What Part of Speech Is Themselves? 5 Easy Rules and Examples for Students

Many students feel confused when they see the word “themselves” in a sentence. They often ask, what part of speech is themselves, and how it is used correctly in English grammar. Understanding this word is important because it appears in school essays, comprehension passages, and exam questions.

In English grammar, each word belongs to a part of speech, such as noun, verb, adjective, or pronoun. Knowing the role of “themselves” helps students write correct sentences and avoid common mistakes. This topic is especially useful for students in Pakistan and other countries where English is learned as a second language.

In this detailed guide, you will learn the meaning of “themselves,” its part of speech, its rules, examples, common mistakes, and real-life uses in simple and easy language.

Understanding the Word “Themselves” in Grammar

The word “themselves” belongs to the pronoun family. More specifically, it is called a reflexive pronoun.

A reflexive pronoun is used when the subject and the object of a sentence refer to the same person or group. In simple words, the action of the verb goes back to the subject.

For example:

They cleaned the classroom themselves.

In this sentence:

• They = Subject
• cleaned = Verb
• themselves = Reflexive Pronoun

The action of cleaning is done by they, and it also refers back to they.

What Part of Speech Is Themselves? (Clear Definition)

Themselves is a pronoun, specifically a reflexive pronoun.

It refers to more than one person (plural) and is used when those people perform an action on their own.

Table: Part of Speech of “Themselves”

Word	Part of Speech	Type	Usage
Themselves	Pronoun	Reflexive Pronoun	Refers back to plural subject
Themselves	Pronoun	Emphatic Pronoun	Adds emphasis to subject

So, the answer to the question what part of speech is themselves is:

• “Themselves” is a reflexive pronoun and sometimes an emphatic pronoun.

Reflexive Pronouns and Where “Themselves” Fits

Reflexive pronouns are formed by adding -self or -selves to personal pronouns.

Table: List of Reflexive Pronouns

Personal Pronoun	Reflexive Pronoun
I	Myself
You	Yourself
He	Himself
She	Herself
It	Itself
We	Ourselves
You (plural)	Yourselves
They	Themselves

From this table, we can see that “themselves” is used with the pronoun “they.”

When “Themselves” Is Used as a Reflexive Pronoun

“Themselves” is used as a reflexive pronoun when the subject and object are the same group.

Table: Reflexive Pronoun Usage Examples

Sentence	Subject Reflexive	Pronoun	Meaning
The students prepared themselves for exams.	Students	Themselves	Students prepared their own selves
They blamed themselves for the mistake.	They	Themselves	They blamed their own selves
The players trained themselves daily.	Players	Themselves	Players trained on their own

These examples clearly show how “themselves” refers back to the same group.

When “Themselves” Is Used as an Emphatic Pronoun

Sometimes, “themselves” is used to add emphasis to the subject. In this case, it is called an emphatic pronoun.

It does not act as an object but gives extra stress to show that someone did something personally.

Table: Emphatic Pronoun Examples

Sentence	Meaning
The teachers themselves checked the papers.	Teachers personally checked papers
The students themselves solved the problem.	Students solved it without help
The players themselves carried the equipment.	Players did it personally

In such cases, “themselves” is not required for grammar, but it adds importance and emphasis.

Sentence Structure with “Themselves”

Understanding sentence structure helps students use reflexive pronouns correctly.

Table: Sentence Patterns

Structure Type	Sentence Pattern	Example
Reflexive Use	Subject + Verb + Themselves	They introduced themselves.
Emphatic Use	Subject + Themselves + Verb	The students themselves decorated the hall.
End Emphasis	Subject + Verb + Object + Themselves	They completed the project themselves.

These structures are commonly used in school writing and exams.

Rules for Using “Themselves” Correctly

There are some simple rules students must remember when using “themselves.”

Table: Important Rules

Rule	Explanation	Example
Use with plural subjects	Used only for more than one person	They enjoyed themselves.
Must refer to subject	Subject and object must be same	Students helped themselves.
Do not use with singular nouns	Not correct with single person	Incorrect: Ali hurt themselves
Used for emphasis	Can show strong emphasis	The boys themselves repaired it.

Following these rules helps avoid common grammar errors.

Common Mistakes Students Make with “Themselves”

Many learners make mistakes when using reflexive pronouns. Here are realistic examples students often write.

Table: Wrong vs Correct Sentences

Wrong Sentence	Correct Sentence	Explanation
They enjoyed them.	They enjoyed themselves.	Reflexive pronoun needed
The girl hurt themselves.	The girl hurt herself.	Singular subject needs singular pronoun
Students blamed theirselves.	Students blamed themselves.	Correct form is “themselves”
They introduced them to teacher.	They introduced themselves to teacher.	Same subject needs reflexive form
The boys washed them.	The boys washed themselves.	Action refers to subject

Learning from mistakes helps students improve faster.

Real-Life Usage of “Themselves” in Daily Communication

Students often use “themselves” in daily conversations and writing.

Here are natural examples used in everyday life:

• The children dressed themselves before school.
• The players prepared themselves for the match.
• The students taught themselves using online videos.
• The workers protected themselves from rain.
• The guests served themselves food.

These examples show that reflexive pronouns are useful in daily communication.

Difference Between Reflexive and Emphatic Use

Many students confuse reflexive and emphatic pronouns. Understanding the difference makes writing clearer.

Table: Reflexive vs Emphatic Use

Feature	Reflexive Pronoun	Emphatic Pronoun
Purpose	Shows action returns to subject	Adds emphasis
Necessity	Required for meaning	Optional
Position	Usually after verb	Near subject
Example	They blamed themselves.	They themselves finished work.

This comparison helps students understand both uses easily.

Practical Application in Student Writing

Students often use reflexive pronouns in essays, letters, and exam answers.

Here are practical situations where “themselves” is useful.

School Essay Example

The students prepared themselves for the science exhibition and presented their projects confidently.

Classroom Situation

The children helped themselves to books from the library shelf.

Examination Writing

The players trained themselves hard before the competition.

Group Activity Writing

• The team members introduced themselves to the new teacher.
• These examples show how grammar rules apply in real student writing.

How Teachers Explain “Themselves” in Simple Words

Teachers often explain reflexive pronouns using easy methods.

They say:

“If the subject does the action and also receives the action, use a reflexive pronoun like ‘themselves.’”

For example:

• They hurt themselves while playing.
• This simple explanation helps students remember the rule quickly.
• Teachers also encourage students to read sentences aloud. When students hear the sentence, they can easily understand if “themselves” fits correctly.

Summary of Important Points

Here is a quick summary of what you learned.

Table: Key Points Summary

Topic	Important Idea
Part of Speech	Themselves is a pronoun
Type	Reflexive and emphatic pronoun
Number	Used with plural subjects
Main Function	Refers back to subject
Extra Function	Adds emphasis to subject

Read More: How Many Types of Essays Are There in English? 4 Easy and Complete Guide for Students

Conclusion

Understanding what part of speech is themselves is an important step in learning English grammar correctly. As you have learned, “themselves” is a reflexive pronoun used with plural subjects when the action refers back to the same group. It can also be used as an emphatic pronoun to add emphasis.

By practicing examples, reading sentences, and applying these rules in school writing, students can improve their grammar skills confidently. The more you use reflexive pronouns in real-life sentences, the easier they become.

Keep practicing, and soon you will be able to use “themselves” correctly in essays, exams, and daily English writing.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)