Reflexive pronouns and "each other"
We use the particle -self or -selves to make a reflexive pronoun. A reflexive pronoun refers back to the personal pronoun which is the subject of the sentence.
Examples
{mp3}/files/mp3/reflexive-pronouns/i-can-do-bf26b5df.mp3{/mp3}I can do it myself.
{mp3}/files/mp3/reflexive-pronouns/i-cant-describe-f6df464b.mp3{/mp3}I can’t describe the taste of that dish. You should try it yourself.
{mp3}/files/mp3/reflexive-pronouns/she-hates-herself-0e2ec9af.mp3{/mp3}She hates herself.
{mp3}/files/mp3/reflexive-pronouns/guys-dont-be-f802c5cd.mp3{/mp3}Guys, don’t be shy. Help yourselves!
{mp3}/files/mp3/reflexive-pronouns/were-enjoying-ourselves-a0ae5b50.mp3{/mp3}We're enjoying ourselves.
How to form reflexive pronouns
| Pronoun | Reflexive pronoun |
|---|---|
| I | {mp3}/files/mp3/reflexive-pronouns/myself-373a1dcc.mp3{/mp3}myself |
| you | {mp3}/files/mp3/reflexive-pronouns/yourself-6799fea5.mp3{/mp3}yourself {mp3}/files/mp3/reflexive-pronouns/yourselves-29d55a22.mp3{/mp3}yourselves (множ.) |
| he | {mp3}/files/mp3/reflexive-pronouns/himself-6b751ce9.mp3{/mp3}himself |
| she | {mp3}/files/mp3/reflexive-pronouns/herself-e607f3e3.mp3{/mp3}herself |
| it | {mp3}/files/mp3/reflexive-pronouns/itself-afd3cb03.mp3{/mp3}itself |
| one | {mp3}/files/mp3/reflexive-pronouns/oneself-c028a8eb.mp3{/mp3}oneself |
| we | {mp3}/files/mp3/reflexive-pronouns/ourselves-cf2b00b9.mp3{/mp3}ourselves |
| they | {mp3}/files/mp3/reflexive-pronouns/themselves-44af4209.mp3{/mp3}themselves |
Important to remember
The singular reflexive pronouns end in -self, while the plural end in -selves.
One — oneself is a special form of pronouns used to express abstract ideas about people in general, not about a certain person.
{mp3}/files/mp3/reflexive-pronouns/it-is-difficult-af10f567.mp3{/mp3}It is difficult to make oneself concentrate when it is so noisy around.
{mp3}/files/mp3/reflexive-pronouns/with-the-modern-ab1d3aed.mp3{/mp3}With modern technology, there are multiple ways to present oneself online.
When to use reflexive pronouns
1) to show that the subject and the object are the same
{mp3}/files/mp3/reflexive-pronouns/he-fell-off-5edcfba2.mp3{/mp3}He fell off the chair and hurt himself. subject = object
{mp3}/files/mp3/reflexive-pronouns/he-didnt-want-7af93983.mp3{/mp3}He didn't want to hurt your feelings. subject ≠ object
2) to add emphasis
We usually put a personal pronoun after a noun or a pronoun when we want to stress its importance.
{mp3}/files/mp3/reflexive-pronouns/the-director-himself-13666492.mp3{/mp3}The director himself showed us around. = the director personally
{mp3}/files/mp3/reflexive-pronouns/he-received-a-84a4305e.mp3{/mp3}He received a letter from the Queen herself. = the Queen personally
3) by + reflexive pronoun, to say that someone did something personally, without anyone's help
- by myself = on my own
- by yourself = on your own
- by himself = on his own
etc.
{mp3}/files/mp3/reflexive-pronouns/i-painted-the-56c9ecf5.mp3{/mp3}I painted the house all by myself.
{mp3}/files/mp3/reflexive-pronouns/she-wants-to-b315556d.mp3{/mp3}She wants to learn to manage by herself.
Each other
There are two people and the same action is directed at both of them: ↔︎
We do not want to repeat the verb twice, so we use "each other".
"Each other" doesn't change, it is always in the same form.
Examples
I help you and you help me. → We help each other.
She knows him well and he knows her well. → They know each other well.
Julia loves Frederic and Frederic loves Julia. → They love each other.
Bill and Steven have had an argument. Bill doesn't speak to Steven and Steven doesn't speak to Bill. → They don't speak to each other.
My husband trusts me and I trust him. → My husband and I trust each other.