Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns

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​

​

​Name them:

Meself

Youself

Hisself

Hersself

Itselves

Ourself

Youselves

Themself, Theirselves​

​

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.

​

When the caterpillar camouflages itself, it becomes practically invisible.

​

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

​

*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.

​

The senator himself attended the rally and addressed the citizens.

​

Did you really repair the refrigerator yourself?​

​

*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

Multiple Choice

Ted promised himself to work harder next semester.

• reflexive
• intensive

Multiple Choice

Have you asked yourselves why you are here?

• reflexive
• intensive

Multiple Choice

Hi, Martin!  Hi, Rebecca!  Please come in and make ______________ at home. 

• yourself
• ourselves
• yourselves
• themselves

Multiple Choice

Julie, if you can't do this exercise by ____________, you should ask your teacher for help.

• herself
• myself
• yourself
• itself

Multiple Choice

I want to do the homework by myself.

• Reflexive

• Intensive

Multiple Choice

The elephant itself is a beautiful creature.

• Intensive

• Reflexive

Multiple Choice

Which pronoun in the sentence is intensive or reflexive? She is going to sing the solo by herself.

• herself

• she

• sing

• is

Multiple Choice

You yourself are responsible for this mess!

• Reflexive

• Intensive

Multiple Choice

The president himself appeared at the rally.

• Reflexive

• Intensive

Multiple Choice

Steve drove himself to the hospital.

• intensive

• reflexive