REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS

In general linguistics, a reflexive pronoun, sometimes simply called a reflexive, is an anaphoric pronoun that must be coreferential with another nominal (its antecedent) within the same clause.

In the English language specifically, a reflexive pronoun will end in -self or -selves, and refer to a previously named noun or pronoun (myself, yourself, ourselves, themselves, etc.). English intensive pronouns, used for emphasis, take the same form

In Indo-European languages, has its origins in Proto-Indo-European. In some languages, some distinction exists between normal object and reflexive pronouns, mainly in the third person: whether one says I like me or I like myself, there is no question that the object is the same person as the subject; but, in They like them(selves), there can be uncertainty about the identity of the object unless a distinction exists between the reflexive and the nonreflexive. In some languages, this distinction includes genitive forms: see, for instance, the Danish examples below. In languages with a distinct reflexive pronoun form, it is often gender-neutral.

A reflexive pronoun is normally used when the object of a sentence is the same as the subject. Each personal pronoun (such as I, you, he and she) has its own reflexive form:

I	myself
you	yourself/yourselves
he	himself
she	herself
one	oneself
it	itself
we	ourselves
they	themselves

These pronouns can also be used intensively, to emphasize the identity of whoever or whatever is being talked about:

• Jim bought himself a book (reflexive)
• Jim himself bought a book (intensive)

Intensive pronouns usually appear near and/or before the subject of the sentence.

Usually after prepositions of locality it is preferred to use a personal object pronoun rather than a reflexive pronoun:

• Close the door after you. (NOT … after yourself.)
• He was pulling a small cart behind him. (NOT … behind himself.)
• She took her dog with her. (NOT … with herself.)