Reflexive Pronouns

Reflexive pronouns are pronouns ending in –self or –selves that are used when the subject and object of a sentence are the same.[1]https://www.grammarly.com/blog/reflexive-pronouns/

reflexive pronouns

Direct Objects

Reflexive pronouns can be a direct object in the sentence.

For example:

  • I hurt myself playing hockey.
  • The girl kicked herself.
  • I am teaching myself to speak English.

Indirect Objects

They can be an indirect object in the sentence.

For example:

  • We made ourselves some coffee.
  • She made herself a sandwich for lunch.
  • They can teach themselves the lesson.

Intensive Pronouns

Intensive pronouns are a type of reflexive pronoun that is used to emphasize the subject.[2]https://slideplayer.com/slide/9013049/

For example:

  • She herself did all the work.
  • He himself paid for the meal.
  • I myself did all of the work.

Common Reflexive Pronoun Errors

Reflexive pronouns are commonly misused in the following grammatical areas:

Compound Subjects

For example:

Incorrect: Susie and myself will study.

The easiest way to understand that this is incorrect is by splitting up the subjects.

You can’t say

Myself will study.

Rather you would say

I will study.

Therefore, the correct sentence becomes

Correct: Susie and I will study.

Compound Objects

For example:

Incorrect: You can hand in the project to Frank and myself.

The easiest way to understand that this is incorrect is by splitting up the objects.

You can’t say

You can hand in the project to myself.

Rather you would say

You can hand in the project to me.

Therefore, the correct sentence becomes

Correct: You can hand in the project to Frank and me.