Intensive or Reflexive Pronouns

Intensive and Reflexive Pronouns

Intensive and reflexive pronouns are formed by adding –self or –selves to certain personal and possessive pronouns.

Myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, and themselves are the intensive and reflexive pronouns.

An intensive pronoun adds emphasis to a noun or pronoun already named.

• Ex. I will do it myself.

• Ex. He himself paid for the book.

Intensive pronouns can be removed from the sentence without changing the meaning.

• Ex. I will do it.

• Ex. He paid for the book.

A reflexive pronoun is used as the direct object, indirect object, or the object of the preposition of a sentence.

• This means that the person or thing performing the action is also receiving the action.

• Ex. We consider ourselves responsible enough to have a pet. (direct object)

• Ex. They bought themselves a book on pet care. (indirect object)

• Ex. Henry takes care of his pets by himself. (object of the preposition)

Never use intensive or reflexive pronouns as the subject of a sentence.

Ex. Roy and myself read a story. (It should be “Roy and I read a story.”)

Identify the underlined pronoun as either intensive or reflexive.

Multiple Choice

I gave myself a manicure last night.

• intensive

• reflexive

Multiple Choice

The singer herself wrote the music and lyrics for the song.

• intensive

• reflexive

Multiple Choice

The cat itself caught the mouse in the basement.

• intensive

• reflexive

Multiple Choice

They bought themselves new clothes.

• intensive

• reflexive

Multiple Choice

He himself read the book.

• intensive

• reflexive

Multiple Choice

He read the book to himself.

• intensive

• reflexive

Multiple Choice

When you arrive, please let yourself into the house.

• intensive

• reflexive

Multiple Choice

We ourselves baked a cake from scratch.

• intensive

• reflexive

Multiple Choice

They solved the riddle by themselves.

• intensive

• reflexive

Multiple Choice

John made himself lunch.

• intensive

• reflexive