English grammar: Reflexive pronouns

What this grammar point covers

Reflexive pronouns in English are words like myself, yourself, himself, etc. They are used when the subject and the object of the verb are the same person.

When to use it

Use reflexive pronouns when the subject does something to itself, for emphasis, or in some fixed expressions.

Key forms

• myself
• yourself
• himself
• herself
• itself
• ourselves
• yourselves
• themselves

Examples

Tips

• Do not use a reflexive pronoun if the subject and object are different people.
• Use reflexive pronouns for emphasis: 'I did it myself.'
• Some verbs in English do not use reflexive pronouns, even if they do in other languages.

Exceptions and edge cases

• Some verbs, like 'wash' or 'dress,' do not always need a reflexive pronoun in English.
• The pronoun 'oneself' is used in formal or general statements.