Let's Learn About Reflexive Pronouns!

Hello Super Students!

Have you ever seen words that end in "-self" or "-selves"? These are special words called Reflexive Pronouns, and they have some cool superpowers in our sentences. Today, we're going to become experts on how to use them!

Think of these words like a mirror. Sometimes, the action in a sentence reflects right back to the person who did it. Let's find out how!

Meet the "-self" and "-selves" Family!

Here is the list of our special Reflexive Pronouns. They always match the person or thing doing the action.

For just ONE person or thing (Singular):
I → myself
You → yourself
He → himself
She → herself
It (like an animal or object) → itself

For MORE than one person or thing (Plural):
We → ourselves
You (talking to a group) → yourselves
They → themselves

Memory Trick!

This is an easy one to remember!
If it’s about just one, it ends in -self.
If it’s about more than one, it ends in -selves.

Watch Out! Common Mistakes

Some words might sound right, but they are not real English words. Always avoid these!
- Hisself (Incorrect!) → The correct word is himself.
- Theirselves (Incorrect!) → The correct word is themselves.

Superpower #1: The Mirror Action

We use reflexive pronouns when the person or thing doing an action is the SAME person or thing getting the action. The action bounces back like a boomerang!

First, a quick review...

In a sentence, the subject is the one doing the action. The object is the one receiving the action.
Example: The girl (subject) threw the ball (object).

But what if the action comes back to the subject? That's where we need our new superhero words!

Step-by-step example:

1. Look at this sentence from our syllabus: The boy cut...
2. Who did the boy cut? He cut the boy! (He cut his own finger).
3. Since the subject (The boy) and the object (the boy) are the same, we use a reflexive pronoun.
4. The correct sentence is: The boy cut himself while preparing dinner.

More Examples:

  • I saw myself in the shiny toaster. (I am the one seeing, and I am the one being seen).
  • The cat cleaned itself after its meal. (The cat is doing the cleaning and getting cleaned).
  • Be careful with those scissors, or you might hurt yourself!
Key Takeaway

Use a reflexive pronoun when the subject and object of a verb are the same person or thing. It's like they are looking in a mirror!

Superpower #2: Doing It All Alone!

Our second superpower is for emphasis! We use reflexive pronouns to show that someone did something without any help. It's like saying, "I did this all by myself!"

This superpower adds extra strength to a sentence to show that someone was independent.

Look at these examples from the syllabus:

  • You must finish the work yourself by Thursday.
    (This means: YOU must do it, and not get help from anyone else).

  • This time the children must find the way home themselves.
    (This means: The children must do it alone, without a grown-up's help).

More Examples:

  • My sister baked this delicious cake herself! (Wow, she didn't get any help!)
  • We built this amazing sandcastle ourselves. (We worked as a team, but no one else helped us).
  • He fixed his broken toy himself. (He is very clever!)
Did you know?

Sometimes, people add the word "by" to make the meaning even stronger, like "I did my homework by myself." It means the same thing - that you did it alone!

Key Takeaway

Use a reflexive pronoun to emphasise that someone did an action alone or without any help.

Time for a Quick Recap!

Don't worry if this seems tricky at first. It just takes a little practice. Let's review the two main jobs of reflexive pronouns.

Job 1: The Mirror Action
Use it when the subject and object are the same.
Example: He taught himself to play chess.

Job 2: Doing it Alone (Emphasis)
Use it to show something was done without help.
Example: She tied her shoelaces herself.

Remember to always match the pronoun to the subject (we → ourselves, the lion → itself).

You're doing an amazing job! Keep practicing and you will be a grammar superhero in no time.