Myself, Yourself, Themselves: Mastering Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns

Introduction

Hey there, English learners! Have you ever used words like “myself,” “yourself,” or “themselves”? These are reflexive and intensive pronouns, and while they look the same, they have slightly different jobs in a sentence. Understanding how to use them correctly will add a layer of sophistication to your English and help you express yourself more precisely. Let’s dive into these interesting pronouns and see how they work!

Quick Overview

Reflexive pronouns (myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves) reflect the action of the verb back to the subject. The subject and the object of the verb are the same person or thing. Intensive pronouns (which have the same forms) are used to emphasize a noun or pronoun in the sentence. They add extra focus but aren’t essential to the sentence’s meaning. Let’s test your ability to tell them apart!

Understanding Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns: From Elementary to Advanced

Let’s break down the uses of reflexive and intensive pronouns, starting with the basics and moving to more advanced applications.

Elementary Level: Introducing Reflexive Pronouns (Myself, Yourself, Himself, Herself, Itself

At the beginning, you learn the basic reflexive pronouns. These are used when the object of the verb is the same as the subject:

• I hurt myself. (I am the one who was hurt.
• You can help yourself. (You are the one who will be helped.
• He taught himself to play guitar. (He is the one who did the teaching and the learning.
• She bought herself a new dress. (She is the one who bought and who received the dress.
• The cat washed itself. (The cat is the one doing the washing and being washed.

Pre-intermediate Level: Expanding Reflexive Pronouns (Ourselves, Yourselves, Themselves

Next, you’ll learn the plural forms of reflexive pronouns:

• We enjoyed ourselves at the party. (We are the ones who enjoyed.
• You (plural) need to organize yourselves. (You are the ones who need to organize.
• They built the house themselves. (They are the ones who did the building.

Remember the forms: -self for singular and -selves for plural.

Intermediate Level: Understanding the Necessity of Reflexive Pronouns

Reflexive pronouns are often necessary when the subject and object of a verb are the same. Using a regular object pronoun in these cases can sometimes sound incorrect or change the meaning:

• Incorrect: I hurt me.
• Correct: I hurt myself.

However, there are some verbs where the reflexive pronoun is optional or not typically used (e.g., “wash,” “dress”). You can say “I washed” or “I washed myself.”

Upper-intermediate Level: Introducing Intensive Pronouns (Same Forms

Intensive pronouns have the exact same forms as reflexive pronouns (myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves). However, their job is different. They are used to add emphasis to a noun or pronoun in the sentence. The sentence will still make sense grammatically if you remove the intensive pronoun:

• I myself saw the accident. (Emphasizes that I personally saw it.
• The queen herself attended the ceremony. (Emphasizes that the queen personally attended.
• They finished the project themselves. (Emphasizes that they did it without help.

Intensive pronouns are often placed right after the noun or pronoun they emphasize or at the end of the clause.

Advanced Level: Distinguishing Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns

The key difference is necessity. Reflexive pronouns are often required for the sentence to make sense, as the object of the verb refers back to the subject. Intensive pronouns, on the other hand, are optional and serve only to add emphasis.

Consider these examples:

• Reflexive: He accidentally locked himself out of the house. (Essential – he locked him.
• Intensive: He himself accidentally locked the door. (Emphasizes that he was the one who did it.

Another point is that reflexive pronouns can function as the object of a preposition when the preposition refers back to the subject:

• She was talking to herself.
• They kept the secret to themselves.

Intensive pronouns do not typically function this way.

Outro

Now you know the difference between reflexive and intensive pronouns! Both are valuable tools for expressing yourself clearly and adding emphasis when needed in your writing and speaking. Pay attention to how native speakers use them, and you’ll start incorporating them naturally into your own English. You’ll notice them in all sorts of contexts, from casual conversations to formal writing, and you’ll be able to understand their purpose and use them accurately. Keep practicing and refining your understanding of these pronouns!

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