Intensive ❱ Reflexive Pronouns

Singular
Myself
Yourself
Himself
Herself
Itself

Plural
Ourselves
Yourselves
Themselves


We use a reflexive pronoun as a direct object when the object is the same as the subject of the verb

➧ I fell over and hurt myself.
➧ You might cut yourself.


We can use a reflexive pronoun as direct object with most transitive verbs, but these are the most common

amuse
blame
cut
dry
enjoy
help
hurt
introduce
kill
prepare
satisfy
teach


We do not use a reflexive pronoun after verbs which describe things people usually do for themselves

➧ Michael dressed and got ready for the party.
➧ She washed in cold water.


We only use reflexives with these verbs for emphasis

➧ He dressed himself in spite of his injuries.
➧ She’s old enough to wash herself.


We use reflexive pronouns as an indirect object when the indirect object is the same as the subject of the verb

➧ Would you like to pour yourself a drink?
➧ We’ve brought ourselves something to eat.


We use reflexive pronouns as the object of a preposition when the object is the same as the subject of the verb

➧ They had to cook for themselves.
➧ He was feeling very sorry for himself.


But we use object pronouns, not reflexives, after prepositions of place

➧ He had a suitcase beside him. ✓
himself ✗


and after with when it means accompanied by

➧ She had a few friends with her. ✓
herself ✗


We use reflexives with the preposition by to show that someone did something without any help

➧ The children got dressed by themselves.
➧ I prepared the whole meal by myself.


To show that someone was alone

➧ He lived by himself in an enormous house.
➧ She walked home by herself.


We use reflexive pronouns intensively to emphasise the person or thing we are referring to

➧ Kendal itself is quite a small town.


Especially if we are talking about someone very famous

➧ Sir Paul McCartney himself sang the final song.


We often put the reflexive pronoun at the end of the clause when we are using it intensively for emphasis:

➧ I baked the bread myself.
➧ She mended the car herself.


Some verbs change their meaning slightly when they have a reflexive pronoun as direct object

➧ Would you like to help yourself to another drink?
➧ Would you like to take another drink?


➧ I wish the children would behave themselves.
➧ I wish the children would behave well.


➧ I saw myself as a famous actor.
➧ I imagined that I was a famous actor.


➧ She applied herself to the job of mending the lights.
➧ She worked very hard to mend the lights.


➧ I had to content myself with a few euros.
➧ I had to be satisfied with a few euros.


Reflexive | Intensive pronouns are both types of pronouns that serve different purposes in a sentence.
Let's break them down


Reflexive Pronouns
Used when the subject and the object in a sentence are the same person or thing.
They reflect back to the subject of the sentence.


Examples
➧ She hurt herself while playing soccer.
➧ She is both the subject and the object of the sentence, so we use the reflexive pronoun herself.


➧ We prepared the dinner ourselves.
We is the subject, and ourselves is the reflexive pronoun referring back to the subject.


Intensive Pronouns
Also known as emphatic pronouns, emphasize a preceding noun or pronoun in the sentence.


Examples
➧ I myself will take care of the situation.
Myself emphasizes I.


➧ The president himself attended the meeting.
Himself emphasizes the president.
More Lessons ➧ Here


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