Reflexive Pronouns in English: Grammar Rules, Usage & Examples

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Reflexive Pronouns in English: Rules, Examples & Exercises

Have you ever said something like “I hurt myself” or “She taught herself Spanish”?
These are simple, everyday sentences—but they use a powerful tool in English grammar: reflexive pronouns.

Whether you’re just starting to learn English or want to refine your grammar skills, understanding reflexive pronouns is a must. This small group of words plays a big role in helping you sound natural and fluent. Reflexive pronouns are used in daily conversations, writing, storytelling, and even business emails. So if you’ve ever wondered what “myself,” “yourself,” or “themselves” really mean and when to use them—this guide is for you.

In this complete blog post from My Language Classes, we’ll take a friendly, step-by-step approach to learning:

What reflexive pronouns are
When and how to use them
Why they’re important
And how to avoid the most common mistakes

You’ll see real-life examples, do a quick quiz to test your knowledge, and get expert tips that you can apply immediately. Let’s master this essential part of English grammar together—one sentence at a time.

What Are Reflexive Pronouns in English? Explanation and Overview

Reflexive pronouns in English are used when the subject and the object of a sentence are the same person or thing. In other words, when someone does something to themselves, we use a reflexive pronoun to show it.

These special pronouns always end in “-self” for singular and “-selves” for plural. You might already be familiar with words like myself, yourself, or themselves—these are all reflexive pronouns.

Here is the complete list of reflexive pronouns:

Subject Pronoun	Reflexive Pronoun
I	myself
you (singular)	yourself
he	himself
she	herself
it	itself
we	ourselves
you (plural)	yourselves
they	themselves

🔑 Key Idea:

Reflexive pronouns “reflect” the action back to the subject. They are never used as the subject themselves, but rather as the object when the subject and object are the same.

🎯 Examples to Understand the Concept

I taught myself how to cook. (I = subject, myself = object, same person)
She looked at herself in the mirror.
They enjoyed themselves at the party.

In each sentence, the subject is doing something to itself or themselves. This is why a reflexive pronoun is necessary.

❗Important Note:

Reflexive pronouns are not the same as emphatic pronouns, even though the words look the same.

Reflexive: He hurt himself.
Emphatic: He himself cleaned the entire house.
We’ll focus only on reflexive usage in this post.

Everyday Sentences Using Reflexive Pronouns: 10 Common Examples

Reflexive pronouns are everywhere in everyday English. From casual chats to professional conversations, you’ll find them in sentences where people talk about actions they do to themselves.

To help you understand how these work in real life, here are 10 common and practical examples of reflexive pronouns used in natural sentences:

🔟 Real-Life Examples of Reflexive Pronouns in Action

I prepared myself for the interview by practicing in the mirror.
She taught herself how to play the piano using YouTube videos.
He injured himself while playing football.
We enjoyed ourselves at the theme park last weekend.
The cat cleaned itself after eating.
They blamed themselves for the mistake.
Please make sure you behave yourself during the event.
You should take care of yourself when you’re sick.
The children amused themselves with toys while waiting.
I sometimes talk to myself when I’m thinking hard.

💬 Notice How These Sentences Work:

The subject and object are the same.
The action reflects back to the person or thing doing it.
Each sentence sounds natural, simple, and clear.

These examples are a great way to see how reflexive pronouns make English sound more precise and personal.

When to Use Reflexive Pronouns in English: All the Key Situations

Reflexive pronouns aren’t just random add-ons to a sentence. They follow very specific grammar rules and appear in certain types of situations. Knowing when to use reflexive pronouns can make your English more accurate and natural.

Here are all the main situations where reflexive pronouns are used in English:

✅ 1. When the Subject and Object Are the Same

Use a reflexive pronoun when someone does something to themselves.

Examples:

I hurt myself.
She introduced herself to the new students.

✅ 2. To Show That the Action Was Done Alone or Without Help

Reflexive pronouns can also be used to show independence or that something was done without help.

Examples:

He built the shed all by himself.
We fixed the car ourselves.

✅ 3. For Emphasis (Sometimes Confused with Emphatic Pronouns)

Even though this crosses into emphatic use, reflexive pronouns often appear when someone wants to stress that they, and no one else, did the action.

Examples:

I cleaned the house myself.
The CEO herself made the announcement.

✅ 4. With Prepositions Referring Back to the Subject

Sometimes, reflexive pronouns are used after prepositions when they refer back to the same subject.

Examples:

He kept the secret to himself.
She was talking to herself.

✅ 5. To Avoid Confusion in Meaning

Reflexive pronouns help make it clear who is affected by the action, especially in complex sentences.

Examples:

John blamed himself for the accident. (Not someone else)
They prepared themselves for the test. (Not other people)

✅ 6. In Fixed Phrases and Idiomatic Expressions

Certain expressions in English use reflexive pronouns naturally.

Examples:

Help yourself to some snacks.
Make yourself at home.

By using reflexive pronouns in the right situations, you can express your ideas with confidence and clarity.

Conjugation Rules for Reflexive Pronouns

Reflexive pronouns in English do not follow verb-like conjugation rules, but they do follow subject pronouns. That means each reflexive pronoun changes based on who or what is doing the action. While they don’t change with tense (like verbs do), using the correct pair of subject and reflexive pronoun is very important.

Let’s break it down simply, so you can always match them correctly.

📘 Reflexive Pronoun Chart

Subject Pronoun	Reflexive Pronoun	Example Sentence
I	myself	I told myself to stay calm.
you (singular)	yourself	You should treat yourself to a holiday.
he	himself	He reminded himself of the rules.
she	herself	She cut herself while chopping onions.
it	itself	The dog scratched itself.
we	ourselves	We introduced ourselves to the new team.
you (plural)	yourselves	You should help yourselves to the snacks.
they	themselves	They blamed themselves for the error.

📝 Rules to Remember

Always match the subject: Reflexive pronouns must agree in number and person with the subject.
No verb conjugation needed: Reflexive pronouns stay the same regardless of verb tense.
- Past: She reminded herself.
- Present: She reminds herself.
- Future: She will remind herself.
Not used with actions toward others: You don’t say “I saw myself the teacher” (incorrect) — the object must be the same as the subject.

⚠️ Be Careful With:

“Hisself,” “theirselves,” “ourself” – ❌ These are incorrect and not accepted in standard English.
- Correct: himself, themselves, ourselves

Learning this chart and understanding how each reflexive pronoun connects to its subject will help you build correct and clear sentences easily.

Reflexive Pronoun Grammar Rules You Need to Know

Reflexive pronouns may look simple, but using them correctly requires a few solid grammar rules. These rules ensure that your sentences are clear, correct, and natural-sounding—whether you’re speaking or writing.

Let’s break down the essential grammar rules for reflexive pronouns in plain English.

📚 Rule 1: Reflexive Pronouns Refer Back to the Subject

The subject and object must be the same person or thing.

✅ Correct:

I saw myself in the mirror.
She blamed herself for the mistake.

❌ Incorrect:

I saw herself in the mirror. (Subject and object are not the same)

📚 Rule 2: Use Only the Right Reflexive Pronoun

Each subject has a matching reflexive pronoun. Don’t mix them up!

Subject	Reflexive
I	myself
You	yourself / yourselves
He	himself
She	herself
It	itself
We	ourselves
They	themselves

📚 Rule 3: Do NOT Use Reflexive Pronouns in Place of Regular Object Pronouns

Reflexive pronouns are not used when the subject and object are different.

❌ Wrong:

She gave the book to myself.
✅ Right:
She gave the book to me.

📚 Rule 4: Use Reflexive Pronouns After Certain Verbs

Some verbs naturally go with reflexive pronouns when the action is performed on the subject.

🟢 Common verbs that often need reflexive pronouns:

enjoy, hurt, introduce, teach, prepare, pride, express, distance

Examples:

He taught himself to dance.
I prepared myself for the challenge.

📚 Rule 5: Use After Prepositions Referring to the Subject

When the subject is also the object of a preposition, use a reflexive pronoun.

✅ Correct:

She kept the secret to herself.
He talked to himself for an hour.

📚 Rule 6: Never Use Reflexive Pronouns as the Subject of a Sentence

Reflexive pronouns are used only as objects, not subjects.

❌ Incorrect:

Myself will attend the meeting.
✅ Correct:
I will attend the meeting myself. (emphatic)

📚 Rule 7: Don’t Add Unnecessary Reflexive Pronouns

Not all actions need a reflexive pronoun. Avoid using one when it’s not required.

❌ Wrong:

He met himself at the party.
✅ Right:
He met his friend at the party.

These grammar rules are simple, but following them will help you avoid confusion and sound more fluent when using reflexive pronouns in English.

Important Tips for Using Reflexive Pronouns Correctly

Reflexive pronouns may be easy to spot, but they can be tricky to use correctly in different contexts. To help you avoid errors and sound more natural in English, here are some simple but powerful tips for mastering reflexive pronouns.

💡 Tip 1: Always Match the Subject and Reflexive Pronoun

Reflexive pronouns must refer back to the subject of the sentence. If they don’t match, the sentence is incorrect.

Correct:

We treated ourselves to dinner.

Incorrect:

We treated themselves to dinner.

💡 Tip 2: Don’t Use Reflexive Pronouns in Place of Regular Object Pronouns

Reflexive pronouns are only used when the subject and object are the same. Don’t use them just to sound formal.

❌ Wrong: She told the news to myself.
✅ Right: She told the news to me.

💡 Tip 3: Use Reflexive Pronouns to Emphasize the Subject (for clarity or stress)

In some cases, you may use reflexive pronouns after the main clause for emphasis.

Examples:

I made the cake myself.
The president himself signed the document.

👉 This use is called emphatic, but it uses the same reflexive forms.

💡 Tip 4: Use Reflexive Pronouns After Certain Verbs (They Sound More Natural)

Some verbs are often followed by reflexive pronouns in English. These verbs suggest self-action or personal involvement.

🟢 Common verbs:

prepare, enjoy, pride, hurt, teach, introduce

Examples:

He introduced himself to the team.
I hurt myself while exercising.

💡 Tip 5: Don’t Overuse Reflexive Pronouns

Beginners often try to add reflexive pronouns to every sentence. Only use them when necessary.

❌ Incorrect: I love myself pizza.
✅ Correct: I love pizza. (No reflexive needed)

💡 Tip 6: Remember That “By + Reflexive Pronoun” Means Alone or Without Help

This is a very common English phrase used to show independence.

Examples:

She solved the problem by herself.
They completed the task by themselves.

💡 Tip 7: Watch Out for Incorrect Nonstandard Forms

Avoid incorrect forms like:

❌ hisself
❌ theirselves
❌ ourself

✅ Always use: himself, themselves, ourselves

With these practical tips, you’ll be able to use reflexive pronouns confidently in both speaking and writing.

Common Mistakes with Reflexive Pronouns and How to Fix Them

Even advanced learners sometimes make mistakes with reflexive pronouns. The good news is, once you understand the most common errors, it becomes much easier to avoid them. Below are the top mistakes people make with reflexive pronouns—and how you can fix them right away.

❌ Mistake 1: Using Reflexive Pronouns as Subjects

Wrong: Myself will join the meeting later.
Why it’s wrong: Reflexive pronouns cannot be the subject of a sentence.
Correct: I will join the meeting later.

🔁 Fix: Use regular subject pronouns like I, you, he, she, they instead of reflexive ones at the beginning of a sentence.

❌ Mistake 2: Using the Wrong Reflexive Pronoun

Wrong: She blamed himself for the problem.
Why it’s wrong: The reflexive pronoun doesn’t match the subject.
Correct: She blamed herself for the problem.

🔁 Fix: Make sure the reflexive pronoun matches the subject exactly in gender and number.

❌ Mistake 3: Adding Reflexive Pronouns Where They Don’t Belong

Wrong: He gave the gift to myself.
Why it’s wrong: The subject and object are not the same person.
Correct: He gave the gift to me.

🔁 Fix: Use object pronouns (me, you, him, her, us, them) when the subject and object are different.

❌ Mistake 4: Overusing Reflexive Pronouns for Formality

Wrong: Please contact myself if you have questions.
Correct: Please contact me if you have questions.

🔁 Fix: Don’t use reflexive pronouns just to sound formal. It often has the opposite effect.

❌ Mistake 5: Using Nonstandard or Made-Up Forms

Wrong: He hurt hisself.
Wrong: They did it theirselves.
Correct: He hurt himself.
Correct: They did it themselves.

🔁 Fix: Stick to the correct, standard reflexive forms.

❌ Mistake 6: Forgetting to Use a Reflexive Pronoun When Needed

Wrong: She introduced to the group.
Correct: She introduced herself to the group.

🔁 Fix: When the subject performs the action on themselves, include the reflexive pronoun.

❌ Mistake 7: Using Reflexive Pronouns with Intransitive Verbs

Intransitive verbs don’t take a direct object, so adding a reflexive pronoun is incorrect.

Wrong: He arrived himself at 5 PM.
Correct: He arrived at 5 PM.

🔁 Fix: Don’t use reflexive pronouns with verbs like arrive, go, sleep, etc., unless there’s a valid object.

By avoiding these common reflexive pronoun mistakes, your English will sound clearer, smarter, and more fluent.

20 Reflexive Pronoun Example Sentences for Better Understanding

One of the best ways to learn reflexive pronouns is by seeing them used in real sentences. Below are 20 simple, clear, and everyday examples. These cover different pronouns, situations, and sentence types to help reinforce your understanding.

Let’s dive in:

📝 Example Sentences Using Reflexive Pronouns:

I taught myself how to play the guitar during the holidays.
You should treat yourself to a nice meal tonight.
He introduced himself to the class with a big smile.
She hurt herself while cutting vegetables.
The cat cleaned itself after eating.
We enjoyed ourselves at the beach party.
You all must prepare yourselves for the final exam.
They blamed themselves for the misunderstanding.
I looked at myself in the mirror before leaving.
She prepared herself for the big presentation.
He built the treehouse all by himself.
We took care of ourselves when we were home alone.
You need to express yourself clearly in interviews.
The robot turned itself off after 10 minutes.
They introduced themselves to the new neighbors.
I sometimes talk to myself when I’m thinking.
She made herself a cup of tea after work.
Don’t blame yourself—it wasn’t your fault.
The kids dressed themselves for school today.
He prided himself on his honesty and hard work.

Reflexive Pronouns Fill-in-the-Blank Exercise: Test Your Knowledge

It’s time to put your reflexive pronoun skills to the test! Below are 20 sentences with missing reflexive pronouns. Fill in each blank with the correct reflexive pronoun that matches the subject.

Try to complete the exercise without looking back to the previous sections for better practice!

Fill in the blanks with the correct reflexive pronoun:

I prepared ________ for the big test yesterday.
She blamed ________ for the mistake.
They introduced ________ to the new teacher.
You should take care of ________ more often.
He found ________ lost in the city.
We enjoyed ________ at the party last night.
The dog scratched ________ behind the ear.
You all can help ________ to some snacks.
I sometimes talk to ________ when I’m alone.
She made ________ a sandwich for lunch.
He hurt ________ while playing soccer.
We taught ________ how to swim last summer.
They reminded ________ to be on time.
You must believe in ________ to succeed.
The cat washed ________ after eating.
I saw ________ in the mirror just now.
She congratulated ________ on her promotion.
We kept the secret to ________.
You should enjoy ________ during the holidays.
He built the shed all by ________.

Check Your Answers for the Reflexive Pronouns Exercise

I prepared myself for the big test yesterday.
She blamed herself for the mistake.
They introduced themselves to the new teacher.
You should take care of yourself more often.
He found himself lost in the city.
We enjoyed ourselves at the party last night.
The dog scratched itself behind the ear.
You all can help yourselves to some snacks.
I sometimes talk to myself when I’m alone.
She made herself a sandwich for lunch.
He hurt himself while playing soccer.
We taught ourselves how to swim last summer.
They reminded themselves to be on time.
You must believe in yourself to succeed.
The cat washed itself after eating.
I saw myself in the mirror just now.
She congratulated herself on her promotion.
We kept the secret to ourselves.
You should enjoy yourself during the holidays.
He built the shed all by himself.

If you got most of these right, fantastic job! If not, no worries — review the matching rules between subjects and reflexive pronouns, and practice more.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Reflexive Pronouns

Here are some of the most common questions learners ask about reflexive pronouns, along with simple, clear answers.

1. What exactly is a reflexive pronoun?

A reflexive pronoun shows that the subject of the sentence is also the object of the action. Examples include myself, yourself, himself, and themselves.

2. Can I use reflexive pronouns for emphasis?

Yes! Reflexive pronouns can emphasize who did the action. For example: I fixed the car myself means you did it alone or personally.

3. Can reflexive pronouns be used as subjects?

No, reflexive pronouns cannot be the subject of a sentence. Use regular subject pronouns like I, you, he, etc., instead.

4. Are reflexive pronouns the same as intensive pronouns?

They look the same, but intensive pronouns add emphasis, while reflexive pronouns reflect the action back on the subject. For example:

Reflexive: She taught herself.
Intensive: She herself taught the class.

5. When do I use ‘yourself’ vs. ‘yourselves’?

Use yourself when talking to one person and yourselves when talking to more than one person.

6. Can I use reflexive pronouns with prepositions?

Yes! When the preposition refers back to the subject, use a reflexive pronoun. For example: She talked to herself.

7. What if the subject and object are different people?

Then do NOT use a reflexive pronoun. Use normal object pronouns like me, him, her, or them. For example: He gave me the book, not He gave myself the book.

8. Can animals and things use reflexive pronouns?

Yes, for things and animals, use itself. For example: The dog hurt itself.

9. Is it okay to say ‘hisself’ or ‘theirselves’?

No, these are incorrect forms. The correct reflexive pronouns are himself and themselves.

10. Can reflexive pronouns stand alone?

Usually, reflexive pronouns follow verbs or prepositions and don’t stand alone as subjects or objects.

Key Takeaways: Reflexive Pronouns Summary and Important Points

Reflexive pronouns (myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves) refer back to the subject of the sentence.
Use reflexive pronouns only when the subject and the object are the same person or thing.
Reflexive pronouns cannot be used as subjects—use regular subject pronouns instead.
Reflexive pronouns are used for emphasis (intensive pronouns) and to show that someone does something on their own.
Common reflexive pronouns match the subject in number and gender (e.g., she → herself, they → themselves).
Avoid incorrect forms like hisself or theirselves; always use the standard forms.
Reflexive pronouns are often used with certain verbs (introduce, hurt, pride, teach) and after prepositions when referring back to the subject.
“By + reflexive pronoun” means alone or without help (e.g., by herself).
Don’t overuse reflexive pronouns—only use them where they make sense and are grammatically correct.
Reflexive pronouns can refer to people, animals, and things (itself for things/animals).

Conclusion: Mastering Reflexive Pronouns for Clear, Confident English | My Language Classes

Understanding and using reflexive pronouns correctly is an essential step in mastering English grammar. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to polish your skills, reflexive pronouns help you express actions that reflect back on the subject clearly and naturally.

From everyday sentences to complex conversations, reflexive pronouns add precision and emphasis. Avoiding common mistakes and practicing regularly will boost your confidence and fluency.

Keep practicing with the examples and exercises in this guide, and soon you’ll find reflexive pronouns becoming second nature in your English communication.

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