Reflexive pronouns like "myself," "yourself," and "themselves"

Reflexive pronouns like "myself," "yourself," and "themselves" are essential tools in English grammar, serving various functions from indicating that the subject and object of a verb are the same to emphasizing certain actions. 

Reflexive Pronouns for Gender-Neutral References

In addition to the standard reflexive pronouns (myself, yourself, etc.), "themselves" is often used to refer to a person in a gender-neutral way. This is especially useful when you want to avoid specifying whether the subject is male or female.

Examples:

∗The author of the letter describes themselves as ‘a senior government official’.

∗Who wants to go through life by themselves, without friends?

Oneself and Yourself for General References

"Oneself" (or the less formal "yourself") is used to refer to people in general. This is common in more formal writing or speech, where the subject is not a specific individual but rather people in general.

Examples:

∗I think one has to have the courage to be oneself and say whatever comes naturally.

(Less formally: I think you have to have the courage to be yourself …)

Using Reflexive Pronouns for Emphasis

Reflexive pronouns can be used to add emphasis to a sentence. This can highlight that the subject of the sentence was responsible for a particular action.

Examples:

∗Salma worked hard and got herself promoted. (Emphasizes that it was through her own efforts)

∗Salma encouraged me to apply for the senior manager position, but she got promoted herself. (Emphasizes that Salma got promoted, not the speaker)

Reflexive Pronouns with Transitive Verbs

When the object of a transitive verb refers to the same person or thing as the subject, a reflexive pronoun must be used.

Examples:

∗He walked around the golf course to familiarize himself with it.

∗We walked around to familiarize the children with their new surroundings.

. Optional Reflexive Pronouns with Some Verbs

With some verbs, a reflexive pronoun can be included or omitted without much change in meaning. However, including it can emphasize that the subject is directly affected by the action.

Examples:

∗We are confident that both sets of fans will behave (themselves) at the match.

∗Although she helped other athletes in their preparations for competing at high altitudes, she found it difficult to acclimatize herself.

Reflexive Pronouns After Prepositions

When the subject and the object after a preposition refer to the same person or thing, a reflexive pronoun is used after the preposition.

Example:

∗He was pleased with himself. (not … pleased with him.)

If the verb has a direct object, use a personal pronoun instead of a reflexive pronoun.

Example:

∗I remember closing the door behind me. (not … closing the door behind myself.)

However, if it’s necessary to clarify that the subject and the prepositional phrase refer to the same person or thing, use a reflexive pronoun after the preposition.

Example:

∗She bought the bracelet for herself. (using "for her" would suggest it was bought for someone else)

Using "Myself" in Place of "I" or "Me"

"Myself" is sometimes used after "and" or "or" instead of "I" or "me," though some consider this incorrect. It can be used to sound less forceful or more polite, often reducing the focus on the speaker.

Examples:

∗I believe that Lizi and myself have done a pretty good job.

∗When you’ve finished the job, can you send the bill either to Mrs. Petrov or myself?

Try this exercise to test your grammar.

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