Choose between personal and reflexive pronouns

Key Notes:

  1. What Are Personal Pronouns?
    • Personal pronouns are words that replace specific people or things in a sentence (e.g., I, you, he, she, it, we, they).
    • Example: “She is going to the store.”

  1. What Are Reflexive Pronouns?
    • Reflexive pronouns are used when the subject and the object of the sentence are the same person or thing. They end in -self or -selves (e.g., myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, themselves).
    • Example: “He taught himself how to play the guitar.”

  1. When to Use Personal Pronouns:
    • Use personal pronouns when referring to someone or something as the subject or object of the sentence.
    • Example (subject): “She likes to read.”
    • Example (object): “The teacher called him.”

  1. When to Use Reflexive Pronouns:
    • Use reflexive pronouns when the subject performs the action on itself.
    • Example: “I made this cake by myself.”

  1. Common Mistakes:
    • Don’t use a reflexive pronoun if the subject and object are not the same (e.g., “He gave the book to me” is correct, not “He gave the book to myself“).
    • Avoid using a personal pronoun when the subject acts on itself (e.g., “She hurt herself,” not “She hurt her“).

  1. Tips for Correct Usage:
    • Use a personal pronoun if the action is done to another person or thing.
    • Use a reflexive pronoun if the action is done to the same person or thing performing the action.

  1. Examples for Practice:
    • Personal Pronoun: “They helped him with his homework.”
    • Reflexive Pronoun: “She finished the project by herself.”

  1. Key Difference:
    • Personal pronouns point to someone or something else.
    • Reflexive pronouns point back to the subject doing the action.

Let’s practice!🖋️