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Reflexive Pronoun

Reflexive Pronoun

The term ‘reflexive’ refers to something aimed against oneself. The reflexive pronoun would be a form of pronoun that is accompanied by the predecessor, which must be positioned within a single phrase. A reflexive pronoun in English grammatical signifies that the individual doing the verb’s behavior also acts as the subject of the behavior.

What Is a Reflexive Pronoun?

A reflexive pronoun is a kind of pronoun. These vary from the other pronouns in the fact that they do not serve as a replacement for a subject. If another noun or pronoun performs anything with itself, a reflexive pronoun is employed. Usually, lines include something or someone doing something to another individual or object. Reflexive pronouns finish within the word “selves” or “self” and therefore can function as either an indirect or direct object of the statement.

Definition of a Reflexive Pronoun:

A reflexive pronoun is a pronoun that related a phrase to another phrase in the statement and delivers the related phrase or an adjective phrase. It is usually used as the subject of a related phrase. A reflexive pronoun can function as the statement’s object or subject on its own.

Examples of Reflexive Pronouns:

  1. I hurt myself.
  2. They did their work themselves.
  3. Clean your room yourself.
  4. I bought myself a new laptop.
  5. She prepared herself for the interview.
  6. I pampered myself on my birthday.
  7. Krishna treats himself after winning every match.
  8. I picked the best makeup wear for myself.
  9. I cannot hear any wrong thing for myself.
  10. My classmates made all the rangoli themselves.

How to Use a Reflexive Pronoun?

A reflexive pronoun is applied to indicate that exactly the same individual performs and receives an action. It is a reflection of the activity on its own and it does not include another item. In a word, a reflexive pronoun indicates that within a statement, the worker, as well as the recipient of the actions, are both the same person.
Reflexive pronouns may appear to be unneeded in certain contexts, yet they are extremely useful in giving understanding when employing third-person plural pronouns. It could also help with anxiety because the work is completed solely by that individual.

Common Errors with Reflexive Pronouns:

One of the most prevalent errors in reflexive pronoun employment is employing a reflexive pronoun whenever one standard pronoun might suffice. Reflexive pronouns primarily serve as objects in statements. However, numerous authors make the error of using reflexive pronouns in complex subjects.  So same logic would apply to complex objects, which are two objects that get the same action. Only utilize a reflexive pronoun if somehow the subject is the exact same individual. Sometimes authors get hisself vs. himself mixed up. It’s simple to understand why, myself employs the possessive defining factor my, whereas yourself employs your. But hisself isn’t a word; instead, he uses the object pronoun him.

When to Use a Reflexive Pronoun?

We always employ reflexive pronouns to show that the subject is operating on or for itself. The subject is operating on itself, either physically or symbolically, instead of on another object. If the subject and object of the action are the same, the ideal place to employ a reflexive pronoun is to describe the object. If otherwise, avoid using one. It is essential when speaking in the third person plural.

Reflexive Pronouns – Practice Questions:

Choose the correct option from the following sentences-

1. We crossed the road _______.

a. themselves
b. ourselves
c. myself
d. itself

2. Animals adjust _______ according to their surrounding.

a. themselves
b. herself
c. itself
d. himself

3. I prepared the dinner _______.

a. yourself
b. ourself
c. myself
d. herself

4. We prepared _______ for the exams.

a. yourselves
b. itself
c. myself
d. ourselves

5. He drives the car _______.

a. himself
b. herself
c. itself
d. yourself

Answers:

  1. We crossed the road ourselves.
  2. Animals adjust themselves according to their surrounding.
  3. I prepared the dinner myself.
  4. We prepared ourselves for the exams.
  5. He drives the car himself.

Choose suitable words for the following sentences-
( ourselves, yourself, himself, itself,  herself)

  1. Alice likes to do her work ______.
  2. The plant makes its food _______.
  3. Rohan makes drawings ______. 
  4. Always trust ______.
  5. We can practise here _______.

Answers-

  1. Alice likes to do her work herself.
  2. The plant makes its food itself.
  3. Rohan makes drawings himself.
  4. Always trust yourself.
  5. We can practice here ourselves.

Frequently Asked Questions on Reflexive Pronouns-

Que1.  What is a Reflexive Pronoun?

Ans. A reflexive pronoun is a kind of pronoun. These vary from the other pronouns in the fact that they do not serve as a replacement for a subject. If another noun or pronoun performs anything with itself, a reflexive pronoun is employed. Usually, lines include something or someone doing something to another individual or object. Reflexive pronouns finish within word “selves” or “self” and therefore can function as either an indirect or direct object of the statement.

Que2.  What is the definition of a Reflexive Pronoun?

Ans. A reflexive pronoun is a pronoun that related a phrase to another phrase in the statement and delivers the related phrase or an adjective phrase. It is usually used as the subject of a related phrase. A reflexive pronoun can function as the statement’s object or subject on its own.

Que3. What are examples of Reflexive Pronouns?

Ans.

  1.  I hurt myself.
  2. They did their work themselves.
  3. Clean your room yourself.
  4. I bought myself a new laptop.
  5. She prepared herself for the interview.
  6. I pampered myself on my birthday.
  7. Krishna treats himself after winning every match.
  8. I picked the best makeup wear for myself.
  9. I cannot hear any wrong thing for myself.
  10. My classmates made all the rangoli themselves.

Que.4 What are the rules for using Reflexive Pronouns?

Ans. A reflexive pronoun is applied to indicate that exactly the same individual performs and receives an action. It is a reflection of the activity on its own and it does not include another item. In a word, a reflexive pronoun indicates that within a statement, the worker, as well as the recipient of the actions, are both the same person.
Reflexive pronouns may appear to be unneeded in certain contexts, yet they are extremely useful in giving understanding when employing third-person plural pronouns. It could also help with anxiety because the work is completed solely by that individual.



Last Updated : 16 Feb, 2023
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