Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns
Reflexive
pronouns end in -self or -selves: myself, yourself, himself,
herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves. Use a reflexive pronoun
when both the subject and object of a verb refer to the same person or thing.
Example: I found myself sandwiched between passengers on the subway.
Intensive pronouns look the same
as reflexive pronouns, but their purpose is different. Intensive pronouns add
emphasis.
Example: I built this house myself. Did you yourself
see Loretta spill the coffee?
“I built this house”
and “I built this house myself” mean almost the same thing. But “myself”
emphasizes that I personally built the house – I didn’t hire someone else to do
it for me. Likewise, “Did you see Loretta spill the coffee?” and “Did you
yourself see Loretta spill the coffee?” have similar meanings. But “yourself”
makes it clear that the person asking wants to know whether you actually
witnessed the incident or whether you only heard it described by someone else.
