Reflexive pronouns are a common type of pronoun in English and frequently appear in both written and spoken contexts. Mastering their usage can help you communicate more clearly and confidently, especially in IELTS preparation. In this article, IDP will walk you through the definition, structure, and practical use of reflexive pronouns.
1. What Are Reflexive Pronouns?
Reflexive pronouns are used when the subject and the object of the sentence are the same. These pronouns reflect the action back to the subject and are essential for emphasizing that the subject is acting upon itself.
Reflexive pronouns include: myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves
Examples:
She found herself captivated by the intricate details of the painting.
They had to prepare themselves for the rigorous demands of the upcoming training program.
2. Common Positions of Reflexive Pronouns in Sentences
Reflexive pronouns can appear in several positions depending on the sentence structure and emphasis. Here are the most common placements:
After the subject (for emphasis):
Jenny herself gave the class a presentation on American and British culture.
After the verb (as the object):
He immersed himself in studying the complexities of quantum physics.
After a preposition:
He often finds inspiration from within himself when facing creative challenges.
At the end of the sentence:
She accomplished the demanding task alone and was genuinely proud of herself.
3. Structures and Usage of Reflexive Pronouns
Reflexive pronouns are flexible and can be used in various sentence structures to clarify or emphasize the subject's role in performing an action.
As the object of the verb
Used when the subject and the object are the same person or thing.
She admonished herself for not being prepared for the presentation.
As the object of a preposition
He was feeling very sorry for himself.
The employee relied on himself to complete tasks without seeking assistance.
To emphasize the subject (emphatic use)
Placed immediately after the subject or at the end of the sentence to stress that the subject performed the action independently.
The homeowner herself took on the task of renovating the house.
With the preposition “by”
Used with “by” to emphasize that the subject did something without help from anyone else.
The writer completed the novel by herself, dedicating countless late nights to refining each chapter.
4. Reflexive Pronoun Exercises with Answers
Exercise 1: Fill in the correct reflexive pronoun
The Head of Operation promised ___ to expand the business internationally within the next five years.
Despite the setbacks, the athlete kept pushing ___ to exceed previous performance records.
She found ___ immersed in research for hours without realising the time had passed.
After a long day of work, she decided to pamper ___ with a spa treatment.
The musicians prided ___ on delivering a flawless performance.
He taught ___ how to code by taking online courses.
The manager assured ___ that the decision was right.
They encouraged ___ to think creatively.
Jenny immersed ___ in a secluded cabin to finish writing the novel.
She congratulated ___ on completing her study abroad program.
Answers:
herself
himself
herself
herself
themselves
himself
himself
themselves
herself
herself
Exercise 2: Rewrite the following using reflexive pronouns
Mark took responsibility for the mistake, and his team was not involved. → Mark took responsibility for the mistake all by himself.
Maria finished the entire project without any assistance. → Maria finished the entire project all by herself.
The children organized the event without help from their parents. → The children organized the charity event all by themselves.
Lisa often asks others for advice, but she needs to trust more. → Lisa needs to trust herself more.
Tom was responsible for his actions. → Tom was responsible for his actions and took the blame himself.
Practice Reflexive Pronouns to Improve Your IELTS Speaking and Writing
Understanding the positions and correct usage of reflexive pronouns will help you speak and write more fluently in English. This knowledge is especially helpful in IELTS Speaking and Writing tasks where accuracy and clarity matter most.
If you're preparing for the IELTS exam at IDP, you can take the test on a computer, choose from flexible test dates, and explore various test center locations.
Register for your IELTS test with IDP today and enjoy exclusive benefits!