Intensive Pronouns: Definition, Usage, and Examples
Intensive pronouns are a fascinating aspect of English grammar, often confused with reflexive pronouns, but serving a distinct purpose. Understanding intensive pronouns is crucial for enhancing sentence structure and clarity.
This article provides a comprehensive guide to intensive pronouns, covering their definition, structural rules, usage, common mistakes, and providing ample examples and practice exercises. Whether you are an English language learner or a seasoned writer, this article will help you master the correct and effective use of intensive pronouns.
Table of Contents
- Definition of Intensive Pronouns
- Structural Breakdown
- Types and Categories
- Examples of Intensive Pronouns
- Usage Rules
- Common Mistakes
- Practice Exercises
- Advanced Topics
- FAQ
- Conclusion
Definition of Intensive Pronouns
An intensive pronoun is a pronoun that emphasizes a noun or pronoun already in the sentence. It adds emphasis and highlights the importance or involvement of the subject. Intensive pronouns are identical in form to reflexive pronouns (myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves), but their function is different. They are not essential to the meaning of the sentence and can be removed without changing the core meaning.
Unlike reflexive pronouns, which are necessary when the subject and object of a verb are the same, intensive pronouns merely add emphasis. They always refer back to a noun or pronoun that is already explicitly mentioned in the sentence.
The key difference lies in their removability: if you can remove the pronoun without altering the fundamental meaning of the sentence, it is likely an intensive pronoun.
Intensive pronouns are classified as a type of pronoun, specifically a subcategory of pronouns used for emphasis. Their primary function is to intensify or highlight the noun or pronoun they refer to.
They appear in contexts where the speaker or writer wants to draw particular attention to the subject performing the action.
Structural Breakdown
The structure involving intensive pronouns is quite straightforward. An intensive pronoun typically appears immediately after the noun or pronoun it emphasizes, or at the end of the clause or sentence.
The pronoun must agree in number and gender with the noun or pronoun it refers to. Let’s break down the structural elements:
- Antecedent: The noun or pronoun that the intensive pronoun refers to.
- Intensive Pronoun: The pronoun (myself, yourself, etc.) that emphasizes the antecedent.
- Placement: Usually placed directly after the antecedent or at the end of the clause.
The basic pattern is: Noun/Pronoun + Intensive Pronoun + Verb/Rest of Sentence or Noun/Pronoun + Verb/Rest of Sentence + Intensive Pronoun. The intensive pronoun is always linked to a previously mentioned noun or pronoun. It doesn’t act as the subject or object of the verb.
Consider these examples:
- I myself baked the cake. (Intensive pronoun immediately after the antecedent)
- She completed the project herself. (Intensive pronoun at the end of the sentence)
Types and Categories
Intensive pronouns do not have different types in the way that, for example, relative pronouns do. Instead, they are categorized based on the personal pronoun they relate to.
These categories align with the standard personal pronouns and their corresponding reflexive/intensive forms.
First Person
Relates to the speaker or writer. The intensive forms are “myself” (singular) and “ourselves” (plural).
- I myself will handle the arrangements.
- We ourselves are responsible for the outcome.
Second Person
Relates to the person being addressed. The intensive forms are “yourself” (singular) and “yourselves” (plural).
- You yourself need to take responsibility.
- You all yourselves must decide the best course of action.
Third Person
Relates to someone or something other than the speaker or the person being addressed. The intensive forms are “himself” (masculine singular), “herself” (feminine singular), “itself” (neuter singular), and “themselves” (plural).
- He himself admitted his mistake.
- She herself organized the entire event.
- The machine itself started working again.
- They themselves built the house.
Examples of Intensive Pronouns
To better understand intensive pronouns, let’s explore a variety of examples categorized by the personal pronoun they emphasize. These examples will illustrate how intensive pronouns are used to add emphasis and clarity to sentences.
Examples Emphasizing First Person Pronouns
The following table provides examples of intensive pronouns emphasizing the first person singular (“myself”) and plural (“ourselves”). Note the different contexts and sentence structures in which these pronouns can appear.
| Sentence | Intensive Pronoun | Emphasized Pronoun |
|---|---|---|
| I myself witnessed the event. | myself | I |
| I will do it myself. | myself | I |
| We ourselves prepared the presentation. | ourselves | We |
| We decided to renovate the house ourselves. | ourselves | We |
| I, myself, am responsible for this decision. | myself | I |
| We, ourselves, are dedicated to this project. | ourselves | We |
| I myself have never seen such a thing. | myself | I |
| We ourselves have experienced similar challenges. | ourselves | We |
| I myself am going to take care of it. | myself | I |
| We ourselves will handle the situation. | ourselves | We |
| I baked the bread myself. | myself | I |
| We organized the party ourselves. | ourselves | We |
| I myself can’t believe it. | myself | I |
| We ourselves were shocked by the news. | ourselves | We |
| I, myself, will ensure it gets done. | myself | I |
| We, ourselves, will take full responsibility. | ourselves | We |
| I myself prefer tea over coffee. | myself | I |
| We ourselves enjoy hiking in the mountains. | ourselves | We |
| I myself will write the report. | myself | I |
| We ourselves will present the findings. | ourselves | We |
| I cleaned the entire house myself. | myself | I |
| We painted the fence ourselves. | ourselves | We |
| I myself made this decision. | myself | I |
| We ourselves came to that conclusion. | ourselves | We |
| I, myself, will oversee the project. | myself | I |
| We, ourselves, will handle all the logistics. | ourselves | We |
Examples Emphasizing Second Person Pronouns
This table demonstrates the use of intensive pronouns to emphasize the second person singular (“yourself”) and plural (“yourselves”).
| Sentence | Intensive Pronoun | Emphasized Pronoun |
|---|---|---|
| You yourself are the key to solving this problem. | yourself | You |
| You have to complete the task yourself. | yourself | You |
| You all yourselves need to contribute to the discussion. | yourselves | You all |
| You should organize the event yourselves. | yourselves | You |
| You, yourself, must take responsibility. | yourself | You |
| You all, yourselves, are in charge of the arrangements. | yourselves | You all |
| You yourself should know better. | yourself | You |
| You yourselves need to resolve this issue. | yourselves | You |
| You yourself need to finish the report. | yourself | You |
| You yourselves have to agree on a solution. | yourselves | You |
| You planned the trip yourself. | yourself | You |
| You prepared the meal yourselves. | yourselves | You |
| You yourself are responsible for this. | yourself | You |
| You yourselves must make the final decision. | yourselves | You |
| You, yourself, can fix this problem. | yourself | You |
| You all, yourselves, need to clean up. | yourselves | You all |
| You yourself should apologize. | yourself | You |
| You yourselves ought to think about it carefully. | yourselves | You |
| You yourself must face the consequences. | yourself | You |
| You yourselves have to follow the guidelines. | yourselves | You |
| You built the house yourself. | yourself | You |
| You designed the project yourselves. | yourselves | You |
| You yourself came up with this idea. | yourself | You |
| You yourselves thought of this plan. | yourselves | You |
| You, yourself, can make a difference. | yourself | You |
| You, yourselves, can change the world. | yourselves | You |
Examples Emphasizing Third Person Pronouns
The following table shows examples of intensive pronouns emphasizing the third person singular (himself, herself, itself) and plural (themselves).
| Sentence | Intensive Pronoun | Emphasized Pronoun |
|---|---|---|
| He himself completed the marathon. | himself | He |
| She herself wrote the entire novel. | herself | She |
| The computer fixed itself. | itself | The computer |
| They themselves organized the fundraising event. | themselves | They |
| He, himself, admitted the mistake. | himself | He |
| She, herself, designed the building. | herself | She |
| The program updated itself automatically. | itself | The program |
| They, themselves, took responsibility for the error. | themselves | They |
| He himself prepared the presentation. | himself | He |
| She herself will be attending the meeting. | herself | She |
| The door opened by itself. | itself | The door |
| They themselves decided to take action. | themselves | They |
| He himself painted the portrait. | himself | He |
| She herself baked the cake. | herself | She |
| The car repaired itself. | itself | The car |
| They themselves planted the garden. | themselves | They |
| He himself suggested the idea. | himself | He |
| She herself proposed the solution. | herself | She |
| The app updated itself overnight. | itself | The app |
| They themselves created this system. | themselves | They |
| He himself wrote the letter. | himself | He |
| She herself will lead the team. | herself | She |
| The window closed itself. | itself | The window |
| They themselves admitted their mistake. | themselves | They |
| He, himself, will take care of this. | himself | He |
| She, herself, is responsible for the design. | herself | She |
Usage Rules
Using intensive pronouns correctly involves understanding a few key rules. These rules ensure that the intensive pronoun effectively emphasizes the intended noun or pronoun without causing grammatical errors or confusion.
Here are the primary rules:
- Agreement: The intensive pronoun must agree in number and gender with the noun or pronoun it emphasizes. For example, “He himself” (masculine singular) or “They themselves” (plural).
- Placement: The intensive pronoun is usually placed immediately after the noun or pronoun it emphasizes, or at the end of the clause or sentence. Both placements are grammatically correct, but the choice can affect the emphasis.
- Redundancy: Intensive pronouns are not essential to the meaning of the sentence. If the intensive pronoun is removed, the sentence should still be grammatically correct and convey the same basic information.
- Distinction from Reflexive Pronouns: Do not use an intensive pronoun where a reflexive pronoun is required. Reflexive pronouns are necessary when the subject and object of a verb are the same. For example, “I hurt myself” (reflexive) vs. “I myself hurt him” (intensive).
Exceptions and Special Cases: There are no significant exceptions to these rules. However, stylistic choices can influence placement. For instance, placing the intensive pronoun at the end of the sentence can sometimes create a stronger emphasis.
Common Mistakes
Even with a clear understanding of the rules, it’s easy to make mistakes with intensive pronouns. Recognizing these common errors can help you avoid them in your own writing and speaking.
- Using Intensive Pronouns as Subjects or Objects: Intensive pronouns cannot function as the subject or object of a verb. They only serve to emphasize an existing noun or pronoun.
- Confusing Intensive and Reflexive Pronouns: This is the most common mistake. Remember, reflexive pronouns are essential to the sentence’s meaning, while intensive pronouns are not.
- Incorrect Agreement: Failing to ensure the intensive pronoun agrees in number and gender with the noun or pronoun it emphasizes.
- Unnecessary Use: Overusing intensive pronouns can make your writing sound awkward or unnatural. Use them sparingly for genuine emphasis.
Here are some examples of common mistakes and their corrections:
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Myself will do the presentation. | I myself will do the presentation. | Intensive pronouns cannot be the subject of a sentence. |
| I gave myself the book myself. | I myself gave him the book. | The first “myself” is reflexive and correct; the second is incorrect. |
| He himself hurt themselves. | He himself hurt himself. | The intensive pronoun “himself” must agree with “he.” |
| She prepared the dinner herself, which was delicious herself. | She prepared the dinner herself, which was delicious. | The second “herself” is unnecessary and awkward. |
| They did it hisself. | They did it themselves. | The intensive pronoun must agree in number. “They” is plural, so it must be “themselves”. |
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding of intensive pronouns with these exercises. Identify the intensive pronouns in the sentences, or fill in the blanks with the appropriate intensive pronoun.
Exercise 1: Identifying Intensive Pronouns
Identify the intensive pronoun in each of the following sentences.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. I myself saw the accident. | myself |
| 2. She completed the project herself. | herself |
| 3. They themselves admitted their mistake. | themselves |
| 4. You yourself are responsible for this. | yourself |
| 5. We ourselves will handle the arrangements. | ourselves |
| 6. He himself built the entire structure. | himself |
| 7. The computer fixed itself. | itself |
| 8. I will do it myself. | myself |
| 9. You all yourselves need to contribute. | yourselves |
| 10. She herself organized the event. | herself |
Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate intensive pronoun.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. I ________ will take care of the issue. | myself |
| 2. She ________ baked the cookies. | herself |
| 3. They ________ decided to go. | themselves |
| 4. You ________ need to decide. | yourself |
| 5. We ________ organized the party. | ourselves |
| 6. He ________ fixed the car. | himself |
| 7. The cat cleaned ________. | itself |
| 8. I ________ prefer tea. | myself |
| 9. You all ________ can do this. | yourselves |
| 10. She ________ wrote the letter. | herself |
Exercise 3: Correct the Sentences
Correct the sentences that incorrectly use intensive pronouns.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. Myself will complete the task. | I myself will complete the task. |
| 2. He himself hurt themselves. | He himself hurt himself. |
| 3. They did it hisself. | They did it themselves. |
| 4. I gave the book to myself myself. | I myself gave the book to him. (or someone else) |
| 5. She herself can’t believe herself. | She herself can’t believe it. |
| 6. We ourself finished the project. | We ourselves finished the project. |
| 7. You yourself forgot themselves. | You yourself forgot yourself. |
| 8. It itself broke itself. | It broke itself. (reflexive, no intensive needed) |
| 9. He hisself is coming to the party. | He himself is coming to the party. |
| 10. They theirselves made the decision. | They themselves made the decision. |
Advanced Topics
For advanced learners, it is helpful to understand the nuances of intensive pronoun usage in more complex sentence structures and stylistic contexts. This includes recognizing how intensive pronouns interact with other grammatical elements and how they can be used to create specific rhetorical effects.
Intensive Pronouns in Complex Sentences: In complex sentences, intensive pronouns can emphasize a noun or pronoun in either the main clause or a subordinate clause. The key is to ensure agreement and logical connection.
Stylistic Use of Intensive Pronouns: Writers can strategically use intensive pronouns to create emphasis, highlight a character’s actions or feelings, or add a sense of drama to a narrative. However, overuse can detract from the writing’s impact, so moderation is key.
Intensive Pronouns in Formal vs. Informal Writing: While grammatically correct in both formal and informal contexts, intensive pronouns are more commonly used in formal writing to add emphasis and clarity. In informal speech, they may be used more sparingly or replaced with other emphatic constructions.
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about intensive pronouns, along with detailed answers to help clarify any remaining points of confusion.
- What is the difference between an intensive pronoun and a reflexive pronoun?
Intensive pronouns emphasize a noun or pronoun and are not essential to the sentence’s meaning. Reflexive pronouns, on the other hand, are necessary when the subject and object of a verb are the same. For example, “I myself baked the cake” (intensive) vs. “I hurt myself” (reflexive).
- Can I remove an intensive pronoun from a sentence?
Yes, one of the defining characteristics of an intensive pronoun is that it can be removed without changing the core meaning of the sentence. If removing the pronoun makes the sentence grammatically incorrect or changes its fundamental meaning, it is likely a reflexive pronoun, not an intensive pronoun.
- Where should I place an intensive pronoun in a sentence?
Intensive pronouns are typically placed immediately after the noun or pronoun they emphasize or at the end of the clause or sentence. Both placements are grammatically correct, but the choice can affect the emphasis. Placing it at the end often provides a stronger emphasis.
- Do intensive pronouns have to agree with the noun or pronoun they emphasize?
Yes, intensive pronouns must agree in number and gender with the noun or pronoun they emphasize. For example, “He himself” (masculine singular) or “They themselves” (plural). Incorrect agreement is a common mistake to avoid.
- Is it okay to use intensive pronouns frequently in my writing?
While grammatically correct, overusing intensive pronouns can make your writing sound awkward or unnatural. Use them sparingly and only when you want to add genuine emphasis to a particular noun or pronoun.
- Can an intensive pronoun be the subject or object of a sentence?
No, intensive pronouns cannot function as the subject or object of a verb. They only serve to emphasize an existing noun or pronoun. Using an intensive pronoun in place of a subject or object is a common grammatical error.
- Are there any exceptions to the rules of using intensive pronouns?
There are no significant exceptions to the core rules of agreement and placement. However, stylistic choices can influence placement and frequency of use. The key is to ensure clarity and avoid overuse.
- How can I improve my understanding of intensive pronouns?
Practice is key! Review examples of intensive pronouns in various contexts, complete practice exercises, and pay attention to how they are used in well-written texts. Also, be mindful of the distinction between intensive and reflexive pronouns.
Conclusion
Understanding intensive pronouns is essential for creating clear, emphatic, and grammatically correct sentences. By mastering the definition, structural rules, usage guidelines, and common mistakes associated with intensive pronouns, you can enhance your writing and speaking skills.
Remember, intensive pronouns add emphasis to a noun or pronoun and are not essential to the sentence’s core meaning. Practice using them in your own writing to solidify your understanding and improve your overall command of the English language.
Continue to practice and refine your understanding of intensive pronouns. Pay attention to how they are used in various texts and contexts.
With consistent effort, you can confidently and effectively incorporate intensive pronouns into your communication, adding depth and emphasis to your expressions. Embrace the nuances of English grammar, and watch your language skills flourish.
