subject + verb + reflexive pronounUse this pattern when the subject and object are the same person or thing.
Reflexive Pronouns
A2Use myself, yourself, himself and similar forms when the subject and object are the same. Use by + self-form for alone, and use a self-form for extra emphasis.
What you'll learn
- Match each subject with the correct self-form.
- Use a self-form when the action returns to the subject.
- Avoid self-forms when the object is a different person.
- Use by + self-form to say alone.
- Use a self-form to add emphasis.
Structure
subject + verb + by + reflexive pronounUse by + self-form to mean alone or without help.
subject + reflexive pronoun + verbPlace the self-form near the subject to add emphasis.
Build a sentence
Subject
Verb
Shecutherself
She cut herself.
Match the subject and self-form: she → herself.
When to use
Same person
Use a self-form when one person does something to the same person: Tom cut himself. Nina introduced herself.
Alone
Use by + self-form to show no other person is there or helping: Maya traveled by herself. The child stayed by himself.
Extra focus
Add a self-form for emphasis when you want to stress who did it: The director himself called Anna.
Markers
myselfyourselfhimselfherselfitselfourselvesyourselvesthemselvesby myselfby themselves
Common mistakes
Wrong
Lisa blamed her for the mistake.
Correct
Lisa blamed herself for the mistake.
The action returns to Lisa, so the object must be herself, not her.
Wrong
Anna looked at himself in the mirror.
Correct
Anna looked at herself in the mirror.
The self-form must match the subject. Anna = she, so use herself.
Wrong
Maria called herself after class.
Correct
Maria called him after class.
Use a self-form only when Maria called Maria. If she called another person, use an object pronoun.
Wrong
He lives himself.
Correct
He lives by himself.
For the meaning alone, use by + self-form, not a bare self-form.
Common misconceptions
❝ If the subject is a person, I can always add a self-form after the verb. ❞
Add a self-form only when the action comes back to the same person, or when you mean alone or emphasis. Many verbs do not take it in normal statements.
❝ Myself and by myself mean the same thing everywhere. ❞
A bare self-form is often the object of the verb. By + self-form means alone or without help.
Skills in this rule (5)
MATCH_SUBJECT_AND_SELF_FORMw5Choose the right self-form for the subject
Use myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, or themselves to match the subject. The self-form changes with person and number.
USE_SELF_WHEN_SUBJECT_AND_OBJECT_MATCHw5Use a self-form when the subject and object are the same person or thing
Choose a self-form when the action comes back to the subject. If Tom is washing Tom, say Tom is washing himself.
DONT_ADD_SELF_WHEN_OBJECT_IS_DIFFERENTw4Use an object pronoun when the object is a different person
Do not use a self-form if the subject acts on someone else. Compare She introduced herself to Tom and She introduced him to Tom's manager.
USE_BY_SELF_FOR_ALONEw3Use by + self-form to mean alone
Use by myself, by yourself, and similar forms to show no other person is involved. It means alone, not the same as the direct object pattern.
USE_SELF_FOR_EMPHASISw3Use a self-form for emphasis
Add myself, herself, themselves and similar forms to emphasize the subject or object. This gives extra focus: The CEO herself opened the door.