Reflexive Vs. Intensive Pronouns

An intensive pronoun is almost identical to a reflexive pronoun. It is defined as a pronoun that ends in self or selves and places emphasis on its antecedent by referring back to another noun or pronoun used earlier in the sentence

You can tell the difference between a reflexive pronoun and an intensive pronoun easily: Intensive pronouns aren’t essential to a sentence’s basic meaning. Understanding this basic difference will help to prevent you from confusing the two.

Both intensive and reflexive pronouns end in the suffix –self or –selves, however reflexive pronouns are always objects that refer to a sentence’s subject. The following example shows a reflexive pronoun in action:

Jim made himself coffee.

Without the reflexive pronoun himself, it would be impossible for the reader to know who Jim made coffee for.

In the next example, himself is used as an intensive pronoun. The reader would be able to understand the sentence’s complete meaning without this pronoun, but it serves to add emphasis:

·        Jim made coffee for the king himself.

Here, himself refers to the king rather than to Jim. The reader is meant to be impressed that Jim made coffee for the king.

Common Intensive Pronouns:

The following list contains the most commonly used examples of intensive pronouns.

• ·        Himself
• ·        Herself
• ·        Yourself
• ·        Themselves
• ·        Ourselves

In English grammar, a reflexive pronoun indicates that the person who is realizing the action of the verb is also the recipient of the action. While this might seem strange at first glance, the following examples of reflexive pronouns and the accompanying list of reflexive pronouns will help you gain thorough understanding.

Examples of Reflexive Pronouns:

·        In the following examples of reflexive pronouns, the reflexive pronoun in each sentence is italicized.

• ·        I was in a hurry, so I washed the car myself.
• ·        You’re going to have to drive yourself to school today.
• ·        He wanted to impress her, so he baked a cake himself.
• ·        Jennifer does chores herself because she doesn’t trust others to do them right