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 Using Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns

Reflexive and intensive pronouns are so closely connected that they can be discussed together.
 

Reflexive Pronouns

Reflexive pronouns can be identified easily because of the –self or –selves at the end of the pronouns. The table below shows examples of reflexive pronouns:
 

Remember that the rule of pronoun-antecedent agreement is that the pronoun and its antecedent (the noun or pronoun it refers to) have to agree in number, gender, and person. If you can remember that reflexive pronouns “reflect” back to the antecedent, it will make it easier to make the antecedent and pronoun agree. The example below shows how a reflexive pronoun is used:
 

The man in the yellow hat decided to buy himself a green hat.
 

In this example, the antecedent is the man, which is singular. In order for the antecedent to agree with the reflexive pronoun, the pronoun must reflect back to the man, so you would use himself, which also is singular.
 

Let’s make the above example plural because plural nouns can be a little challenging at times.
 

The men in the yellow hats decided to buy themselves green hats.
 

The antecedent in this sentence is men, so the pronoun should be themselves since the antecedent is plural.
 

Note, themself is not a word (themselves is the appropriate word).
 

Intensive Pronouns
 

Intensive pronouns “intensify” the action of the antecedent. Intensive pronouns, like reflexive pronouns, include herself, himself, themselves, itself, etc. The example below shows how an intensive pronoun is used:
 

Barbara herself saved the puppy from the oncoming car.
 

In this sentence, the intensive pronoun herself is used to emphasize what Barbara did for the puppy. Intensive pronouns are used mainly to emphasize who completed the action.
 

Also note that in most cases intensive pronouns appear right after the antecedent, but in all cases the reflexive and intensive pronouns appear after the antecedent and not before the antecedent.
 

Test Your Knowledge

Determine if the following reflexive and intensive pronouns agree with their antecedents in these sentences.
 

1. Clint and Bonnie bought himself and herself new coats for winter.
2. The car’s battery died, so Kayla herself pushed the car down the road.
3. Jake and Joe walked by themself to school.
4. The robber himself broke into the bank and stole the cash.

Answers

1. Incorrect.  Since the antecedent is two people, the pronoun should be plural. In other words, you would use themselves here.  Clint and Bonnie bought themselves new coats for winter.

2. Correct. This sentence intensifies the fact that it was Kayla, and not someone else, who pushed the car.

3. Incorrect. Remember that themself is not a word, so you would use themselves here. Jake and Joe walked by themselves to school.

4. Correct. This sentence emphasizes who (the robber) completed the action.

Suggested Resources

Related Academic Center Resources
 

The Academic Center has a handout on pronoun-antecedent agreement at http://www.uhv.edu/ac/grammar/pronoun.asp.
 

Recommended Grammar Website of the Week
 

The following website is suggested for more information on reflexive and intensive pronouns: http://www.mcwdn.org/grammar/prorevlexin.html.

Grammatically Correct is a grammar tip of the week created by Academic Center Peer Writing Tutors at the University of Houston-Victoria in Victoria, Texas.

Comments about this newsletter should be directed to Summer Leibensperger, leibenspergers@uhv.edu.

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