Reflexive pronouns Worksheet Practice Exercises with Answers

Lesson 22: Reflexive Pronouns

Question 1. Do the following sentences seem strange to you?
Answer: Yes, these sentences are strange because they're missing reflexive pronouns. Sentences like "John Smith saw John Smith in the mirror" repeat the same noun instead of using a pronoun that refers back to the subject. When we use the same person or thing twice in one sentence, we need a reflexive pronoun (one that ends in -self or -selves) to show that both references point to the same individual. This makes the sentence sound natural and clear.
In simple words: Yes. The sentences repeat names when they should use special pronouns that end in -self or -selves to show the same person is doing something to themselves.

Exam Tip: Recognize that reflexive pronouns avoid awkward repetition and signal that the subject and object refer to the same person or thing.

Question 2. What are reflexive pronouns and when should we use them?
Answer: Reflexive pronouns are words that end in -self (singular) or -selves (plural). They are myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, and themselves. We use reflexive pronouns whenever we refer to the same person or thing more than once in the same basic sentence. For example, "The boy washed himself" uses the reflexive pronoun "himself" to show that the same boy is both doing the washing and receiving the washing. Without a reflexive pronoun, "The boy washed the boy" suggests two different boys. The reflexive pronoun lets the listener know that the speaker is talking about the same person or thing.
In simple words: Reflexive pronouns are words ending in -self or -selves. We use them when the same person or thing does something to or for themselves in one sentence.

Exam Tip: Always check if the subject and object of a sentence refer to the same person or thing - if they do, use a reflexive pronoun.

Question 3. Identify the reflexive pronouns in the sentence: "That computer is so smart it can repair itself."
Answer: The reflexive pronoun in this sentence is "itself." The computer (the subject) is repairing itself (the same computer), so the reflexive pronoun "itself" correctly shows that both the subject and object refer to the same thing.
In simple words: The reflexive pronoun is "itself" because the computer is doing the action (repairing) to itself - the same computer.

Exam Tip: Reflexive pronouns always match the number and person of the subject - singular subjects take -self forms, plural subjects take -selves forms.

Question 4. Underline the reflexive pronouns in each of the following sentences.
(i) John was a person who always pushed himself to the limit.
(ii) Watch yourself!
(iii) We prided ourselves on being silly.
(iv) The directors of that company can blame no one but themselves.
(v) I see myself as a successful writer someday.
Answer:
(i) himself
(ii) yourself
(iii) ourselves
(iv) themselves
(v) myself
In simple words: Each sentence uses a reflexive pronoun where the subject and object are the same person or group. Circle or mark each -self or -selves word.

Exam Tip: Look for the -self or -selves ending - these are your clues to spot reflexive pronouns quickly.

Question 5. Underline the reflexive, subject, and object pronouns in each of the following sentences. Label each as reflexive, subject, or object.
(i) I have found that I can do it when the room is quiet.
(ii) He noticed that she often immersed herself in a book.
(iii) We have known her for years.
(iv) Some guests told us that they forced themselves to get up at 6 A.M.
(v) You don't need to explain yourself to me.
Answer:
(i) I (subject); I (subject); it (object)
(ii) He (subject); she (subject); herself (reflexive)
(iii) We (subject); her (object)
(iv) us (object); they (subject); themselves (reflexive)
(v) You (subject); yourself (reflexive); me (object)
In simple words: Subject pronouns (I, he, she, we, you, they) do the action. Object pronouns (me, you, him, her, us, them) receive the action. Reflexive pronouns (myself, himself, herself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves) show that the subject acts on itself.

Exam Tip: Remember the three categories - subject pronouns perform the action, object pronouns receive it, and reflexive pronouns show the action returns to the subject.

Question 6. In the sentence "We will be moving near you," identify and label the pronouns.
Answer: In the sentence "We will be moving near you," the pronoun "we" is a subject pronoun because it performs the action of moving. The pronoun "you" is an object pronoun because it receives the action - we are moving near you (not the other way around).
In simple words: "We" is the subject pronoun doing the moving. "You" is the object pronoun - the one being moved near.

Exam Tip: Subject pronouns always come before the verb; object pronouns follow the verb or come after a preposition like "near," "to," or "with."