Intensive Pronouns: Definition, Examples, and Purpose Explained

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 🔍 Intensive pronouns end in -self or -selves (e.g., myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves).
• ✍️ Intensive pronouns emphasize a noun or pronoun already in the sentence. They are not essential to the sentence's basic meaning.
• 🚫 Intensive pronouns can be removed without changing the core meaning of the sentence, unlike reflexive pronouns.
• 📌 Examples: "I myself baked the cake." or "The president himself answered the phone."
• 💡 To identify, remove the pronoun from the sentence. If the sentence still makes sense, it's likely an intensive pronoun.

🧪 Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following sentences uses an intensive pronoun correctly?
   1. A. I saw herself in the mirror.
   2. B. The dog opened the door itself.
   3. C. He gave myself the book.
   4. D. We bought ourselves a new car, which was broken.
2. Identify the intensive pronoun in the following sentence: "The queen herself attended the ceremony."
   1. A. The
   2. B. Queen
   3. C. Herself
   4. D. Attended
3. Which sentence does NOT contain an intensive pronoun?
   1. A. They themselves built the house.
   2. B. I myself will do it.
   3. C. She hurt herself.
   4. D. You yourselves are responsible.
4. What is the primary purpose of an intensive pronoun?
   1. A. To replace the subject of a sentence.
   2. B. To emphasize a noun or pronoun.
   3. C. To indicate possession.
   4. D. To connect two clauses.
5. In which sentence is 'himself' used as a reflexive pronoun instead of an intensive pronoun?
   1. A. He himself completed the project.
   2. B. The CEO himself made the announcement.
   3. C. He prides himself on his hard work.
   4. D. The artist himself signed the painting.
6. Choose the sentence where the intensive pronoun can be removed without significantly changing the core meaning.
   1. A. I enjoyed myself at the party.
   2. B. She introduced herself to the crowd.
   3. C. They themselves admitted their mistake.
   4. D. He locked himself in the room.
7. Which of the following is NOT an intensive pronoun?
   1. A. Myself
   2. B. Yourself
   3. C. Himself
   4. D. Mine