Discuss the rules for agreement when using reflexive pronouns.

When using reflexive pronouns, there are several rules for agreement that need to be followed. Reflexive pronouns are used when the subject and the object of a sentence refer to the same person or thing. The most common reflexive pronouns are "myself," "yourself," "himself," "herself," "itself," "ourselves," "yourselves," and "themselves."

1. Agreement with the subject:
Reflexive pronouns must agree with the subject in terms of person and number. For example:
- I hurt myself. (singular subject)
- They hurt themselves. (plural subject)

2. Agreement with the antecedent:
Reflexive pronouns must also agree with their antecedents in terms of person and number. The antecedent is the noun or pronoun that the reflexive pronoun refers back to. For example:
- John hurt himself. (referring back to John)
- The cats groomed themselves. (referring back to the cats)

3. Use in reciprocal actions:
Reflexive pronouns can be used in reciprocal actions when two or more people are involved in the same action. In this case, the reflexive pronoun should be used for each person involved. For example:
- They introduced themselves to each other.
- We congratulated ourselves on a job well done.

4. Use for emphasis:
Reflexive pronouns can also be used for emphasis, to emphasize that the subject is performing the action on their own. In this case, the reflexive pronoun is not necessary for the sentence's grammatical structure, but it adds emphasis. For example:
- I myself will take care of it.
- She herself made the decision.

5. Avoiding ambiguity:
When using reflexive pronouns, it is important to avoid ambiguity. Make sure that the reflexive pronoun clearly refers back to a specific noun or pronoun in the sentence. For example:
- The dog washed itself. (clearly referring back to the dog)
- The dog washed the cat. (ambiguous, as it is unclear who washed whom)

In summary, when using reflexive pronouns, it is crucial to ensure agreement with the subject and the antecedent in terms of person and number. Additionally, reflexive pronouns can be used in reciprocal actions and for emphasis. It is important to avoid ambiguity by clearly indicating the noun or pronoun to which the reflexive pronoun refers.