---
title: "Reflexive Pronoun in Intro to English Grammar"
description: "A reflexive pronoun refers back to the sentence subject, like herself or themselves, and helps you spot subject-object relationships in English grammar."
canonical: "https://fiveable.me/fundamentals-of-the-grammar-of-standard-english/key-terms/reflexive-pronoun"
type: "key-term"
subject: "Intro to English Grammar"
unit: "Unit 5"
---

# Reflexive Pronoun in Intro to English Grammar

## Definition

A reflexive pronoun is a pronoun that refers back to the subject of the same clause, such as myself, herself, or themselves. In Intro to English Grammar, you study how it marks self-directed actions and fit within sentence structure.

## What It Is

A reflexive pronoun is a pronoun that points back to the subject of its own clause. In Intro to English Grammar, that usually means the subject and the object are the same person or thing, as in “She taught herself to play the piano.” The reflexive form shows that the action returns to the subject instead of going to someone else.

Reflexive pronouns are built from personal pronouns plus -self or -selves. The common forms are myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, and themselves. Those forms are not interchangeable with ordinary object pronouns like me, him, her, us, and them. The grammar changes because the sentence needs a pronoun that can refer back to the subject.

This term shows up in two main patterns. First, you use a reflexive pronoun when the subject acts on itself, like “The cat washed itself.” Second, you can use one after a preposition when the meaning points back to the subject, like “He spoke to himself in the mirror.” In both cases, the reflexive pronoun keeps the sentence clear about who is affected.

Reflexive pronouns can also add emphasis, but that is a different use from simple self-action. In a sentence like “The manager herself approved the schedule,” herself emphasizes the subject. The grammar still uses a reflexive form, but the point is not that the manager approved herself. It is that the manager, not someone else, did the approving.

A useful way to test a reflexive pronoun is to ask whether the sentence still makes sense with a plain object pronoun. If “She taught herself” becomes “She taught her,” the meaning breaks, which tells you the reflexive form is doing a job the regular object pronoun cannot do. That distinction is exactly why reflexive pronouns belong in the pronoun system rather than just being treated as fancy versions of object pronouns.

## Why It Matters

Reflexive pronouns matter because they show how English marks relationships inside a clause, especially when the subject and the object are the same. That is a basic syntax skill in Intro to English Grammar, and it comes up any time you analyze who is doing an action and who receives it.

They also help you see the difference between grammatical form and sentence meaning. “Myself,” “herself,” and “themselves” are not just longer versions of “me,” “her,” and “them.” They tell you that the clause loops back to its own subject, or that the pronoun is being used for emphasis.

This term also connects to sentence editing. If you are revising a paragraph, choosing the wrong pronoun can make the line sound awkward or ungrammatical. For example, “The students reminded them to submit the paper” sounds like someone else got reminded, while “The students reminded themselves to submit the paper” clearly shows the action returns to the students.

Because Intro to English Grammar looks closely at how English creates meaning through form, reflexive pronouns are a clean example of how small words do precise work. They are part of the pronoun system, but they also touch syntax, clause structure, and emphasis, so they show up in both identification questions and sentence analysis.

## Connections

### Pronoun

Reflexive pronouns are one type of pronoun, so you need the bigger category first. When you can tell a pronoun replaces or refers to a noun phrase, it gets easier to see why reflexive forms exist and why they behave differently from subject or object pronouns.

### Subject

The subject is what a reflexive pronoun points back to. In a clause like “Maria blamed herself,” Maria is the subject, and herself refers back to that same noun phrase. If you identify the subject first, the reflexive pronoun is much easier to explain.

### Intensive Pronoun

This is the closest comparison because the same forms can sometimes look similar. A reflexive pronoun is required when the action turns back on the subject, but an intensive pronoun just adds emphasis, as in “The coach herself called the meeting.” The form may look the same, but the job in the sentence is different.

### [to](/fundamentals-of-the-grammar-of-standard-english/key-terms/to)

Reflexive pronouns often appear after the preposition to in phrases like “spoke to himself” or “talked to herself.” The preposition creates a relationship, and the reflexive pronoun shows that the action or communication is directed back toward the same subject.

## On the AP Exam

A quiz question might ask you to identify whether a pronoun is reflexive or just a regular object pronoun, so check whether it refers back to the subject of the same clause. In sentence analysis, you may be asked to explain why “herself” works in one sentence but not another, or to revise an awkward sentence so the pronoun matches the subject. If a sentence uses a reflexive form for emphasis, be ready to label that use separately from self-action. The easiest move is to name the subject, find the pronoun, and test whether they refer to the same person or thing. If they do, you probably have a reflexive pronoun.

## reflexive pronoun vs Intensive Pronoun

Reflexive and intensive pronouns use the same forms, but they do different jobs. A reflexive pronoun is required when the subject acts on itself or when the clause needs that self-reference for clarity. An intensive pronoun just adds emphasis and can be removed without breaking the sentence’s core meaning.

## Key Takeaways

- A reflexive pronoun refers back to the subject of the same clause.
- English reflexive pronouns usually end in -self or -selves, like myself, herself, and themselves.
- Use a reflexive pronoun when the subject and object are the same person or thing.
- Reflexive pronouns can also follow a preposition, as in “to himself,” when the meaning points back to the subject.
- The same word form can be intensive instead of reflexive, so always check what job it is doing in the sentence.

## FAQs

### What is a reflexive pronoun in Intro to English Grammar?

A reflexive pronoun is a pronoun that refers back to the subject of its own clause, such as myself, herself, or themselves. In grammar analysis, you use it when the doer and receiver of the action are the same, or when the pronoun is used to add emphasis.

### How do I know if a pronoun is reflexive?

Check whether the pronoun points back to the subject. In “He blamed himself,” the subject he and the pronoun himself refer to the same person, so it is reflexive. If the pronoun refers to someone else, or if the sentence works with a normal object pronoun, it is probably not reflexive.

### What is the difference between a reflexive pronoun and an intensive pronoun?

They often look the same, but their jobs are different. A reflexive pronoun is needed for the clause to make sense, while an intensive pronoun just adds emphasis and can usually be removed. For example, “She herself called” uses the pronoun for emphasis, not because she acted on herself.

### Can a reflexive pronoun be the object of a preposition?

Yes. You can see this in phrases like “talked to herself” or “kept the secret to themselves.” The preposition creates the relationship, and the reflexive pronoun shows that the meaning comes back to the same subject.

## Related Study Guides

- [5.2 Minor word classes (determiners, pronouns, prepositions, conjunctions)](/fundamentals-of-the-grammar-of-standard-english/unit-5/minor-word-classes-determiners-pronouns-prepositions-conjunctions/study-guide/vyyRGHkiMhLV97WS)

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