Reflexive pronouns
What are reflexive pronouns?
A reflexive pronoun is a pronoun that is preceded by the noun, adjective, adverb or
pronoun to which it refers (its antecedent) within the same clause.
They are used when the author of an action is also the receiver of the action.
Examples of reflexive pronouns
Singular reflexive pronouns: Myself (first person), yourself (second person), and
himself (third person/male form) herself (third person/female form) itself (third person/
objects or animals form).
Plural reflexive pronouns: Ourselves (first person), yourselves (second person), and
themselves (third person).
Reflexive pronouns in English are often used in combination with a noun or a personal
pronoun in order to convey an emphatic meaning.
Examples
“John himself did it”
“He did it himself”
Notice that the pronoun can be placed immediately after the noun or pronoun or at the
end of the sentence.
By + Reflexive pronoun
Reflexive pronouns can be preceded by the preposition “by” in order to convey two
meanings:
1. To emphasize the idea of doing something without help.
2. When there is an evident allusion to a place, in which case “by” + reflexive pronoun
means alone.
Spanish reflexive verbs rarely correspond to an English reflexive verb. However, the
use of “get + adjective” is a very common equivalent for Spanish reflexive verbs.
Examples
Get tired = cansarse
Get divorced = divorciarse
Exercises
1. (T/F) A reflexive verb in Spanish is always a reflexive verb in English. (True)
