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Reflexive and Intensive Proununnnnnn

The document discusses the differences between intensive and reflexive pronouns. Intensive pronouns such as myself are used to add emphasis to a sentence, but are not essential to its meaning. Reflexive pronouns such as himself refer back to the subject of the sentence and are essential to its meaning when the subject and object are the same. The main differences are that intensive pronouns add emphasis while reflexive pronouns refer back to the subject, and reflexive pronouns are essential to a sentence's meaning whereas intensive pronouns are not.

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Jerome Metierre
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185 views4 pages

Reflexive and Intensive Proununnnnnn

The document discusses the differences between intensive and reflexive pronouns. Intensive pronouns such as myself are used to add emphasis to a sentence, but are not essential to its meaning. Reflexive pronouns such as himself refer back to the subject of the sentence and are essential to its meaning when the subject and object are the same. The main differences are that intensive pronouns add emphasis while reflexive pronouns refer back to the subject, and reflexive pronouns are essential to a sentence's meaning whereas intensive pronouns are not.

Uploaded by

Jerome Metierre
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Main Difference – Intensive vs Reflexive Pronouns

The eight pronouns, myself, yourself, himself, itself, herself, yourselves, ourselves and
themselves are both intensive and reflexive pronouns. The main difference between
intensive and reflexive pronouns stems from their function. Intensive pronouns are
used to add emphasis to a sentence whereas reflexive pronouns are used to
refer back to the subject of the sentence.
What are Intensive Pronouns
Intensive Pronouns are a special kind of pronouns that are used to add emphasis to
a sentence. As mentioned above, the eight pronouns: myself, yourself, himself, itself,
herself, yourselves, ourselves and themselves fall into the category of intensive pronouns.
Since intensive pronouns are only added to emphasize a noun or another pronoun, they
are not essential to a meaningful sentence.
The easiest method to identify intensive pronouns is to remove the intensive pronoun
from the sentence and see whether the sentence still makes sense; if it does, the pronoun
is an intensive pronoun. Try this method for the following sentences and you’ll note that
all the sentences make sense even after removing the intensive pronoun.

The prime minister himself gave me the award.


She made this dinner herself.
He himself told me that I was to be promoted.
You yourself can change your life.
The queen herself came forward to help.
My mother herself made all this food.

What are Reflexive Pronouns


Reflexive Pronouns are used in a sentence to refer back to the subject. We use them
when the subject and the object of a sentence is the same. In simple terms, reflexive
pronouns can be used when someone is doing something to himself. Reflexive pronouns
generally act as the object of a sentence.

As the direct object


He saw himself in the mirror and was shocked.
He shot himself in the head.
I pinched myself to see whether it was a dream.
As the indirect object
I bought myself a slice of cake.
He made himself coffee.
As the object of a preposition
You should address the letter to yourself.
She had to cook for herself.
Note that reflexive pronouns as indirect objects and intensive pronouns tend to be
confusing. This is because when the reflexive pronouns that act as indirect object are
removed from the sentence, some sentences remain meaningful.

For example,

He made himself coffee.→ He made coffee.


In such instances, reflexive pronouns have to be identified by analyzing the meaning. In
the above sentence, himself has not been added for emphasis; it implies that he made
coffee for himself, not for anyone else.
The child looks at himself.

Difference Between Intensive and Reflexive


Pronouns
Function
Intensive Pronouns add emphasis.
Reflexive Pronouns refer back to the subject.
Meaning
Intensive Pronouns are not essential to the meaning of a sentence.
Reflexive Pronouns are essential to the meaning of a sentence.
Subject and Object
Intensive Pronouns are not used in sentences where the subject and object refers to
the same.
Reflexive Pronouns are used in a sentence when the subject and the object are the
same.
Object
Intensive Pronouns cannot act as the object of a sentence.
Reflexive Pronouns act as the object of a sentence.

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