Reflexive Pronouns

When words like myself, himself, ourself and yourself are used for emphasis, they are called emphatic pronouns. It is possible to remove an emphatic pronoun from the sentence without causing any ungrammaticality.

Compare the sentences given below.

• I myself painted the walls. (Here the emphatic pronoun myself emphasises the fact that it was I who painted the walls.)
• I painted the walls. (No emphasis on me.)

Emphatic pronouns have another use as well. When both the subject and the object refer to the same person or thing, we use a word like myself or themselves for the object. In this case, these pronouns are called reflexive pronouns.

• I scolded myself for oversleeping. (NOT I scolded me for oversleeping).
• She treated herself to a 7 course dinner. (NOT She treated her…)

Worksheet

Say whether the pronouns are used reflexively or emphatically in the following sentences.

1. The chairman himself answered the questions.
2. The children themselves make their bed.
3. I injured myself while hiking yesterday.
4. She consoled herself.
5. I myself cooked the dinner.
6. The chairman himself was absent at the meeting.
7. The cat licked itself.
8. The soldier accidentally shot himself.
9. I talked to the manager herself.
10. The hostess herself received the guests.
11. We must learn to help ourselves.
12. I do all the errands myself.
13. He talks about himself all the time.
14. She is full of herself.

Answers

1. emphatic, 2. emphatic, 3. reflexive, 4. reflexive, 5. emphatic, 6. emphatic, 7. reflexive, 8. reflexive, 9. emphatic, 10. emphatic, 11. reflexive, 12. emphatic, 13. reflexive, 14. reflexive