Reflexive vs.

Intensive Pronouns
Reflexive pronouns and intensive pronouns are kind of like identical twins. They look the same, but
they're actually different. 

Objectives

At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:

a.    identify the use of reflexive and intensive pronoun

b.    determine the correct reflexive and intensive pronoun in sentences

c.     use the appropriate reflexive and intensive pronoun in sentences

Lesson Proper

Reflexive and intensive pronouns are like identical twins.

However, though they look the same, they are actually different.

Reflexive and intensive pronouns are the words that end in –self of –selves

myself  yourself    himself  herself    itself    ourselves    yourselves  themselves

•Reflexive sounds like reflection, the image in the mirror that bounces back at you. A reflexive
pronoun tells us that whoever performs the action in a sentence is also the one on the receiving end of
that action. In other words, the reflexive pronoun reflects back to the subject. A reflexive pronoun
can be used as the direct object, indirect object, or object of a preposition in a sentence.

Reflexive Pronouns

Singular Plural
myself ourselves

yourself yourselves

himself
herself themselves
itself

Reflexive pronouns are objects that refer to the subject.

The bird scratched itself. (Direct Object)

The boy wrote himself a letter. (Indirect Object)

They should address the letter to themselves. (Object of the preposition)

Intensive is like intense. Something intense is very strong. An intensive pronoun emphasizes a

preceding noun, which is often (but not always) the noun immediately before the pronoun. Intensive
pronouns look exactly the same as reflexive pronouns, but they are only used for emphasis.

Intensive pronouns are used to emphasize a noun or pronoun. It can be omitted from the sentence
without changing its meaning.
The queen herself gave the knight the award.
The queen gave the knight the award herself.

*Both are used as intensive pronouns.