Pronouns are essential building blocks of language, acting as substitutes for nouns to avoid repetition and create smoother sentences. Among the various types of pronouns, intensive and reflexive pronouns often cause confusion due to their similar forms. Understanding the distinct functions of these two pronoun types is crucial for clear and accurate communication.
Both intensive and reflexive pronouns share the same suffix: “-self” for singular pronouns (myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself) and “-selves” for plural pronouns (ourselves, yourselves, themselves). This visual similarity is the primary source of the confusion.
However, their grammatical roles and purposes within a sentence are quite different, dictating their placement and necessity. One emphasizes a noun or another pronoun, while the other refers back to the subject of the sentence.
Let’s delve into the specifics of each to clarify their unique contributions to sentence structure and meaning.
Understanding Intensive Pronouns
Intensive pronouns, also known as emphatic pronouns, are used to add emphasis to a noun or another pronoun. They highlight or stress a particular element in the sentence, reinforcing its importance.
These pronouns always follow the noun or pronoun they are emphasizing, or they can appear at the end of the sentence for even greater impact. Their presence is optional; removing them does not change the core meaning of the sentence, though it might lessen the emphasis.
The key characteristic of an intensive pronoun is that it can be removed without altering the grammatical correctness or fundamental meaning of the sentence. They serve purely for rhetorical effect, adding a layer of force or conviction to the statement.
When to Use Intensive Pronouns
Intensive pronouns are employed when you want to draw special attention to a subject or object. They answer the unspoken question, “Who *exactly* did that?” or “What *specifically* is this about?”.
Consider the sentence, “The president delivered the speech.” This is a straightforward statement. Now, consider, “The president himself delivered the speech.” The addition of “himself” emphasizes that it was the president, and no one else, who gave the speech.
This emphasis can be important for conveying specific nuances, such as attributing an action directly to someone or distinguishing them from others who might have been involved.
Examples of Intensive Pronouns in Action
Let’s look at several examples to solidify the concept. In the sentence, “She baked the cake herself,” the pronoun “herself” emphasizes that *she* was the one who baked the cake, perhaps in contrast to someone else who might have bought it.
Another example: “We will finish the project ourselves.” Here, “ourselves” stresses that the team is responsible for completing the project, without external help.
The students themselves were surprised by the exam’s difficulty. This sentence uses “themselves” to emphasize that the students, and not necessarily their teacher or parents, were taken aback by the challenge of the test.
He built the entire house by himself. The pronoun “himself” highlights the solitary effort involved in constructing the house.
The cat groomed itself meticulously. In this instance, “itself” emphasizes that the cat was solely responsible for its own grooming process.
You should see the mess the children made themselves! “Themselves” here emphatically points to the children as the perpetrators of the mess.
The manager himself approved the budget. The inclusion of “himself” underscores that the highest authority within the department gave the final go-ahead.
The company announced the layoffs themselves. This usage of “themselves” might suggest a collective decision or an internal process, emphasizing the company’s direct action.
It is I myself who am responsible for this oversight. The phrase “myself” provides strong personal assurance and accountability.
The Test of Removability
The most reliable way to identify an intensive pronoun is to remove it from the sentence. If the sentence remains grammatically correct and retains its core meaning, the pronoun is intensive.
For instance, take “The dog chased its tail.” If we add an intensive pronoun, we get “The dog itself chased its tail.” Removing “itself” leaves us with the original, grammatically sound sentence.
Consider “She will do it.” Adding an intensive pronoun yields “She herself will do it.” Removing “herself” reverts to the original meaning, confirming its intensive function.
This simple test is invaluable for distinguishing between the two types of pronouns.
Understanding Reflexive Pronouns
Reflexive pronouns are used when the subject and the object of a sentence are the same person or thing. They reflect the action of the verb back onto the subject.
In such cases, the pronoun is essential to the meaning of the sentence; it is the direct or indirect object receiving the action performed by the subject.
Removing a reflexive pronoun from a sentence would make it grammatically incorrect or change its meaning entirely, as the object of the action would be lost.
When to Use Reflexive Pronouns
Reflexive pronouns are necessary when the subject performs an action upon itself. The pronoun acts as the object of the verb, indicating that the action is directed back to the doer.
For example, in the sentence “He hurt himself,” the subject is “He,” and the action is “hurt.” The pronoun “himself” indicates that “He” is both the one doing the hurting and the one being hurt.
Without “himself,” the sentence “He hurt” is incomplete and grammatically incorrect, as it lacks an object to receive the action of hurting.
Examples of Reflexive Pronouns in Action
Let’s examine some sentences that clearly illustrate the use of reflexive pronouns. “She taught herself to play the guitar.” Here, “herself” is the object of the verb “taught,” indicating that she learned by her own efforts.
Consider “They congratulated themselves on their victory.” “Themselves” is the object of “congratulated,” meaning they acknowledged their own success.
He accidentally cut himself while shaving. The pronoun “himself” is crucial here to show that the subject performing the action of cutting is also the recipient of that action.
The cat licked itself clean. “Itself” is the object of the verb “licked,” signifying that the cat was grooming itself.
We made ourselves comfortable. “Ourselves” functions as the object of “made,” indicating that we created a state of comfort for ourselves.
You should be proud of yourself. “Yourself” is the object of “proud,” meaning the feeling of pride is directed back towards the subject.
The children dressed themselves. “Themselves” is the object of “dressed,” showing that the children performed the action of dressing on their own bodies.
He found himself in a difficult situation. “Himself” is the object of “found,” meaning he discovered his own predicament.
She expressed herself clearly in the presentation. “Herself” is the object of “expressed,” indicating that she conveyed her thoughts and feelings directly.
The Test of Necessity
The definitive way to identify a reflexive pronoun is to attempt to remove it. If the sentence becomes ungrammatical or its meaning fundamentally changes, the pronoun is reflexive.
Take the sentence “She saw.” This sentence is incomplete. However, “She saw herself in the mirror” is grammatically correct and makes sense because “herself” acts as the object of the verb “saw.”
Consider “He blamed.” This is also an incomplete thought. But “He blamed himself for the mistake” is a complete and meaningful sentence, with “himself” serving as the object of “blamed.”
This necessity for grammatical completeness or semantic integrity is the hallmark of a reflexive pronoun.
Key Differences Summarized
The core distinction lies in their function: intensive pronouns emphasize, while reflexive pronouns refer back.
An intensive pronoun is an optional intensifier, whereas a reflexive pronoun is a necessary part of the sentence, acting as an object.
The removability test is the most effective tool for differentiation.
The Removability Test Revisited
Let’s apply the removability test to a sentence containing both types to further clarify. “John himself told me that he blames himself for the accident.”
If we remove “himself” after “John,” we get “John told me that he blames himself for the accident.” The sentence remains grammatically correct and conveys the same primary message, indicating that the first “himself” is intensive.
Now, if we remove the second “himself” (after “blames”), we are left with “John himself told me that he blames for the accident.” This sentence is incomplete and ungrammatical because the verb “blames” requires an object.
This demonstrates how the test works: the removable pronoun is intensive, and the non-removable pronoun is reflexive.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
One common error is using an intensive pronoun when a reflexive pronoun is needed, or vice versa. This often happens when speakers or writers are unsure about the pronoun’s role.
For example, saying “She hurt John and myself” is incorrect. If “myself” is meant to refer back to the speaker as one of the people hurt, it should be “She hurt John and me.” If the speaker is emphasizing their own role in hurting John, it would be “She hurt John and I myself,” which is still awkward and unlikely.
Another mistake is using a reflexive pronoun when an intensive pronoun would be more appropriate, or failing to use a reflexive pronoun when it’s required. For instance, “He went to the store” is correct, but if the intention is to emphasize that he, and no one else, went, then “He himself went to the store” is the correct intensive usage.
To avoid these errors, always consider the function of the pronoun in the sentence. Ask yourself: Is it adding emphasis, or is it essential for the sentence to make grammatical sense by referring back to the subject?
Pronouns in Compound Subjects and Objects
When pronouns are part of compound subjects or objects, the rules still apply, but it can become trickier. For compound subjects, the pronoun acts as an intensifier for one of the elements.
Example: “My sister and I myself baked the cookies.” Here, “myself” emphasizes that “I” (the speaker) was personally involved in the baking, in addition to the sister.
For compound objects, the reflexive pronoun refers back to the subject. Example: “He gave the present to Sarah and himself.” This means the subject “He” is both the giver and one of the recipients.
It’s important to remember that in compound objects, you typically use the objective case for personal pronouns (me, him, her, us, them) unless the reflexive pronoun is required. For instance, “The award was given to Sarah and me,” not “The award was given to Sarah and I.”
Grammatical Considerations
The correct use of intensive and reflexive pronouns hinges on understanding subject-verb agreement and pronoun case.
Intensive pronouns agree in number and gender with the noun or pronoun they modify. They do not affect the verb’s agreement with its subject.
Reflexive pronouns also agree in number and gender with the subject, and they function as the object of the verb or a preposition, receiving the action of the verb.
Pronoun Case and Agreement
When forming reflexive pronouns, we combine the appropriate personal pronoun (in the correct case) with the suffix “-self” or “-selves.” For example, “I” becomes “myself,” “you” (singular) becomes “yourself,” “he” becomes “himself,” “she” becomes “herself,” “it” becomes “itself,” “we” becomes “ourselves,” “you” (plural) becomes “yourselves,” and “they” becomes “themselves.”
Agreement is straightforward: if the subject is singular, the reflexive pronoun is singular; if the subject is plural, the reflexive pronoun is plural. The gender of the pronoun must also match the gender of the subject, where applicable.
Consider the sentence “The dog wagged its tail.” If we were to make this reflexive in meaning (though unlikely for a dog’s tail), it would be “The dog wagged itself,” implying the dog was somehow wagging its own tail in a self-directed manner.
Common Pitfalls in Usage
A frequent error involves using “myself” when “me” or “I” would be correct. This often occurs in compound subjects or objects.
For instance, “John and myself will attend the meeting” is incorrect. The correct form is “John and I will attend the meeting” because “John and I” is the subject of the verb “will attend.” “Myself” is not a subject pronoun.
Conversely, “He sent the report to John and myself” is also incorrect if “myself” is meant to be an object. The correct form is “He sent the report to John and me,” as “John and me” are the objects of the preposition “to.”
Remember to apply the removability test and the necessity test to catch these common mistakes.
Conclusion: Mastering Intensive and Reflexive Pronouns
Intensive and reflexive pronouns, while sharing similar forms, serve distinct grammatical purposes.
Intensive pronouns offer emphasis and can be removed without altering the sentence’s core meaning. Reflexive pronouns are essential for sentences where the subject acts upon itself, and their removal would lead to grammatical errors or meaning changes.
By understanding their unique roles and applying the simple tests of removability and necessity, you can confidently use these pronouns to enhance the clarity, precision, and impact of your writing.