What Part of Speech Is "Themselves"?
Understanding the part of speech for "themselves" is essential for mastering English grammar and improving your overall language skills. Whether you're studying for an exam, teaching English, or simply want to communicate more effectively, grasping whether "themselves" functions as a noun, adjective, verb, or another category will significantly enhance your proficiency. Worth adding: this singular phrase, often confusing even advanced learners, serves as a prime example of how context shapes meaning while following strict grammatical rules. In this guide, we'll explore the linguistic classification of "themselves," break down related concepts, and provide practical examples to solidify your understanding.
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Understanding Pronouns in English Grammar
Pronouns are one of the most fundamental word classes in English grammar. They replace nouns in sentences to avoid repetition and make communication more efficient. Pronouns come in several forms, including personal pronouns (such as I, you, he, she), possessive pronouns (like my, his, her), reflexive pronouns (including myself, yourself, yourself, etc.That's why ), and objective pronouns (who, whom). Among these categories, personal pronouns play a particularly crucial role because they indicate the subject or object of a sentence and reflect the relationship between speakers and the people involved Took long enough..
Personal pronouns can be classified into two main groups: first-person (I, me, my, mine, we, us, our, ourselves) and second-person/third-person (you, your, yours; he, him, his, herself, hers; it, itself, they, them, their, etc.On top of that, ). Within third-person singular pronouns, there exists a distinct feature known as reflexivity—when a pronoun refers back to the subject of the clause or sentence. Reflexive pronouns include myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves, themselves.
Classifying "Themselves"
When we ask what part of speech "themselves" belongs to, the answer falls squarely within the category of personal pronouns, specifically the reflexive type. More precisely, "themselves" is a plural reflexive pronoun. To fully appreciate why this classification matters, let's examine the different ways pronouns function in sentences.
A pronoun is considered reflexive when it connects a person or thing to its own action or state. To give you an idea, in the sentence "The children themselves broke the vase," each child is performing the action on themselves individually. Similarly, "They themselves arrived late" indicates that the group collectively took responsibility for their tardiness rather than blaming someone else. These structures demonstrate that "themselves" does not merely point to an external object—it reflects back onto the subjects who perform the action described The details matter here..
it helps to note that while "themself" (singular) shares the same class, "themselves" (plural) operates according to slightly different syntactic patterns. Both belong to the reflexive pronoun family, but plural versions often appear in contexts involving multiple individuals or collective entities. This distinction helps clarify common confusion when learners see both forms and wonder which applies where.
Common Misconceptions About "Themselves"
Many non-native speakers and even native English learners encounter "themselves" and mistakenly categorize it incorrectly. One prevalent misunderstanding is treating "themselves" as a noun—a mistake that leads to grammatically incorrect sentences like "Themselves went to the store." While understandable, this phrasing would be better expressed as "They went to the store" or "Myself went to the store" depending on the intended meaning.
Another frequent error involves using "themselves" in situations where a simple demonstrative pronoun might suffice. " That said, "themselves" becomes necessary when emphasizing self-decision or mutual agreement among multiple parties. Take this: instead of saying "Themselves decided to go," one could say "They decided to go.Consider the difference between "He himself came early" versus "He came early"—the former stresses that he was responsible for his own arrival, which carries a subtle nuance worth conveying But it adds up..
Context always dictates the appropriate choice. When referring to a single individual acting upon themselves, "himself" or "herself" is typically preferred. But when describing a group or collective action, "themselves" takes center stage. This contextual flexibility demonstrates why precise knowledge of pronoun usage is valuable—not just for passing grammar tests, but for natural, fluent communication.
Practical Examples to Clarify
To cement your understanding, let's analyze several sentences that showcase the versatility of "themselves" as a plural reflexive pronoun. Each example illustrates a different scenario where this particular part of speech shines through That's the part that actually makes a difference. But it adds up..
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"After the meeting, the team members themselves realized the project needed more time." Here, "themselves" functions as the subject, indicating that the team members collectively recognized the issue. The pronoun emphasizes the group's shared awareness rather than assigning blame to an outside party Small thing, real impact..
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"She didn't notice the error until her colleagues pointed it out, but she herself corrected it later." In this case, "herself" (formal) or "she herself" clarifies that the correction was made by the speaker herself, highlighting her personal responsibility despite initial oversight.
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"The parents themselves insisted on supervising the children during the playdate." This construction uses "themselves" to show that the parents, as a unit, were taking charge—their decision was collective rather than delegated to someone else Most people skip this — try not to..
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"Once the bill was paid, everyone smiled, and they themselves felt proud of their accomplishment." Notice how "themselves" appears at the end of the sentence, serving as the subject of the clause "they themselves felt proud." This placement maintains clarity while affirming individual contribution within a group setting Turns out it matters..
These examples reveal that "themselves" isn't limited to simple self-reference—it can frame complex situations involving accountability, teamwork, and personal agency. By practicing with varied contexts, you'll internalize its proper usage patterns and avoid common pitfalls.
Summary and Key Takeaways
In a nutshell, "themselves" is unequivocally a personal pronoun belonging to the reflexive subset of the personal pronoun family. As a plural reflexive pronoun, it describes actions performed by subjects on themselves, whether individually or collectively. Its primary function is to create a sense of unity and mutual responsibility within a group or to highlight self-directed
Beyond the basic mechanics, mastering “themselves” also means recognizing when it feels natural in everyday speech and when it might sound forced. In informal conversation, speakers often drop the reflexive pronoun altogether—“They fixed the problem themselves” can comfortably become “They fixed the problem.” The nuance changes: without “themselves,” the sentence suggests the group acted without external assistance, but the added pronoun underscores that the effort originated internally. In more formal writing—academic papers, legal documents, or corporate reports—keeping the reflexive form is advisable because it eliminates any ambiguity about who performed the action.
Common Pitfalls
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Number mismatch
Using a singular subject with “themselves” creates a clear error. “The manager asked himself to review the report” is incorrect; the reflexive pronoun must agree in number (“the managers asked themselves”) Small thing, real impact. Turns out it matters.. -
Redundant self‑reference
When the subject already makes clear that the action is self‑directed, the pronoun can be superfluous. “She herself decided to resign” works, but “She decided herself to resign” sounds awkward and should be avoided. -
Placement confusion
Positioning “themselves” too far from its antecedent can cause momentary confusion. In “After the deadline passed, the employees submitted their timesheets and themselves celebrated with a pizza party,” the reader may pause to locate the pronoun’s referent. A smoother construction would be “…the employees submitted their timesheets and celebrated with a pizza party, feeling proud of themselves.”
Stylistic Variations
- Emphatic emphasis: Placing “themselves” at the end of a clause often heightens the sense of personal agency. “They completed the marathon, and they themselves broke their own records.”
- Contrast with external actors: To highlight that a group acted independently of outside help, the reflexive pronoun is invaluable. “Unlike the contractors, the volunteers themselves organized the entire event.”
- Collective responsibility: In discussions of policy or teamwork, “themselves” can signal shared accountability. “The board members themselves approved the budget, taking full responsibility for the outcome.”
Practical Exercise
To solidify the concept, try rewriting the following sentences, inserting the appropriate reflexive form:
- The committee reviewed the proposal. → The committee reviewed the proposal themselves.
- Maria checked the documents before the meeting. → Maria checked the documents before the meeting herself.
- The students completed the assignment without assistance. → The students completed the assignment without assistance themselves.
By consciously inserting “themselves” (or its singular counterpart) you train your ear to sense when a group’s self‑directed action deserves explicit acknowledgment.
Concluding Thoughts
Understanding “themselves” transcends a mere grammar rule; it equips writers and speakers with a tool for conveying nuance, responsibility, and cohesion. Whether you’re drafting a persuasive essay, preparing a business presentation, or simply chatting with friends, the reflexive pronoun subtly shapes how your audience perceives agency and collaboration. Plus, by paying attention to number agreement, avoiding redundancy, and positioning the pronoun for maximum clarity, you’ll wield “themselves” with confidence. In the end, precise pronoun usage enriches communication, making interactions more vivid, accountable, and genuinely human.
