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English Grammar: Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns

written by: Curt Smothers โ€ข edited by: Rebecca Scudder โ€ข updated: 1/7/2013

Reflexive pronouns in English are formed by adding the suffixes โ€œ-self," or โ€œ-selves" to object pronouns (my, our, your, it, them, etc.). They are used as objects of a sentence or preposition. Intensive pronouns are formed the same way, but are used differently.

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    How Reflexive Pronouns are Used in a Sentence

    Reflexive pronouns are used as follows:

    A direct object of the sentence: (A direct object receives the action of the verb.)

    We saw ourselves as winners.

    He viewed himself as perfect.

    An indirect object of the sentence: (An indirect object tells to whom or for whom the verb's action is applied.)

    He gave himself too much credit.

    They paid themselves a huge bonus.

    An object of a preposition:

    I sometimes talk to myself.

    The were very ashamed of themselves.

    Note in the above examples the reflexive pronoun has a distinct grammatical function. Note also that the subject of each sentence is always the same person or persons of the reflexive pronoun.

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    How Intensive Pronouns are Used in a Sentence

    โ€œFirst cousins" of reflexive pronouns, intensive pronouns come in the same form (-self, -selves), but they immediately follow the noun or pronoun. Their purpose is to intensify or stress that noun or pronoun.

    Some examples:

    We ourselves were uncertain.

    I myself was very ashamed.

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    Avoiding Incorrect and "Illiterate" Use of Reflexive Pronouns

    ♦ Incorrect Use

    In informal speech, we often hear the reflexive and intensive pronoun misused. Here are some common errors:

    Incorrect: The manager invited myself and my coworkers to lunch.

    Correct: The manager invited my coworkers and me to lunch.

    Remember that the reflexive pronoun must be the same as the subject of the sentence. The subject of the sentence is โ€œmanager."

    ♦ "Illiterate" Use

    The use of incorrect forms of intensive pronouns also occurs in slang or colloquial speech. However, the so-called โ€œilliterate use" of reflexive and intensive pronouns should be always be avoided in formal writing.

    Illiterate forms of the reflexive:

    Incorrect: ourself; correct: ourselves

    Incorrect: hisself; correct: himself

    Incorrect: theirself, themself, theirselves; correct: themselves

    Incorrect: ourself; correct: ourselves

    Note: The only correct forms of reflexive and intensive pronouns are:

    himself, herself, itself, myself, ourselves, themselves, yourself and yourselves

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    Read more about reflexive and intensive pronouns at:

    University of Victoria Study Zone: Reflexive Pronouns

    English the Easy Way: Intensive Pronouns

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