How to Use Reflexive Pronouns Correctly: Me vs. Myself

Khan Academy

This video provides a clear and practical guide to understanding and correctly using reflexive pronouns in English grammar. The narrator, David, breaks down the difference between personal pronouns (like 'me', 'us', 'him') and reflexive pronouns (like 'myself', 'ourselves', 'himself') by creating a visual chart comparing the two forms across first, second, and third-person perspectives. He explains the fundamental rule that reflexive pronouns are only used when the subject and the object of a sentence refer to the same person or thing. The content explores key grammatical themes including subject-verb-object agreement, the function of object pronouns in the predicate, and the distinction between singular and plural forms (e.g., 'yourself' vs. 'yourselves'). Through specific examples involving characters like Janelle and Roderick, the video illustrates how changing the object of a sentence from a different person to the subject itself necessitates the switch to a reflexive pronoun. It clarifies that these words are 'do-ees' (receivers of action) rather than 'do-ers'. For the classroom, this video is highly valuable for addressing common writing pitfalls, particularly the misuse of reflexive pronouns in compound objects (e.g., 'Talk to Vidya or myself'). The narrator offers a simple, foolproof 'substitution test' that students can use to check their own writing. This makes it an excellent resource for upper elementary and middle school language arts lessons focused on sentence structure, editing skills, and formal standard English usage.