English Language Arts
Grade 9
15 min
Choose between personal and reflexive pronouns
Choose between personal and reflexive pronouns
What you'll learn
- Identify at least three specific weaknesses (e.g., logical fallacies, unsupported claims, vague language) in argumentative essays and propose revisions to strengthen the arguments, as demonstrated through a written critique.
- Apply principles of rhetoric (e.g., ethos, pathos, logos) to evaluate the effectiveness of persuasive techniques in sample texts and suggest revisions to enhance their impact, as evidenced by peer review and self-reflection.
- Evaluate the clarity, coherence, and conciseness of student-written essays and implement revisions to improve overall readability and flow, as measured by a rubric focusing on sentence structure, transitions, and word choice.
- Explain how specific revisions to a text address identified weaknesses in argumentation, rhetoric, or style, providing a rationale grounded in established writing conventions and rhetorical principles, as articulated in a reflective essay.
Tutorial Preview
1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Differentiate between the functions of personal and reflexive pronouns within a sentence.
Identify the antecedent for any given reflexive pronoun.
Correct sentences that misuse reflexive pronouns in place of personal pronouns, particularly in compound subjects and objects.
Apply the correct pronoun choice in their own analytical and argumentative writing to ensure clarity and formal tone.
Analyze an author's use of intensive pronouns (a related concept) for rhetorical effect.
Articulate the grammatical rule governing the use of reflexive pronouns.
Have you ever written 'Please send the email to myself' because it sounded more formal? 🤔 Let's find out if that's a power move or a grammar pitfall.
This tutorial will teach you the p...
2
Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Personal PronounA pronoun that refers to a specific person or thing and changes its form (case) to indicate its grammatical function as a subject, object, or possessive.In 'She gave the book to him,' 'she' is a subject personal pronoun and 'him' is an object personal pronoun.
Reflexive PronounA pronoun ending in '-self' or '-selves' that refers back to the subject of the same clause. It acts as an object and is essential to the meaning of the sentence.The defendant perjured himself during the testimony. ('himself' refers back to 'the defendant').
AntecedentThe noun or pronoun to which another pronoun (especially a reflexive one) refers.In 'The author challenged herself to write a new chapter,&...
3
Key Rules & Conventions
The Reflection Rule
A reflexive pronoun MUST refer back to (or 'reflect') the subject of the same clause.
Use a reflexive pronoun only when the person or thing performing the action is also the person or thing receiving the action. If the subject is not the same as the object, you must use a personal pronoun.
The 'Cannot Start' Rule
A reflexive pronoun cannot be the subject of a sentence or clause.
Because a reflexive pronoun must reflect an existing subject within the same clause, it can never appear before its antecedent. This means it cannot function as the subject itself.
The Compound Object Test
To check a compound object (e.g., 'to my friend and me/myself'), remove the other person from the sentence.
If you have a phrase like '...
4 more steps in this tutorial
Sign up free to access the complete tutorial with worked examples and practice.
Sign Up Free to ContinueSample Practice Questions
Challenging
In a complex sentence, a reflexive pronoun must refer to the subject of its own clause. Which sentence correctly applies this rule? 'The editors, after the author had submitted the final draft, allowed ___ a day of rest.'
A.himself, because the author is the most recent noun.
B.themselves, because the subject of the verb 'allowed' is 'The editors'.
C.them, because the pronoun is the object of the verb 'allowed'.
D.itself, because the 'final draft' is the object of the preceding clause.
Challenging
A character in a play repeatedly says things like, 'The honor should be given to myself' and 'My brother and myself will handle it.' From a rhetorical analysis perspective, what might this consistent pronoun misuse suggest about the character?
A.The character is highly educated and uses advanced grammatical forms.
B.The character is attempting to sound more formal or important than they are, revealing insecurity or pomposity.
C.The author is careless with grammar and has made a mistake.
D.The character is selfless and always thinking of themself in relation to others.
Challenging
A student argues that in the sentence 'The coach gave the team and myself a pep talk,' the pronoun 'myself' is correct because the speaker is part of the group receiving the talk. Why is this reasoning grammatically flawed according to the rules of pronoun use?
A.The reasoning is not flawed; this is a correct and accepted use of 'myself' in modern English.
B.It is flawed because a reflexive pronoun can only be used in the singular, not as part of a group.
C.It is flawed because the 'Reflection Rule' requires a reflexive pronoun to refer to the subject of its clause; here, the subject is 'The coach,' not 'I'.
D.It is flawed because 'myself' is a subjective pronoun and cannot be used as an object.
Want to practice and check your answers?
Sign up to access all questions with instant feedback, explanations, and progress tracking.
Start Practicing FreeMore from Pronouns
English Language Arts for other grades
Frequently asked questions
What grade level is "Choose between personal and reflexive pronouns"?
Choose between personal and reflexive pronouns is a Grade 9 English Language Arts lesson on ExcelOS.
What will I learn in Choose between personal and reflexive pronouns?
You'll be able to: Identify at least three specific weaknesses (e.g., logical fallacies, unsupported claims, vague language) in argumentative essays and propose revisions to strengthen the arguments, as demonstrated through a written critique….
Is "Choose between personal and reflexive pronouns" free to practice?
Yes. You can read the tutorial preview for free, and signing up for a free ExcelOS account unlocks the full tutorial and all practice questions with instant feedback.
How many practice questions are included with Choose between personal and reflexive pronouns?
This lesson includes 25 practice questions across multiple difficulty levels, each with instant feedback and explanations.