What is a Reflexive Pronoun?
Look at this picture. It is a dog licking itself.
Licking is an action, right?
Who is licking? The dog. Hence, the subject of the action, or the agent who is doing the action is the dog.
What is the object of the action? On whom or what is the action performed? The dog himself. So the object of the action is also the dog.
Reflexive pronouns are used when the subject and the object of the action are the same person, animal or thing.
In the sentence ‘The dog is licking himself’, the reflexive pronoun is ‘himself’. It shows that the action is performed on oneself.
Let us make this clear by doing some exercises.
Reflexive Pronouns - Beginner Level Worksheet-1
Underline the reflexive pronouns in the sentences below.
1. He ordered himself a hamburger.
2. “I am angry with myself for failing this exam,” my friend said.
3. He bought himself a book to read.
4. They are doing the job themselves, without anyone’s help.
5. We found ourselves lost in the forest.
Answers
1. He ordered himself a hamburger.
2. “I am angry with myself for failing this exam,” my friend said.
3. He bought himself a book to read.
4. They are doing the job themselves, without anyone’s help.
5. We found ourselves lost in the forest.
Reflexive Pronouns - Beginner Level Worksheet-2
Fill in the blanks with the words given below:
herself | yourself | itself | ourselves | myself | themselves | yourselves | himself
1. The monkey is feeding ............... some bananas.
2. I cut ............... by accident.
3. John bought ............... a new watch,
4. Our host told us to make ............... comfortable.
5. Be careful or you might hurt ............... with that knife.
6. Have the twins been behaving ...............?
7. “Did you find ............... some toys?” the shopkeeper asked the children.
8. Maria is cooking ............... some lunch.
Answers
1. The monkey is feeding itself some bananas.
2. I cut myself by accident.
3. John bought himself a new watch.
4. Our host told us to make ourselves comfortable.
5. Be careful or you might hurt yourself with that knife.
6. Have the twins been behaving themselves?
7. “Did you find yourselves some toys?” the shopkeeper asked the children.
8. Maria is cooking herself some lunch.
Reflexive Pronouns - Intermediate Level Worksheet-1
Fill in the following blanks with appropriate reflexive pronouns.
1. You should be proud of ............... now that you are graduating with flying colours.
2. Jaden is really angry with ............... for letting a golden opportunity pass by.
3. We have to look after ............... when we grow older.
4. The children have to look after ............... while they are in the camp.
5. The cat is licking ...............
6. I have to remind ............... to call my mother tomorrow.
7. Mary hurt ............... when she cut vegetables with that sharp knife.
8. Buy ............... a good shirt. Your shirts are really shabby.
Answers
1. You should be proud of yourself now that you are graduating with flying colours.
2. Jaden is really angry with himself for letting a golden opportunity pass by.
3. We have to look after ourselves when we grow older.
4. The children have to look after themselves while they are in the camp.
5. The cat is licking itself.
6. I have to remind myself to call my mother tomorrow.
7. Mary hurt herself when she cut vegetables with that sharp knife.
8. Buy yourself a good shirt. Your shirts are really shabby.
Reflexive Pronouns - Advanced Level Worksheet-1
Fill in the blanks in the following passage with appropriate reflexive pronouns.
We made ............... sandwiches and some coffee. I sat on the sofa while my friend John made ............... comfortable on the floor with some pillows and a blanket. Soon, our cat Snowy joined us, and soon began licking ............... clean. I switched the television on. As I had hoped, it was a comedy show. A group of youngsters were cracking jokes and poking fun mainly at ............... The audience in the studio where the show was being staged, were enjoying ............... a lot. Among the comedians, there was a girl who was dancing all by ............... on top of a huge ball! She managed to maintain her balance till the end of the dance!
Soon, my father and mother came back from their friend’s house. They rang the bell. Reluctantly, I made ............... get up from the comfortable sofa and went to open the door.
Answer
We made ourselves sandwiches and some coffee. I sat on the sofa while my friend John made herself comfortable on the floor with some pillows and a blanket. Soon, our cat Snowy joined us, and soon began licking itself clean. I switched the television on. As I had hoped, it was a comedy show. A group of youngsters were cracking jokes and poking fun mainly at themselves. The audience in the studio where the show was being staged, were enjoying themselves a lot. Among the comedians, there was a girl who was dancing all by herself on top of a huge ball! She managed to maintain her balance till the end of the dance!
Soon, my father and mother came back from their friend’s house. They rang the bell. Reluctantly, I pushed myself to get up from the comfortable sofa and went to open the door.
Download Printable WorksheetImage courtesy: lovingpetsproducts_com
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