Reflexive Pronouns

 REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS ( COMPOUND PERSONAL PRONOUNS )

The word reflexive has been taken from Latin reflexus . It means directed or turned back on itself . A Reflexive Pronoun reflects a noun or a pronoun by taking the place of its antecedent when the noun or the pronoun is doing something to itself . The Reflexive Pronouns are formed just like intensive pronouns by adding -self or -selves to the root pronoun . The Reflexive Pronouns indicate that the sentence subject also receives the action of the verb .

Examples

• We underestimated ourselves before the championship .

• The child washed herself carefully with the soap and water .

• People who cheat others also hurt themselves .

• She encouraged herself to do well . asked

• After the celebration , I asked myself why I had invited everyone in my neighbourhood .

 This means that whenever there is a Reflexive Pronoun in a sentence there must be a person to whom that pronoun can reflect . In other words , the sentence :

 Please hand that parcel to myself .

 Here , the use of myself is incorrect as there is no I in that sentence for myself to reflect to and there should be me instead of myself . While in another sentence :

• I gave that gift to myself for birthday .

• It might sound incorrect , but is correct in the real sense .

 The only Reflexive Pronouns in modern English are the following : myself , yourself , himself , herself , itself , ourselves , yourselves , and themselves .

• The words hisself and theirselves do not exist

• Some personal pronouns may be compounded with the word self for purposes of emphasis or reflexive action :

Singular Forms Plural Forms

Myself Ourselves

 Yourself. Yourselves

Himself ( not his self ) Herself Themselves Itself

These pronouns are used in two ways

 ( a ) For emphasis :

I saw him .

I myself saw him .

• The second sentence is more emphatic . It is the use of myself which makes it emphatic .

( b ) As object of the verb .

 This use shows what a person or a itself .

Examples

• The child hid itself under the sofa

• The girl dressed herself before the mirror .

• I satisfied myself about the prices

• He cut himself

• They hurt themselves .

• Ali availed himself of the offer .