Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns

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Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns

words ending in -self or -selves that are used to add emphasis to the subject or antecedent of the sentence (e.g., I myself made the cake)

​Intensive Pronouns

words ending in -self or -selves that are used when the subject and the object of a sentence are the same (e.g., I believe in myself)

​Reflexive Pronouns

What are they?

Myself

Yourself

Himself

Herself

Itself

Ourselves

Yourselves

Themselves​

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​Name them:

Meself

Youself

Hisself

Hersself

Itselves

Ourself

Youselves

Themself, Theirselves​

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Multiple Select

Choose all of the reflexive/intensive pronouns:

• themselves

• her

• myself

• you

​A reflexive pronoun refers to the subject of a sentence or clause and “reflects,” or directs back, the action of the verb toward that subject. In other words, a reflexive pronoun shows that someone or something in the sentence is acting for or on itself.

​Examples:

The boys made themselves some turkey sandwiches.

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When the caterpillar camouflages itself, it becomes practically invisible.

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At the crafts fair, I bought a tote bag for myself and some candles for mom.​

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*Reflexive pronouns are usually near the verb.​

An intensive pronoun adds emphasis to, or intensifies, a noun or pronoun in a sentence.

Examples:

Nahla installed all of the new tiles in the kitchen herself.

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The senator himself attended the rally and addressed the citizens.

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Did you really repair the refrigerator yourself?​

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*Intensive pronouns are usually near the antecedent.​

​There is a trick**

Intensive pronouns are not essential to the sentence. So, if you can take the pronoun out and the sentence still makes sense, it is probably intensive.

Ex: We ourselves were forced to pilot the boat to safety.​

We ourselves were forced to pilot the boat to safety.​ --> this still works!

**Tricks don't work all the time!!

Let's see how well you can do identifying which one is which.

Multiple Choice

Is the underlined word reflexive or intensive?

I myself like a stroll in the evening.

• reflexive

• intensive

Multiple Choice

Is the underlined word reflexive or intensive?

Jack decided to reward himself with a dinner out.

• reflexive

• intensive

Multiple Choice

Is the underlined word reflexive or intensive?

Jack made his supper himself.

• reflexive

• intensive

Multiple Choice

Is the underlined word reflexive or intensive?

I closed the store on Saturday myself.

• reflexive

• intensive

Multiple Choice

Is the underlined word reflexive or intensive?

Cynthia pours herself a cup of tea every morning.

• reflexive

• intensive