We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Linguistics

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is a Reflexive Verb?

By Meg Higa
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 7,782
References
Share

A sentence using a reflexive verb contains subject and object nouns which are the same. In the example, “She embarrassed herself,” the subject pronoun “she” and the direct object pronoun “herself” are the same person. The verb, expressing her action or state of being, is not applied to a different person or thing and can be said to reflect back to her.

There are some verbs which are so inherently reflective that the direct object noun can be omitted and understood to refer back to the subject. In most cases, a reflexive verb will be contextual. The same verb in the example of the previous paragraph can be used, “She embarrassed her mother.” This time, the verb is not reflexive. Some linguists and others who study the structure of languages refer to the subject and object of a sentence as “agent and patient.”

Most languages have rules or conventions of grammar for constructing reflexive sentences. Some languages dictate a change to the form of the verb to clearly indicate its reflexive use. In Spanish, for example, the particle “se” is attached to the end of the verb as a suffix. In Romanian, the same particle must precede the verb. An uncommon English convention is to transform some words into a reflexive verb with the attachment of the hyphenated prefix “self-“ such as in “self-injure.”

In English, the same word “self” is also typically attached to a pronoun that is the object of the sentence. “She embarrassed her,” can refer to anyone; but “herself” clearly specifies that the verb is reflexive. Changing the form of a pronoun when it is a direct object is common in other languages also. Some linguists refer to the reflexive verb as a “pronominal verb,” because they almost always, in many languages, require a direct object that is a pronoun.

Many of the older European languages change the form of both the reflexive verb and its object pronoun in ways that are quite complex. Some languages of Germanic origin have different rules for changing the pronouns based on person and number — me, us, you, her or them. Other languages may have as many as a dozen slightly different variations of correct grammar, based on subtleties such as the nature of either agent or patient. For example, one form of a reflexive verb may apply to an animate agent such as a person, whereas the same verb may require a different form when used for inanimate things.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Link to Sources

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-a-reflexive-verb.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.