the class.
The students introduced themselves to each other.
11 · Interactive exercises
Answer each task and press Check. Type answers in English.
0 / 10 · 0 checked
1. Choose the correct answer:
I taught ___ to swim when I was young.
2. Choose the correct answer:
The cat cleaned ___ after eating.
3. Choose the correct answer:
We really enjoyed ___ at the festival.
4. Fill in the gap:
She looked at ___ in the mirror.
5. Fill in the gap:
The children behaved ___ very well at the museum.
6. Fill in the gap:
He lives by ___ in the countryside.
7. Fill in the gap:
Did you hurt ___ when you fell off the bike?
8. Correct the sentence:
He hurt hisself playing football.
9. Correct the sentence:
They enjoyed themself at the beach.
10. Correct the sentence:
We talked to ourselves about the project. (meaning: to one another)
12 · Mini test
Question 1 / 5
Which sentence is correct?
13 · Practice
Choose a skill to practise this topic.