This document provides information about reflexive and reciprocal pronouns. It lists the reflexive pronouns as myself, yourself, himself/herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves. The reciprocal pronouns are each other for two people and one another for three or more people. Examples are given for the correct use of reflexive pronouns to refer to the same subject and object, as well as how to use reflexive pronouns to emphasize the subject or indicate acting normally or alone. Reciprocal pronouns are used when the subject and object are the same people in a two-way relationship. Practice examples are provided to complete sentences with the correct reflexive or reciprocal pronouns. Finally,

1. Reflexive and Reciprocal
Pronouns
Unit 27, p. 378

2. Reciprocal Pronouns
myself
yourself
himself / herself
itself
ourselves
yourselves
themselves
Reflexive Pronouns
each other (2 people)
one another (3 or
more people)

3. Underline the reciprocal or reflexive
pronouns. Then draw an arrow to the subject
the pronouns refers to.
p. 380, Ex. 1

4. Reflexive Pronouns 1
• Use when the subject and object are the same
person.
– Hepa looked at herself in the mirror.
– I can’t help myself! I love chocolate!
• If you give orders, use yourself or yourselves
– Be careful. Don’t hurt yourself, Timmy.
– Push yourselves, guys! Play hard!
– Help yourself to some food.

5. Reflexive Pronouns 2
• You can use reflexive pronouns to emphasize
the noun.
– I myself love chocolate.
– English itself is very difficult. There are so many
rules!
• Be + (-self) = act in the normal way.
– She shouldn’t be nervous! She should be herself.
• By + (-self) = alone
– That’s sad! Jima always eats by himself.

6. Practice Examples
1.
Complete the
sentences with the
When we do “self-talk,” we talk to
_________. Sara and Tom talk to themselves correct reflexive
__________
ourselves
pronouns:
in different ways.
myself
herself
2. Sara works out and keeps ________ fit. She
yourself
herself
tells _______ that her problems will get
yourselves
better.
3. Tom spends all his time at home by _______. ourselves
himself
themselves
himself
He doesn’t allow ____________ to have a
itself
good time. He doesn’t blame the problem
itself
__________. Tom’s doctor said, “Treat
herself
__________ better, Tom!”
yourself
himself

7. Reciprocal Pronouns
• Use reciprocal pronouns when the subject and
object are the same people, but you’re
referring to the two-way relationship.
– 2 people:
• Tom and Sara work with each other.
– 3 or more people:
• Work in a group. Help one another.
• When my family had dinner, we told one another about
our jobs.

8. Practice Examples
Complete the
sentences with the
correct reciprocal
pronouns:
• Sara is calm, but Tom is stressed out.
Tom and Sara have very different
each other
reactions from _________. When
each other
each other
they talk to _________, they are very one another
different.
• At work, Sara is comfortable with her
co-workers. They help one another
___________.
Tom is very stressed at work. He and
his co-workers do not work well with
one another
_____________.

9. NOTICE!
• Reflexive and reciprocal pronouns
have opposite meanings.
– Tom and Sara helped themselves.
– Tom and Sara helped each other.

10. Ex. 2, p. 380
ourselves
myself
yourself
be + - self = be normal

11. each other
myself
repeats to emphasize
the subject
ourselves
herself
themselves
by + - self = alone
ourselves

12. Grammar Homework:
• P. 381-383, Ex. 3, 4 – We’ll get to this on
Thursday.
• Review Units 3-4 for the test tomorrow.