Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns

Your goal:

  • Understand, identify and use reflexive and intensive pronouns.

Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns

Reflexive and intensive pronouns are types of pronouns that serve different functions in a sentence. While both are formed by adding “-self” or “-selves” to certain pronouns, they are used differently in context.

Reflexive Pronouns:

  • Definition: Reflexive pronouns refer back to the subject of the sentence and emphasize that the subject performs an action on itself. They are used when the subject and object in a sentence are the same.
  • Examples:
    • “He cut himself while shaving.”
    • “She blamed herself for the mistake.”
  • Forms of Reflexive Pronouns:
    • Singular: Myself, Yourself, Himself, Herself, Itself
    • Plural: Ourselves, Yourselves, Themselves
  • Function: They reflect the action back to the subject, emphasizing that the subject performs the action on itself.

Intensive Pronouns:

  • Definition: Intensive pronouns are used to emphasize a noun or pronoun in a sentence. They add emphasis or intensity but do not serve the reflexive function of reflecting the action back to the subject.
  • Examples:
    • “She herself made the cake.”
    • “He himself will solve the problem.”
  • Forms of Intensive Pronouns:
    • Singular: Myself, Yourself, Himself, Herself, Itself
    • Plural: Ourselves, Yourselves, Themselves
  • Function: They emphasize or intensify the noun or pronoun they are referring to in the sentence without involving any reflexive action.

Key Differences:

  • Reflexive: Reflects the action back to the subject.
  • Intensive: Emphasizes or intensifies the noun or pronoun without reflecting the action back to the subject.

Importance:

  • Clarity and Emphasis: Reflexive and intensive pronouns add clarity by emphasizing the subject or object in a sentence, depending on their use.
  • Avoiding Ambiguity: Proper use of these pronouns prevents confusion and ambiguity in sentence construction.

Understanding the distinction between reflexive and intensive pronouns helps in using them correctly to convey the intended meaning and emphasis in sentences.