Reflexive pronouns, or reflexive pronouns, are an important part of any language, because without them, conversations would be much more complicated. But what exactly are reflexive pronouns and how are they used specifically in English?
Reflexive pronouns – definition
Reflexive pronouns are retrospective pronouns. They make it possible to look back on that subject a sentence withdraw to be able to
The pronouns are referencing back because you refer to one with reflexive pronouns already mentioned names, place or another subject can obtain. This type of pronoun always refers to an object, a living being or a person himself and they stand as object in one sentence. Accordingly, the subject and the object of a sentence are always the same person or the same subject.
Because that of course sounds a bit abstract and all the grammatical terms can confuse you, take a look at the following example.
Mary poured Mary a big glass of juice.
(Mary poured Mary a tall glass of juice.)
Mary poured herself a big glass of juice.
(Mary poured itself a large glass of juice.)
The example shows how the reflexive pronoun herself is used to a to avoid repetition. Instead of saying Mary twice, which would make the sentence sound weird, you can avoid the duplication with the appropriate reflexive pronoun.
But not only that: the statement becomes even more so through the use of a reflexive pronoun more precise. It could theoretically mean another Mary if no reflexive pronouns are used.
Reflexive pronouns – education
The formation of reflexive pronouns follows a specific pattern. In the 1st and 2nd person Singular and Plural will to the possessive pronouns the endings -self (singular) or –himself (plural) hanged. You can see that in the following example.
Possessive pronouns: my
Reflexive pronoun: myself (1st person singular)
Possessive pronoun: our
Reflexive pronoun: ourhimself (1st person plural)
Here, respectively, the possessive pronouns my and our the ending -self in the singular and -selves appended in the plural. This is how you get the reflexive pronouns myself and ourselves. In the same way z. B. also the reflexive pronouns yourself (2nd person singular) and yourselves (2nd person plural) together.
Possessive pronouns can also indicate who or what something belongs to. If you are interested in the topic, then take a look at the explanation on the topic «possessive pronouns».
In the 3rd person Singular and plural, on the other hand, becomes die object shape of personal pronoun used for forming reflexive pronouns. But here again the endings -seleven or -selves attached.
For a better understanding you will find an overview of all personal pronouns, object forms, possessive pronouns and the corresponding reflexive pronouns in the following table.
It is important that you remember that the formation of reflexive pronouns differs in the singular and plural. As you have already learned, in Singular the ending -self attached. When forming the plurals but you have to make sure to adjust the ending. Here must instead of -self namely -selves attached to the personal pronoun.
Reflexive Pronouns – Usage
As you have already learned, reflexive pronouns are generally used when you refer back to that subject a sentence relate want.
You can see an example of this usage in the following sentence.
My parents bought themselves a new car.
(My parents have itself bought a new car.)
Here the Reflexive Pronoun themselves used to refer back to the subject my parents to acquire.
However, reflexive pronouns can also serve other functions than just referring back to the subject. They can also be used, for example, to Emphasis or specific mood to include in the sentence. You can see exactly what this can look like below.
Reflexive pronouns with the addition by
through the addition by can you express that someone is something completely alonewithout the involvement of others. by gives the sentence even more expression because it is the reflexive pronoun stressedas you can see in the example below.
I cooked dinner Alles by myself.
(I have dinner all alone cooked.)
In this sentence you emphasize with the addition bythat you cooked dinner alone and without help. With the further addition Alles you emphasize all the more that you eat all cooked alone.
You can see another example of how the emphasis that something was done alone can look like here:
He spends all his time by himself.
(He spends all his time alone.)
In this example, the addition by emphasizes that the person is all alone. In this way, the sentence wants to convey a mood of solitude to the readership.
Reflexive pronouns to emphasize the subject or object
Also to Emphasis of the subject or object of your sentences you can use reflexive pronouns. Most often you see this use of reflexive pronouns when it comes to important persons like heads of state goes.
This law was presented by the president himself!
(This law was passed by the President personally/even presented!)
While in English you can use the same reflexive pronouns in this case, in German you use a different word, such as «highly personal» or alternatively just «self».
Non-Reflective Pronouns
Now you know when to use reflexive pronouns. But it is also important to know in which cases no Reflexive pronoun is used.
According to location information
location information are words in a sentence that describe where something is located. These include, for example behind («Behind»), abovee («above»/»above») or in front of («before»/»before»). According to location information no Reflexive pronouns. Instead, in this case, you use the object shape the personal pronouns.
Further up in the explanation you will find a table in which the object forms of the personal pronouns are listed.
To make things clearer, here are two more examples.
She held the pistol right in front of here.
(She held the gun pointed itself.)
We saw a UFO above us.
(We saw a UFO over us.)
As you can see, in these two examples, the personal pronouns here and us used to refer back to the subject (here: she and we) to acquire. After all location information, like here for example in front of or aboveso there is no reflexive pronoun.
In mutual relationships
Except for place names, no reflexive pronoun is used in reciprocal relationships. Instead, you use the pronouns here one anothright or each other. They have the same meaning and can both be written with «each other» translate.
A mutual relationship describes an action that takes place between two or more people. The actions are always based on reciprocity. This is the case, for example, when three people are conversing with one another. If you have more If you want to learn, then take a look at the explanation «one another or each other» on.
The usage of one another and each other you see in the following example.
Right: Tom and Jerry hate each other.
(Tom and Jerry hate each other.)
Incorrect: Tom and Jerry hate themselves.
(Tom and Jerry hate himselft.)
In the example sentence «Tom and Jerry Hate Each Other» it is one mutual relationshipie an act based on reciprocity based. Therefore, in this case each other used instead of a reflexive pronoun. But you could as well, if you like one another use because the terms are synonymous.
But if you mistakenly use the reflexive pronoun, so themselves, use, changes the meaning of the sentence. This is because reflexive pronouns themselves refer back to the subjects Tom and Jerry and therefore subject and object are always the same person. So, in this example, the sentence with a reflexive pronoun would mean that Tom hates only himself and Jerry also only hates himself since the subject and object are the same person.
Although the two terms have the same meaning, they differ in how they are used. Each other is strictly speaking with two persons and one another used by three or more people. Colloquially, however, most English speakers are more likely to use each other.
Reflexive pronouns – examples
In the following table you will find all personal pronouns with the corresponding reflexive pronouns and an example.
personal pronounsreflexive pronounsexamplesImyselfI bought myself a new car.(I bought my own car.)youyourselfYou poured yourself a glass of water.(You poured yourself a glass of water.)he/she/ithimself/herself/itselfShe played by herself.weourselveswe got ourselves a dog.(We got a dog.)youyourselvesGet yourselves some food. theythemselvesThey did the work by themselves.(They did the work themselves.)
You see again in these examples how the reflexive pronoun is used to refer back to the subject of the sentence.
Look at the first example: The subject of the sentence is the personal pronoun I, so I». That myself is used to express that I am even bought a car. So you’re referring to the subject again I.
In the last example you refer to themselves again on the subject of the sentence they, i.e. «they». With this you express and emphasize that they do the work even and alone have made.
Reflexive pronouns tips
You have now seen how to use reflexive pronouns. Um really safe to use of Reflexive Pronouns, as with all grammar matters, you should practice. To make it easier for you, you will find a list here Usage Tips of reflexive pronouns:
- If you rely on that subject of the sentence withdraw or emphasize want someone something alone or personally did, then you use a reflexive pronoun.
- the shape of the Reflexive Pronoun depends on that subjectt of the sentence that you want to refer back to with a reflexive pronoun
- Pay attention to the correct spelling of the reflexive pronouns! The ending -self becomes in the plural to -selves.
- at mutual relationships and locationn becomes no Reflexive pronoun used. You also have to make sure that there are German verbs that have a reflexive pronoun, but not in English (e.g. «can afford something» and to afford).
Reflexive Pronouns – The Most Important
- The English reflexive pronouns are: myself, yourself, himself, herself, myself, myself, yourselves, themselves.
- Reflexive pronouns are referential pronouns. They make it possible to refer back to the subject of the sentence to…