What's An Intensive Pronoun?

When you want to add a little extra emphasis to something you've done, like taking credit for a cool project or pointing out that someone did something on their own, that's where you use intensive pronouns. 

Intensive pronouns are types of pronouns that end in "-self" or "-selves" and are used to emphasize the noun or pronoun they refer to. 

Intensive Pronoun Definition

“An intensive pronoun is used to emphasize or intensify the noun or pronoun that comes before it in a sentence.”

An intensive pronoun is very similar to a reflexive pronoun, but they have different functions. You’ll usually see an intensive pronoun right after the noun or subject it refers to, but it doesn’t always have to be in that exact spot.

Intensive Pronoun Examples

Intensive pronouns refer to the same person or thing that the personal pronoun does. 

Here is the list of intensive pronouns to illustrate how they work:

• Myself: Used by the speaker or writer to emphasize themselves.
  • (I cleaned the entire house myself.)
• Yourself: Used to emphasize a single person other than the speaker or writer.
  • (You should be proud of yourself for finishing the project.)
• Himself: Used to emphasize a male person or animal.
  • (The president himself addressed the nation.)
• Herself: Used to emphasize a female person or animal.
  • (The actress herself accepted the award.)
• Itself: Used to emphasize things or animals.
  • (The software program runs by itself.)
• Ourselves: Used to emphasize the speaker or writer and other people together.
  • (Let's congratulate ourselves on a job well done.)
• Yourselves: Used to emphasize multiple people other than the speaker or writer.
  • (You can help yourselves to more cookies.)
• Themselves: Used to emphasize a group of people, animals, or objects.
  • (The students themselves organized the event.)

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How to Use Intensive Pronouns in Sentences

An intensive pronoun always accompanies a noun or another pronoun and cannot stand alone as a subject or object.

1. Placement After the Antecedent

Intensive pronouns typically follow the antecedent (the noun or pronoun they refer to) directly.

Example: 

• She herself loves to bake.
• Why don’t you ask the manager himself?

2. Varied Emphasis Based on Placement

The placement of the intensive pronoun affects the emphasis in the sentence.

Example:

• "You yourself should lead the team." (Emphasis on the person taking charge)
• "You should lead the team yourself." (Emphasis on the action of leading independently)

3. Placement Before the Antecedent 

Intensive pronouns can occasionally appear before the antecedent, separated by a comma, providing emphasis similar to when placed directly after.

Example: 

• Myself, I prefer tea over coffee, but the choice is yours.

Intensive Pronoun Vs Reflexive Pronoun

Reflexive pronouns and intensive pronouns are identical and may look similar, but they serve different purposes in a sentence. 

Understanding the difference between reflexive and intensive pronouns helps in using them correctly:

Test Your Knowledge

Choose the sentence with the correct use of an intensive pronoun to emphasize the subject.

1. Correct - "itself" refers to the cat cleaning its own body.
2. Incorrect - "itself" here would mean the litter box cleaned itself, which doesn't make sense.

1. Correct - "themselves" emphasizes that they should be the ones completing the project.
2. Also correct - this sentence emphasizes the same idea but with a slightly different structure.

1. Correct - "herself" emphasizes that she bought the car independently.
2. Incorrect - this means she bought a new car for herself, but it emphasizes a different aspect.

In conclusion, intensive pronouns play a crucial role in emphasizing specific subjects or actions in sentences. Understanding their correct usage can enhance clarity and communication in writing.

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