Intensive pronouns are pronouns that are used to add emphasis to a noun or pronoun in a sentence. They are identical in form to reflexive pronouns (ending in “-self” or “-selves”), but their function is distinct. Unlike reflexive pronouns, which reflect the action back to the subject, intensive pronouns simply intensify or emphasize the noun or pronoun they refer to. In other words, they don’t play a crucial grammatical role in the sentence; instead, they add emphasis to the subject.
Here are the intensive pronouns in English:
Singular:
- Myself
- Yourself
- Himself
- Herself
- Itself
Plural:
- Ourselves
- Yourselves
- Themselves
Let’s illustrate the difference between reflexive and intensive pronouns with examples:
Reflexive Pronoun Example: Sarah hurt herself. (Here, the reflexive pronoun “herself” reflects the action back to the subject, Sarah. She performed the action on herself.)
Intensive Pronoun Example: I myself baked the cake. (In this sentence, the intensive pronoun “myself” adds emphasis to the pronoun “I.” It doesn’t reflect any action back to the subject; it simply intensifies the subject “I.”)
The key difference between reflexive and intensive pronouns lies in their function within a sentence:
- Reflexive Pronouns: Reflect the action back to the subject and are essential to the sentence’s meaning.
Example: She hurt herself. (The reflexive pronoun “herself” reflects the action “hurt” back to the subject “She.”)
- Intensive Pronouns: Add emphasis to the noun or pronoun they refer to but do not affect the sentence’s essential meaning.
Example: I myself completed the project. (The intensive pronoun “myself” emphasizes the pronoun “I,” but it doesn’t change the fundamental meaning of the sentence.)
In summary, reflexive pronouns are used when the subject and object of the sentence are the same, reflecting the action back to the subject. Intensive pronouns, on the other hand, emphasize or intensify the noun or pronoun they refer to, without playing a critical grammatical role in the sentence.