Reflexive & Reciprocal Pronouns

Grammar chart explaining reflexive pronouns like myself, yourself, himself, and reciprocal pronouns like each other and one another, with examples and common mistakes for B1 English learners.

🟦Same Subject & Object

Use reflexive pronouns when the subject and object are the same person or thing.

✅ Reflexive Pronouns List

myself, yourself, himself
herself, itself, ourselves
yourselves, themselves

✅ Example Sentences

She cut herself chopping onions.
We really enjoyed ourselves at the party.
He talks to himself sometimes.

🟩After Prepositions

Use reflexive pronouns after prepositions when referring back to the subject.

He should be proud of himself.
You can print a model of yourself.
She bought a gift for herself.

❌ He bought it for him. (if he bought it for himself)
✅ He bought it for himself.

🟪For Emphasis (Intensive Use)

Use reflexive pronouns to emphasize that the subject did the action — not someone else.

I will talk to Anna myself.
Paul himself designed everything.

You should do it yourself.
The CEO herself called to apologize.

🟨Verbs That DON’T Need Reflexive Pronouns

In English, some verbs NEVER take reflexive pronouns — even if they do in your language.

❌ I washed myself and got dressed.
✅ I washed and got dressed.
❌ He shaved himself this morning.
✅ He shaved this morning.
❌ Please hurry yourself!
✅ Please hurry!
❌ The door opened itself.
✅ The door opened.

Common verbs: wash, shave, dress, relax, hurry, concentrate, open, close, feel, meet

🟦By Myself / On My Own

These phrases mean “alone” or “without help”.

✅ By Myself

My son doesn’t like to be by himself.
She raised four kids by herself.

✅ On My Own

I was on my own all morning.
He built the house on his own.

🟥Reciprocal Pronouns: Each Other / One Another

Use when two or more people do something to each other.

The twins hadn’t seen each other in 10 years.
We should help one another more.
They hugged each other tightly.

📌 Quick Tip

Each other → usually for two people.
One another → often for more than two (but often interchangeable).

⬛Common Mistakes & Quick Summary

❌ I dressed myself quickly.
✅ I dressed quickly.

❌ They helped themselves to solve the problem. (if helping each other)
✅ They helped each other to solve the problem.

❌ She did it all by her.
✅ She did it all by herself.

📌 Quick Summary

Reflexive pronouns → when subject = object (She hurt herself).
After prepositions → if referring to subject (He’s proud of himself).
For emphasis → I did it myself!
NO reflexive → with verbs like wash, shave, dress, relax, hurry.
By myself / On my own → alone or without help.
Each other / One another → when people do things mutually.

📌 Remember:
Use myself, yourself, etc. only when subject = object or for emphasis.
Don’t use reflexives with wash, shave, dress, relax, hurry.
Use by myself / on my own for “alone”.
Use each other / one another for mutual actions.
⚠️ Never say “I concentrated myself” — just say “I concentrated”.

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