myself / yourself / themselves etc.
Reflexive pronouns · Emphasis · each other vs themselves — Complete Guide
myself / yourself / themselves etc.
Pronoms réfléchis · Emphase · each other vs themselves — Guide Complet
Master all reflexive pronouns: when to use them (subject = object), when NOT to use them (feel, relax, wash…), the difference between themselves and each other, and how to use them for emphasis.
Maîtrisez tous les pronoms réfléchis : quand les utiliser (sujet = objet), quand NE PAS les utiliser (feel, relax, wash…), la différence entre themselves et each other, et leur utilisation pour l’emphase.
Reflexive pronouns (myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves) are used when the subject and object of a verb are the same person or thing. They also have an emphatic use (= I did it, not someone else). Many learners overuse them — this lesson explains exactly when to use them and when not to.
Les pronoms réfléchis (myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves) s’utilisent quand le sujet et l’objet du verbe désignent la même personne ou chose. Ils ont aussi un usage emphatique (= c’est moi qui l’ai fait, pas quelqu’un d’autre). Beaucoup d’apprenants les surutilisent — cette leçon explique exactement quand les utiliser et quand ne pas les utiliser.
The Reflexive Pronouns — Full Table & Core Use
Les Pronoms Réfléchis — Tableau Complet & Usage Principal
We use reflexive pronouns when the subject and object are the same. The form changes according to the subject.
On utilise les pronoms réfléchis quand le sujet et l’objet sont identiques. La forme change selon le sujet.
| Subject | Reflexive pronoun | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Sujet | Pronom réfléchi | Exemple |
| I | myself | I’ll pay for myself. |
| you (singular) | yourself | Do you talk to yourself? |
| he | himself | Steve introduced himself. |
| she | herself | Amy really enjoyed herself. |
| it | itself | The door opened by itself. |
| we | ourselves | We painted the house ourselves. |
| you (plural) | yourselves | Help yourselves! |
| they | themselves | They enjoyed themselves. |
Steve (subject) introduced himself (object = Steve) to the guests.
I’ll pay for myself. (= I will pay, not someone else)
When NOT to Use Reflexive Pronouns
Quand NE PAS Utiliser les Pronoms Réfléchis
We do NOT use reflexive pronouns after certain verbs — even though in other languages a reflexive form is required.
On n’utilise PAS les pronoms réfléchis après certains verbes — même si dans d’autres langues une forme réfléchie est nécessaire.
feel / relax / concentrate / meet
✓ I feel nervous. ✗ I feel myself nervous.
✓ You need to concentrate. ✗ You need to concentrate yourself.
✓ What time shall we meet? ✗ What time shall we meet ourselves?
feel / relax / concentrate / meet
✓ I feel nervous. ✗ I feel myself nervous.
✓ You need to concentrate. ✗ You need to concentrate yourself.
✓ What time shall we meet? ✗ What time shall we meet ourselves?
themselves vs each other / one another
themselves vs each other / one another
These two forms look similar but have very different meanings. Be careful!
Ces deux formes semblent similaires mais ont des sens très différents. Attention !
-selves (reflexive)
-selves (réfléchi)
each other / one another
each other / one another
Reflexive Pronouns for Emphasis
Pronoms Réfléchis pour l’Emphase
We also use myself/yourself etc. to emphasise — meaning “I did it, not someone else.” The reflexive pronoun can appear after the verb or at the end of the sentence.
On utilise aussi myself/yourself etc. pour l’emphase — sens : “c’est moi/toi qui l’a fait, pas quelqu’un d’autre.” Le pronom réfléchi peut apparaître après le verbe ou en fin de phrase.
I’m not going to do your work. You can do it yourself. (= you, not me)
Let’s paint the house ourselves. It will be much cheaper.
The film itself wasn’t very good, but I loved the music.
Complete with the correct reflexive pronoun + verb.
Complétez avec le bon pronom réfléchi + verbe.
Verbs: blame · burn · enjoy · express · hurt · introduce · put
Verbes : blame · burn · enjoy · express · hurt · introduce · put
Fill in: reflexive pronoun (myself/herself…) OR object pronoun (me/her/us…).
Complétez : pronom réfléchi (myself/herself…) OU pronom objet (me/her/us…).
Use a reflexive pronoun where necessary, or leave blank.
Utilisez un pronom réfléchi si nécessaire, sinon laissez vide.
concentrate · defend · dry · enjoy · feel · meet · relax · shave
concentrate · defend · dry · enjoy · feel · meet · relax · shave
Fill in: ourselves / themselves OR each other.
Complétez : ourselves / themselves OU each other.
Complete using a reflexive pronoun for emphasis.
Complétez en utilisant un pronom réfléchi pour l’emphase.
Frequently Asked Questions — Reflexive Pronouns
Questions fréquentes — Pronoms Réfléchis
Themselves = reflexive: the group acted on themselves as a whole. Each other = reciprocal: A did something to B AND B did the same to A. Example: They looked at themselves in the mirror (= they saw their own reflection together). They looked at each other (= A looked at B and B looked at A).
Themselves = réfléchi : le groupe a agi sur lui-même dans son ensemble. Each other = réciproque : A a fait quelque chose à B ET B a fait la même chose à A.
After verbs like feel, relax, concentrate, meet, English does NOT use reflexive pronouns, even though equivalent expressions in French or Spanish do. Simply say: I feel nervous. I can't relax. You need to concentrate. What time shall we meet?
Après les verbes comme feel, relax, concentrate, meet, l’anglais n’utilise PAS de pronoms réfléchis. Dites simplement : I feel nervous. I can't relax. You need to concentrate.
Not exactly wrong, but usually unnecessary. With wash, shave, dress, the reflexive is generally omitted in standard English: He got up, washed, shaved and dressed. However, it can be used for emphasis or when the action is notably voluntary/independent (e.g., The child is old enough to dress herself).
Pas vraiment incorrect, mais généralement inutile. Avec wash, shave, dress, le réfléchi est généralement omis en anglais standard. Cependant, il peut être utilisé pour l’emphase (ex. The child is old enough to dress herself).
Yes, in modern English they are largely interchangeable: How long have you known each other? = How long have you known one another?
Oui, en anglais moderne ils sont largement interchangeables. Certains grammairiens suggèrent each other pour deux personnes et one another pour trois ou plus, mais cette distinction est rarement respectée en pratique.
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