FluencyLab
GrammarHub
Use reflexive pronouns when the subject and object are the same person/thing, and for emphasis or the idea of doing something alone.
Overview
Use reflexive pronouns when the subject and object are the same person/thing, and for emphasis or the idea of doing something alone.
Form and rules
Forms include myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves and themselves.
Use a reflexive object when subject and object refer to the same person: She cut herself.
Use by + reflexive to mean alone/without help: I did it by myself.
Use reflexives for emphasis: The manager herself called me.
Do not use a reflexive simply because the sentence sounds formal: Please contact me, not contact myself.
A closer look
Use reflexives for emphasis: The manager herself called me.
Do not use a reflexive simply because the sentence sounds formal: Please contact me, not contact myself.
Examples
He taught himself to code.
We enjoyed ourselves at the party.
I fixed it by myself.
The CEO herself answered the email.
Be careful not to hurt yourself.
Common mistakes
The subject and object refer to the same person.
Ourselves emphasizes that we did the action, without another agent.
Ready to practise?
The test combines multiple choice, gap completion, error correction, and sentence building so students have to recognise and produce the grammar, not simply reread the rule.