Part 6: Identifying Grammar Errors

Grammar: Reflexive Pronouns

Although languages like German use reflexive pronouns a lot more than English, we do have a few times when we must use them, too. Reflexive pronouns are those which have the word self placed on the end.

myself	ourselves
yourself	yourselves
himself, herself, itself	themselves
.	and oneself

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You should avoid the following, which, while occasionally used by native speakers, are considered grammatically incorrect:

meself, my own self	ourself, our own self
youself, your own self	youself, your own self
hisself, his own self, her own self	theirself, theirselves, their own self

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Reflexive pronouns are used in certain cases to make a sentence clearer. Many times, alternate sentences seem strange or unclear. Let's look at me shaving:

• Nick nicked Nick while shaving.
  
• Nick nicked him while shaving.
  
• Nick nicked himself while shaving.

While the first sentence is grammatically correct, the second is incorrect.
However, the third sentence is a lot easier to understand and it by far the preferred choice.

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Of course, we must pay attention and use the proper reflexive, if one is needed. The sentence:

• He cut herself.

is totally absurd. Which do we mean? He cut HIMSELF or HER ?

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So, it is very important to make sure the reflexive agrees with its antecedent in function, gender and number to avoid unnecessary confusion.

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A/B

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