What is an intensive pronoun? An intensive pronoun is a pronoun used to intensify or emphasize its antecedent noun or pronoun. Intensive pronouns end in "self" and "selves". Intensive pronouns are used anywhere in a sentence: in the beginning, middle or end of the sentence. Intensive pronouns are also known as intensifiers or emphatic pronouns. Intensive pronouns are myself, yourself/yourselves, himself, herself, itself, themselves, ourselves. Intensive pronouns are contrasted with reflexive pronouns in the sense that the intensive pronouns are the additional modifiers that add emphasis to their antecedents, whereas reflexive pronouns are the the essential pronouns that act as the direct objects of transitive active verbs.
What is an antecedent noun or pronoun?, how do we compare intensive pronouns with reflexive pronouns?, why intensive pronouns are additional and reflexive pronouns, essential? are the questions discussed in the post.
This article covers:
- Intensive Pronoun: Meaning and Definition
- Intensive Pronoun Examples
- Intensive Pronoun vs Reflexive Pronoun
- Intensive Pronoun Exercises
- FAQs: Intensive Pronoun
Intensive Pronoun: Meaning and Definition
What does an intensive pronoun mean? An intensive pronoun means a word used to intensify its antecedent noun or pronoun.
What is the definition of an intensive pronoun? An intensive pronoun is defined as a pronoun that ends in "self" or "selves" and is used to place an emphasis on its antecedent noun or pronoun. [See antecedent]
According to the definition and meaning, we can define intensive pronoun as follows:
a. An intensive pronoun is a type of pronoun.
b. An intensive pronoun emphasizes an antecedent noun or pronoun.
c. An intensive pronoun is also known as intensifier.
d. An intensive pronoun ends in "self" or "selves"
e. An intensive pronoun is an adverbial. [See adverbials]
f. An intensive pronoun is contrasted with a reflexive pronoun. [See reflexive pronouns]
g. Intensive pronouns include: myself, yourself/yourselves, himself, herself, itself, themselves, ourselves.
h. An intensive pronoun can be used anywhere in the sentence: before or after the nouns or pronouns they emphasize or after objects at the end of a sentence.
Intensive Pronoun Examples in Sentences
a. I myself did it.
b. She wrote the assignment herself.
c. You need to do it yourself.
d. They themselves went to the market.
e. We ourselves need to do that.
f. He himself wrote it.
How to Identify an Intensive Pronoun?
As intensive pronouns have the same as the reflexive pronouns do, you can easily get confused when learning intensive pronouns. Here are some of the best tips on how you can identify an intensive pronoun:
1. An intensive pronoun intensifies its antecedent: An intensive pronoun places a strong emphasis on its antecedent noun or pronoun.
2. An intensive pronoun can be removed without affecting the meaning: As an intensive pronoun plays the role of an adverbial, it can be left out from a sentence without changing its meaning.
3. An intensive pronoun can be used anywhere in a sentence: it can be used in the beginning, middle or end of a sentence.
Intensive Pronoun vs Reflexive Pronoun
Here are the similarities and differences between reflexive and emphatic pronouns:
1. Both reflexive and intensive pronouns same in form: The forms taken by both reflexive and intensive pronouns are the same; that is, myself, yourself or yourselves, himself, herself, itself, themselves, ourselves and oneself act as both reflexive and intensive pronouns.
For example:
1. He bought himself a book. (reflexive)
2. He himself bought a book. (intensive)
2. Both reflexive and intensive pronouns with respective antecedents: Both reflexive and intensive pronouns are used when the subject and the object of a sentence are the same.
For example:
1. right: He bought himself a book. (reflexive)
2. wrong: He bought herself a book. (reflexive)
3. right: He himself bought a book. (intensive)
4. wrong: He yourself bought a book. (intensive)
3. The roles of reflexive and intensive pronouns are different: Reflexive pronouns receive the actions performed by the subject, whereas intensive pronouns emphasize the antecedents.
For example:
1. John cut himself. (reflexive)
2. John himself did it. (intensive)
Intensive Pronoun Exercises
1. Verify the following statements about intensive pronouns.
a. An intensive pronoun receives the action.
b. An intensive pronoun emphasizes its antecedent.
c. An intensive pronoun ends in "self" or "selves".
d. An intensive pronoun has the same form as a reflexive pronoun does.
e. An intensive pronoun is also known as intensifier or emphatic pronoun.
2. Distinguish between the intensive and reflexive pronouns used in the following sentences.
a. Enjoy yourself.
b. I myself learned to speak English.
c. I told myself that I would be rich.
d. He cut himself.
e. She wrote the assignment herself.
FAQs: Intensive Pronoun
What is an intensive pronoun and example?
An intensive pronoun is a pronoun used to intensify or emphasize its antecedent noun or pronoun. Intensive pronouns end in "self" and "selves". Intensive pronouns are used anywhere in a sentence: in the beginning, middle or end of the sentence. Intensive pronouns are also known as intensifiers or emphatic pronouns. Intensive pronouns are myself, yourself/yourselves, himself, herself, itself, themselves, ourselves.
Intensive pronoun meaning
What does an intensive pronoun mean? An intensive pronoun means a word used to intensify its antecedent noun or pronoun.
What's the difference between reflexive and intensive pronouns?
Intensive pronouns are contrasted with reflexive pronouns in the sense that the intensive pronouns are the additional modifiers that add emphasis to their antecedents, whereas reflexive pronouns are the the essential pronouns that act as the direct objects of transitive active verbs.
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