/Pronouns
B1Pronouns

Intensive Pronouns

1

What is it?

Intensive pronouns have the SAME FORM as reflexive pronouns (myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves) but serve a different purpose. They add EMPHASIS to show that someone did something personally: "I myself saw it" (emphasizing it was me, not someone else). Unlike reflexive pronouns (which are necessary for meaning), intensive pronouns can be removed without changing the basic meaning: "The president himself came" → "The president came" (still makes sense). They usually come right after the subject or at the end of the sentence.

2

How to form it

SubjectPositiveNegativeQuestion
Intensive (emphasis)I myself saw it. / I saw it myself.not typically usedDid you yourself see it?
vs Reflexive (necessary)I hurt myself. (can't remove "myself")not applicablecomparison only
After subjectThe president himself came. / She herself admitted it.not usedDid he himself say that?
End of sentenceI made this myself. / She fixed it herself.not usedDid you do it yourself?
Removal testI myself saw it. → I saw it. (still makes sense)I hurt myself. → I hurt. ✗ (doesn't make sense)test for type
  • • Intensive pronouns: same form as reflexive (myself, yourself, himself, etc.)
  • • Purpose: ADD EMPHASIS (show someone did something personally)
  • • Can be removed without losing basic meaning → 'I myself saw it.' → 'I saw it.'
  • • Reflexive: necessary for meaning → 'I hurt myself.' → 'I hurt.' ✗ (incomplete)
  • • Position: right after subject OR at end → 'I myself saw it.' / 'I saw it myself.'
  • • Common pattern: 'The X himself/herself' → The president himself came.
  • • Meaning: emphasizes it was that specific person, not someone else
  • • Often used with verbs like: see, do, make, build, fix, say, admit
3

When to use it

  1. 1

    Add emphasis — show someone did something personally

    "I myself saw it." (emphasizing I saw it with my own eyes) / "She herself told me." (emphasizing she told me directly)

  2. 2

    Right after subject — for immediate emphasis

    "The president himself came." / "My teacher herself said it." / "The children themselves cleaned up."

  3. 3

    At end of sentence — for general emphasis

    "I made this myself." (I did it, not someone else) / "She fixed it herself." / "Did you do it yourself?"

  4. 4

    Can be removed without changing basic meaning

    "I myself saw it." → "I saw it." (still complete) | Compare: "I hurt myself." → "I hurt." ✗ (incomplete, reflexive)

  5. 5

    Emphasize contrast or surprise

    "Even the boss himself was surprised." / "The CEO herself answered the phone." (unusual/noteworthy)

4

Common mistakes

Myself saw it. (as subject)

I myself saw it. OR I saw it myself.

Don't use intensive pronouns as subjects alone. They must emphasize an existing subject (I, he, she, etc.).

I hurt myself. (calling it intensive)

I hurt myself. (this is reflexive, not intensive)

If you can't remove the pronoun, it's reflexive (necessary), not intensive (emphasis).

He himself hurt him.

He hurt himself. (reflexive) OR He himself was hurt. (intensive)

Don't confuse intensive (emphasis, can remove) with reflexive (necessary for meaning).

5

Quick reference

  • Intensive: same form as reflexive (myself, yourself, himself, herself, etc.)
  • Purpose: ADD EMPHASIS (personal action) → I myself saw it.
  • Can be removed → 'I myself saw it.' → 'I saw it.' ✓
  • Reflexive: necessary → 'I hurt myself.' → 'I hurt.' ✗
  • Position: after subject or at end → 'I myself saw' / 'I saw it myself'
  • Common pattern: 'The X himself/herself' → The president himself came.
  • Meaning: emphasizes it was that specific person, not someone else
  • Test: Can you remove it and still have complete meaning? Yes = intensive | No = reflexive
6

Natural conversation example

Discussing surprising news

T

Tom

Did you hear? The CEO herself visited our office!
L

Lisa

Really? She herself came? That's amazing!
T

Tom

Yes! She said she wanted to see the project herself.
L

Lisa

I can't believe it. The CEO herself! Did she say anything?
T

Tom

She herself praised our work. She said we did it ourselves.
L

Lisa

I'm proud we built this ourselves!
T

Tom

Me too! The boss himself said he's impressed.

Practice Exercises

Complete with intensive pronouns for emphasis.

  1. 1.
    I saw it. (emphasis)
  2. 2.
    The president came.
  3. 3.
    She told me.
  4. 4.
    We built it .
  5. 5.
    They did it .
  6. 6.
    You said that. (singular)
Reflexive PronounsAll TopicsIndefinite Pronouns

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