For instance:įreeing the pronoun from the detritus of the rest of the verb’s object makes the problem much clearer. A good way to determine whether you need to use the reflexive pronoun is to apply the same trick that is usually used to check whether your pronouns should be nominative or accusative break the sentence down. The meaning is the same either way, but the first is recognized as incorrect and should be avoided. Note that the reflexive pronoun has been replaced with the first person accusative pronoun. There is no need for a reflexive pronoun here, as the person doing the emailing (“you”) is not the same as the person being emailed. If you have questions, email Bob or myself. Though this does not necessarily impair meaning, it is considered incorrect. Improper UsageĪ grammatical error that is somewhat common among developing writers is the use of reflexive pronouns when they are not needed, usually in an attempt to appear more formal.

Most English speakers would read this sentence as meaning Jane was shaking someone else, which suggests a different situation entirely. However, if we were to replace the reflexive pronoun with the standard accusative pronoun “her,” the meaning changes:

Jane was drifting to sleep at a time when she shouldn’t be, possibly during class, so she made a sudden movement in order to stay awake. The meaning of the sentence is fairly clear. If the object and the subject of a verb are the same, use a reflexive pronoun for the object. The following can be considered a rule with regards to reflexive pronouns: In English, these are the pronouns that end with “self” or “selves”: e.g., “himself,” “myself,” “ourselves,” etc. This section has information about how to use pronouns correctly.Ī reflexive pronoun is a specific type of pronoun that is used for the object of a verb when it refers to the same noun as the subject of that verb.

Writing Letters of Recommendation for Students.

What is reflexive pronoun