What are Reflexive Verbs?
Reflexive Verbs have subjects that are also their direct objects. Meaning, the action of the verb is both committed and received by the same person or thing.
The objects of Reflexive Verbs are usually Reflexive Pronouns like myself, themselves, itself, himself, herself, etc.
Examples:
"I am staring at myself in the mirror."
"I" here is the subject, "am staring" is the Reflexive Verb, and "myself" is the direct object.
Notice that the verb (am staring) is just like a normal verb. However, in this case, since "am staring" is used to describe what the subject is doing to itself, it is then categorized as a Reflexive Verb.
For clarification, any verb can only be called a Reflexive Verb if it is used to describe what the subject is doing to itself, or if it is used with one and the same subject and object.
In the sample sentence, it is just Me and Myself, that’s why "am staring" is a Reflexive Verb.
"Andrea helps herself to get the food."
"Andrea" is the subject, "helps" is the Reflexive Verb, and "herself" is the direct object.
It is just Andrea and herself (she is the subject and herself is also the receiver of the action word), which is why the verb used (helps) is categorized as a Reflexive Verb.
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