Reflexive Pronouns
Reflexive pronouns end with –self or –selves. The singular reflexive pronouns are myself, yourself, himself, herself and itself. The plural reflexive pronouns are ourselves, yourselves and themselves.
Reflexive pronouns refer back to a noun or pronoun in the same sentence, usually the subject. These pronouns are necessary to the meaning of the sentence.
Example
Jake imagined himself at the wheel of the antique automobile.
Intensive Pronouns
Intensive pronouns also end in –self or –selves. They are used with a noun or another pronoun to intensify or emphasize, the noun or pronoun. Intensive pronouns are not necessary to the meaning of a sentence.
Example
Henry Ford himself once drove the car through the streets.
Do not use reflexive or intensive pronouns in place of personal pronouns. A reflexive or intensive pronoun must always have an antecedent in the same sentence.
Example
Todd and I toured the museum. (not Todd and myself)
Reflexive & Intensive Pronoun Exercises
Name each reflexive or intensive pronoun and its antecedent.
- People eventually found themselves dependent on the automobile. _____________________________________________________________________________
- The automobile itself, however, was not always popular. _____________________________________________________________________________
- Can you picture yourself driving one of those old cars? _____________________________________________________________________________
Further Links
A. Write and label the reflexive or intensive pronoun in each sentence. Write the antecedent for each pronoun.
- Before automobiles, people often transported themselves by horses and wagons. _____________________________________________________________________________
- One inventor built himself a steam-powered wagon. _____________________________________________________________________________
- This wagon could propel itself rather well. _____________________________________________________________________________
- Other people soon built themselves steam-powered automobiles. _____________________________________________________________________________
- The most famous was the “Stanley Steamer,” built by the Stanley twins themselves. _____________________________________________________________________________
- The steam-powered car was itself soon without supporters. _____________________________________________________________________________
- Steam power did not lend itself to long-distance travel. _____________________________________________________________________________
- We went ourselves to see early gasoline-powered cars. _____________________________________________________________________________
- The gasoline-powered car itself was an engineering triumph. _____________________________________________________________________________
- I myself construct models of early automobiles. _____________________________________________________________________________
B. Write each sentence, using a reflexive or intensive pronoun.
- In the 1890s, inventors built _______ gasoline-powered cars.
- The first successful American gasoline car soon propelled ________.
- The Duryea brothers were ________ responsible for this car.
- Henry Ford ________ drove a car he had built in Michigan.
- My mother bought ________ an antique Ford car.
C. If an incorrect reflexive or intensive pronoun is used, rewrite the sentence correctly. If the pronoun is correct, write correct.
- Americans soon found theirselves in love with the automobile. _________
- The cars themselves were expensive and difficult to make. _________
- Usually, one mechanic built an entire car hisself. __________
- My friends and myself rode in an antique automobile recently. ___________
- We promised ourself to learn more about early automobiles. __________