English Language Arts
Grade 7
15 min
Use reflexive pronouns
Use reflexive pronouns
What you'll learn
- Identify reflexive pronouns within a sentence with 80% accuracy on a written exercise.
- Explain the function of reflexive pronouns in at least two different sentences, demonstrating understanding of how they refer back to the subject, in a short paragraph.
- Apply reflexive pronouns correctly in 4 out of 5 original sentences, demonstrating their proper usage in writing.
- Distinguish between reflexive and intensive pronouns in a given set of sentences, correctly categorizing at least 75% of them.
Tutorial Preview
1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify reflexive pronouns in various sentence structures.
Correctly use reflexive pronouns as direct or indirect objects when the subject and object refer to the same entity.
Distinguish between reflexive and intensive pronouns, understanding their distinct functions.
Construct grammatically correct sentences using appropriate reflexive pronouns.
Revise sentences to correct common errors in reflexive pronoun usage, such as 'hisself' or using them as subjects.
Explain the role of a reflexive pronoun in clarifying who performs an action upon themselves.
Select the correct reflexive pronoun based on its antecedent's person and number.
Ever talk to yourself in the mirror or accidentally trip over your own feet? 🗣️ Sometimes, the action we d...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
PronounA word that takes the place of a noun or another pronoun to avoid repetition.Instead of 'Sarah went to Sarah's house,' we say 'Sarah went to her house.'
Reflexive PronounA type of pronoun that refers back to the subject of the sentence, indicating that the subject is performing an action upon itself. It is essential to the meaning of the sentence.The cat licked itself clean.
SubjectThe noun or pronoun that performs the action of the verb in a sentence.She sings beautifully. ('She' is the subject.)
ObjectThe noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb.He threw the ball. ('The ball' is the object.)
AntecedentThe noun or pronoun that a pronoun refers back to or replaces.When Maria finished her homework, she fe...
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Key Rules & Conventions
Reflexive Pronouns Must Reflect the Subject
A reflexive pronoun must always refer back to the subject of the sentence, indicating that the subject is both the doer and receiver of the action.
Use a reflexive pronoun when the person or thing performing the action (the subject) is the same person or thing receiving the action (the object). If the subject and object are different, do not use a reflexive pronoun.
Reflexive Pronouns as Objects
Reflexive pronouns function as direct objects, indirect objects, or objects of prepositions when they refer to the subject.
They cannot be the subject of a sentence. For example, 'I cut myself' (direct object), 'She bought herself a treat' (indirect object), 'He talked to himself' (object of preposition).
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Challenging
Which sentence correctly synthesizes two concepts from the tutorial by using a reflexive pronoun as an indirect object AND an intensive pronoun for emphasis?
A.I myself bought myself a reward for finishing the project.
B.She bought herself a new computer herself.
C.He himself gave the prize to himself.
D.We ourselves made ourselves a promise to work harder.
Challenging
Analyze the sentence: 'The system automatically updates itself at midnight.' Which statement provides the most precise analysis of the pronoun 'itself'?
A.It is an intensive pronoun because 'system' is an inanimate object.
B.It is a reflexive pronoun because it is the essential direct object of the verb 'updates'; the system performs the action on itself.
C.It is a reflexive pronoun used as the subject, as it performs the action of updating.
D.It is an intensive pronoun because it emphasizes that the system, and not a person, does the updating.
Challenging
A student writes: 'Theirselves and the other volunteers cleaned the park.' Which option best describes all the grammatical errors in this sentence related to pronoun usage?
A.There is one error: 'Theirselves' is a nonstandard form and should be 'Themselves'.
B.There is one error: A reflexive pronoun is incorrectly used as the subject.
C.There are two errors: 'Theirselves' is a nonstandard form, and it is used as an object instead of a subject.
D.There are two errors: 'Theirselves' is a nonstandard form, and a reflexive pronoun is incorrectly used as part of the compound subject.
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What grade level is "Use reflexive pronouns"?
Use reflexive pronouns is a Grade 7 English Language Arts lesson on ExcelOS.
What will I learn in Use reflexive pronouns?
You'll be able to: Identify reflexive pronouns within a sentence with 80% accuracy on a written exercise; Explain the function of reflexive pronouns in at least two different sentences, demonstrating understanding of how they refer back to the….
Is "Use reflexive pronouns" free to practice?
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How many practice questions are included with Use reflexive pronouns?
This lesson includes 45 practice questions across multiple difficulty levels, each with instant feedback and explanations.