Reflexive pronoun is normally used when the object of
a sentence is the same as the subject. Each personal
pronoun (such as I, you, he and she) has its own
reflexive form:
I — myself
you — yourself/yourselves
he — himself
she — herself
one — oneself
it — itself
we — ourselves
they — themselves
These pronouns can also be used intensively, to
emphasize the identity of whoever or whatever is being
talked about:
Example: Jim bought himself a book.
Intensive pronoun usually appears near and or before
the subject of the sentence. It is used for emphasis.
Example: Jim, himself, bought a book.
Exercise 1: Identifying Reflexive and Intensive
Pronouns
Identify the reflective and intensive pronouns in each of
the following sentences and indicate whether each is
reflexive or intensive.
____________________ 1. I bought myself a new pair
of sunglasses for our trip to the beach.
____________________ 2. The soldiers themselves do
not want to attack the enemy fort.
____________________ 3.You can choose a lawyer
yourself or one will be selected for you.
____________________ 4. Charles himself will be
piloting this aircraft across the Atlantic.
____________________ 5. Because she wanted to be
like her sister, Renee forced herself to practice each day.
Exercise 2: Complete each of the following sentences
with the correct reflexive or intensive pronoun. Then
identify the pronoun as either reflexive or intensive.
EXAMPLE
Julie _____ is coming here tonight. (herself, intensive)
6. The dogs barked ______ into a long, peaceful
sleep.
7. We were forced to ask ______ if this project
should continue or be scrapped.
8. Brooke likes to read ______ to sleep.
9. I’m guessing that you ______ will be
responsible for fixing the damage.
10. The Smiths and we consider ______ honored to
be invited on this trip.
Reflexive pronoun is normally used when the object of
a sentence is the same as the subject. Each personal
pronoun (such as I, you, he and she) has its own
reflexive form:
I — myself
you — yourself/yourselves
he — himself
she — herself
one — oneself
it — itself
we — ourselves
they — themselves
These pronouns can also be used intensively, to
emphasize the identity of whoever or whatever is being
talked about:
Example: Jim bought himself a book.
Intensive pronoun usually appears near and or before
the subject of the sentence. It is used for emphasis.
Example: Jim, himself, bought a book.
Exercise 1: Identifying Reflexive and Intensive
Pronouns
Identify the reflective and intensive pronouns in each of
the following sentences and indicate whether each is
reflexive or intensive.
____________________ 1. I bought myself a new pair
of sunglasses for our trip to the beach.
____________________ 2. The soldiers themselves do
not want to attack the enemy fort.
____________________ 3.You can choose a lawyer
yourself or one will be selected for you.
____________________ 4. Charles himself will be
piloting this aircraft across the Atlantic.
____________________ 5. Because she wanted to be
like her sister, Renee forced herself to practice each day.
Exercise 2: Complete each of the following sentences
with the correct reflexive or intensive pronoun. Then
identify the pronoun as either reflexive or intensive.
EXAMPLE
Julie _____ is coming here tonight. (herself, intensive)
6. The dogs barked ______ into a long, peaceful
sleep.
7. We were forced to ask ______ if this project
should continue or be scrapped.
8. Brooke likes to read ______ to sleep.
9. I’m guessing that you ______ will be
responsible for fixing the damage.
10. The Smiths and we consider ______ honored to
be invited on this trip.
NAME: ______________________________
1. I suggest that you yourselves figure out how
to resolve this dispute.
2. After rescheduling three meetings, the
president herself conducted the meeting.
3. The accountants perjured themselves when
testifying before Congress.
4. When Tim saw the battleship itself, he knew
that he had chosen the right profession.
5. I consider myself fortunate to have escaped
before the house collapsed.
6. The dogs barked ______ into a long,
peaceful sleep.
7. We were forced to ask ______ if this project
should continue or be scrapped.
8. Brooke likes to read ______ to sleep.
9. I’m guessing that you ______ will be
responsible for fixing the damage.
10. The Smiths and we consider ______
honored to be invited on this trip.
NAME: ______________________________
1. I suggest that you yourselves figure out how
to resolve this dispute.
2. After rescheduling three meetings, the
president herself conducted the meeting.
3. The accountants perjured themselves when
testifying before Congress.
4. When Tim saw the battleship itself, he knew
that he had chosen the right profession.
5. I consider myself fortunate to have escaped
before the house collapsed.
6. The dogs barked ______ into a long,
peaceful sleep.
7. We were forced to ask ______ if this project
should continue or be scrapped.
8. Brooke likes to read ______ to sleep.
9. I’m guessing that you ______ will be
responsible for fixing the damage.
10. The Smiths and we consider ______
honored to be invited on this trip.
NAME: ______________________________
1. I suggest that you yourselves figure out how
to resolve this dispute.
2. After rescheduling three meetings, the
president herself conducted the meeting.
3. The accountants perjured themselves when
testifying before Congress.
4. When Tim saw the battleship itself, he knew
that he had chosen the right profession.
5. I consider myself fortunate to have escaped
before the house collapsed.
6. The dogs barked ______ into a long,
peaceful sleep.
7. We were forced to ask ______ if this project
should continue or be scrapped.
8. Brooke likes to read ______ to sleep.
9. I’m guessing that you ______ will be
responsible for fixing the damage.
10. The Smiths and we consider ______
honored to be invited on this trip.
NAME: ______________________________
1. I suggest that you yourselves figure out how
to resolve this dispute.
2. After rescheduling three meetings, the
president herself conducted the meeting.
3. The accountants perjured themselves when
testifying before Congress.
4. When Tim saw the battleship itself, he knew
that he had chosen the right profession.
5. I consider myself fortunate to have escaped
before the house collapsed.
6. The dogs barked ______ into a long,
peaceful sleep.
7. We were forced to ask ______ if this project
should continue or be scrapped.
8. Brooke likes to read ______ to sleep.
9. I’m guessing that you ______ will be
responsible for fixing the damage.
10. The Smiths and we consider ______
honored to be invited on this trip.