Reflexive pronouns and intensive pronouns

Look at the following sentence:

I am making myself a cup of coffee.

“myself” is an example of a reflexive pronoun.

In this lesson, you will learn:

• the 8 reflexive pronouns and intensive pronouns
• how to use reflexive pronouns
• common mistakes with reflexive pronouns
• how to use intensive pronouns

The 8 reflexive pronouns / intensive pronouns

Reflexive pronouns and intensive pronouns are the same words but the use and meaning is very different. Let’s look at each of them in turn.

Reflexive pronouns

A reflexive pronoun is an object that reflects back to a subject.
We use a reflexive pronoun when the subject and object are the same person.

Example:
Jane is preparing herself for the meeting.
(Jane is the subject and object)

We can use a reflexive pronoun as 3 different types of object:

• direct object
• indirect object
• object of preposition

Let’s look at each of these types of object in more detail:

As a direct object

We use a reflexive pronoun as a direct object to reflect back to the subject.
The position of the reflexive pronoun is immediately after the verb.

Example:
Mark is teaching himself to play the guitar.

In the above example, the subject is Mark. (Mark is teaching)
The object is also Mark. (Mark is teaching Mark)

More examples:
I am teaching myself to sing.
Jane is teaching herself to play the piano.
Mark blamed himself for the car accident.
We enjoyed ourselves at the beach.

As an indirect object

We use a reflexive pronoun as an indirect object to reflect back to the subject.
The position of the reflexive pronoun is immediately after the verb.

Example:
Mark is making himself a sandwich.
In the above example, the subject is Mark. (Mark is making the sandwich)
The indirect object is also Mark. (the sandwich is for Mark)
(The direct object of this example is “sandwich”.)

Another example:
My parents have bought themselves a new car.

As an object of preposition

We use a reflexive pronoun as an object of preposition to reflect back to the subject.
The position of the reflexive pronoun is immediately after the preposition.

Example:
You often talk to yourself.
The subject is you. (you talk)
The object is also you. (you talk to you)

Another example:
Jane is looking at herself in the mirror.

Common reflexive verbs in English

Transitive verbs

When appropriate, we can use reflexive pronouns as the object of these verbs:

amuse, blame, content, cut, dry, enjoy, help, hurt, introduce, kill, prepare, teach

Examples:
Jane introduced herself to my parents.
I enjoyed myself at the party.
The athlete contented himself with second place. (= to be satisfied)

Verbs that are always reflexive

busy oneself, pride oneself

Example:
While waiting for the train, I busied myself reading a book. (= to pass the time)

Verbs that change their meaning when reflexive

Some verbs have a different meaning when they are used as a reflexive verb compared to when they are used normally.

Here are 4 common examples:

apply

I applied for a new job today. (normal)
=I sent my application for a new job.

If you want to pass your English exam, you must apply yourself. (reflexive)
= you must work hard.

help

Mark helped Jane with her homework. (normal)
=Mark assisted Jane.

Mark helped himself to a beer. (reflexive)
= Mark took a beer

find

I found my keys today.(normal)
=I discovered my keys having previously lost them.

This morning I found myself lying on the floor of the bathroom. (reflexive)
= I was surprised when I realised I was on the floor.

see

I saw David Beckham in London yesterday. (normal)
= I perceived David Beckham with my eyes.

When I was a child, I saw myself as a singer. (reflexive)
= I pretended to be a singer. I imagined that I was a singer.

Common mistakes with reflexive pronouns

Common mistake 1

We do not use a reflexive pronoun after a preposition of place or “with” if it is obvious that the meaning is reflexive.
Instead, we use a personal object pronoun.

Example:
He took his umbrella with himself.
He took his umbrella with him.

Common mistake 2

We do not use a reflexive pronoun as a subject.
Instead, we use a personal subject pronoun.

Example:
Mark and myself went to London.
Mark and I went to London.

Common mistake 3

We do not use a reflexive pronoun for actions that people usually do for themselves. This is a big difference between English and many other European languages.

Examples:

Mark shaves himself every morning.
Mark shaves every morning.

Jane is drying herself her hair.
Jane is drying her hair.

David is brushing himself his teeth.
David is brushing his teeth.

Intensive pronouns

Remember, as mentioned above, the intensive pronouns are the same words as the reflexive pronouns:

myself
yourself
himself / herself / itself
ourselves
yourselves
themselves

But the big difference is the use and meaning.

Intensive pronouns add emphasis to a noun or pronoun (the antecedent)
Intensive pronouns are not the object of the sentence. The subject and object are not the same person.
The position of the intensive pronoun is either after the antecedent or at the end of the clause.

Example 1:
David: “Are you sure that Jane is coming to the party?”
Me: “Yes, she herself told me.”

“herself” is emphasising “she”. (She told me. Nobody else told me.)
It means that Jane told me personally.

Example 2:
Manager: “ You must sign the contract yourself.”

“yourself” is emphasising “you”. (You must sign the contract. Nobody else.)

“by” + intensive pronoun

We use “by” + intensive pronoun to mean alone or without help.

Examples:

My friends don’t want to go to the party so I will go by myself.
= I will go alone.

Jane cooked the dinner by herself.
= Only Jane cooked the dinner. Nobody helped her.

The man is sitting on the bench by himself.
= The man is sitting on the bench alone.

More English lessons

Private online English lessons
IELTS online course and writing corrections
Direct speech writing rules in English
Personal pronouns in English
Reciprocal pronouns “each other” and “one another”
List of all the lessons

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