Reflexive Pronouns
We use reflexive pronouns when the subject andobject of a sentence are the same person or non-person.
| Singular | |
|---|---|
| 1st person | I talk to myself when I am nervous or excited. |
| 2nd person | You cut yourself while cutting tomatoes. |
| 3rd person (male) | He hurt himself playing hockey. |
| 3rd person (female) | She enjoyed herself at the party. |
| 3rd person (non-person) | It saw itself in the mirror. |
| Plural | |
| 1st person | We blame ourselves for the results of the election. |
| 2nd person | You helped yourselves to more ice cream. |
| 3rd person | They believed in themselves. |
Reflexives in Imperative Sentences
In imperative sentences (where the subject YOU is omitted), we use yourself when talking to one person or yourselves when talking to more than one person.
- Don't cut yourself with that knife. Please be careful.
- Hey guys. Help yourselves to more pizza.
Reflexives to Mean Alone
We use by + reflexive pronoun to mean alone or without any help.
- I did my homework by myself.
- You go to the movies by yourself.
- He ate dinner by himself.
- She fixed her car by herself.
- It got its food out of the cupboard by itself.
- We ruined everything by ourselves.
- You ate all of the ice cream by yourselves.
- They painted the house by themselves.
Test your knowledge
Directions: Choose the best answer to fill in the blank.(10 problems)