Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns

Which of these words is a reflexive pronoun?

• him

• myself

• my

• they

Answer explanation

Reflexive and intensive pronouns are the ones that end in '-self' or '-selves', like myself, yourself, and themselves. The other options are different types of pronouns.

Complete the sentence: I taught _____ how to bake cookies by watching videos online.

• me

• myself

• I

• mine

Answer explanation

The reflexive pronoun 'myself' is needed because the subject 'I' is performing the action on itself. 'Myself' correctly refers back to 'I'.

True or False: The words 'hisself' and 'theirselves' are correct reflexive pronouns in standard English.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The correct forms are 'himself' and 'themselves'. 'Hisself' and 'theirselves' are common errors but are not grammatically correct.

Complete the sentence: The team members high-fived _____ after they won the championship.

• himself

• ourselves

• themselves

• itself

Answer explanation

The pronoun must agree with its antecedent, 'team members' (which is plural and third-person). 'Themselves' is the correct plural, third-person reflexive pronoun.

In the sentence, 'The coach himself demonstrated the drill,' what is the job of the word 'himself'?

• It is the main subject of the sentence.

• It receives the action of the verb.

• It shows the coach did the action for someone else.

• It adds emphasis to the subject 'coach'.

Answer explanation

This is an intensive pronoun. Its job is to emphasize that the coach, and not someone else, demonstrated the drill; it can be removed without changing the sentence's basic meaning.

Recognize the sentence where the pronoun 'herself' is used as a reflexive pronoun.

• The chef herself tasted the soup.

• Jasmine reminded herself to bring her library book.

• I spoke to the manager herself.

• Did the queen herself knight the warrior?

Answer explanation

In this sentence, 'herself' is the object receiving the action from the subject 'Jasmine'. The sentence would not make sense without it, making it a reflexive pronoun.

True or False: An intensive pronoun is necessary for the grammatical meaning of a sentence.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

An intensive pronoun adds emphasis and can be removed without changing the basic meaning of the sentence. A reflexive pronoun is the one that is necessary.

Complete the sentence: My dad was proud of me for fixing the leaky faucet all by _____.

• himself

• yourself

• myself

• itself

Answer explanation

The reflexive pronoun must refer back to the person who did the action. Since the speaker ('me') is the one who fixed the faucet, 'myself' is the correct choice.

Identify the type of pronoun underlined in the sentence: The cat gave _itself_ a long bath.

• Intensive

• Reflexive

• Possessive

• Subject

Answer explanation

The pronoun 'itself' is reflexive because it is the object of the verb 'gave' and refers back to the subject 'cat'. The cat is performing the action on itself.

Which sentence shows the correct use of a reflexive pronoun in a command?

• Help themselves to some snacks!

• Help ourselves to some snacks!

• Help himself to some snacks!

• Help yourself to some snacks!

Answer explanation

In a command, the subject is an understood 'you'. Therefore, the reflexive pronoun must be 'yourself' (singular) or 'yourselves' (plural).