2. You often use pronouns that end in –self
or –selves. These forms are intensive
pronouns.
Intensive: The children made that rug
themselves.
3. An intensive pronoun is used to
emphasize another word, its
antecedent.
An intensive pronoun may or may not
refer to the subject of the sentence. It can
usually be left out without destroying the
meaning of the sentence.
Sid himself hung the picture.
4. Intensive pronouns must agree with their
antecedents in person, number, and
gender.
I will fix myself lunch in a while.
Jack can fix a sandwich himself.
6. Do not use intensive pronoun forms in
place of personal pronouns.
Ron and I repaired the lamp. (not Ron and
myself)
This is between you and me. (not between
you and myself)
Never use the words hisself or
theirselves. (they are not words)
8. The following are some
reflexive pronouns:
myself
yourself
himself
herself
ourselves
themselves
9. There is a tendency for writers and
speakers to choose the reflexive/intensive
case of the first person pronoun (myself)
when they are unsure which case—subject
or object—is proper. The
reflexive/emphatic/intensive case of a
pronoun is used to indicate a reflexive
action—an action affecting the one who
performs it. This case is also used for
emphasis.
10. Examples:
The hunter had injured himself; I myself
had seen him do so.
While sharpening a knife, the butcher cut
himself.
I moaned when I saw myself in the mirror.
11. A reflexive pronoun usually refers to the
subject of the sentence.
Example:
He looked at himself in the mirror.
12. Some reflexive pronouns are used for
emphasis.
Examples:
He himself answered the phone, not his
secretary.
He answered the phone himself.
13. Reflexive pronouns should not be used to
substitute for personal pronouns.
Incorrect:
Contact Dante or myself if you need a
photographer.
Correct:
Contact Dante or me if you need a
photographer.
14. Me, Myself, and I
When you don’t know whether to use I or
me, don’t use the reflexive pronoun
myself. Myself is a reflexive pronoun used
as the object in a sentence when the word
to which to which the pronoun refers is the
subject of the sentence.
15. The use of myself in these three
sentences is correct.
As president of this company, I am giving
myself a raise.
I am very proud of myself for having
worked hard to receive this award.
On behalf of the orchestra and myself
(OR me), I welcome you.
16. The use of myself in these four
sentences is incorrect.
The responsibilities will be divided
between you and myself.
There is a big difference between my
opponent and myself.
If you have any questions, contact the
office assistant or myself.
The confidentiality agreement is between
the company and myself.
17. CORRECTIONS
The responsibilities will be divided
between you and me.
There is a big difference between my
opponent and me.
If you have any questions, contact the
office assistant or me.
The confidentiality agreement is between
the company and me.
18. Follow these basic pronoun usage
rules when deciding whether to use
I or me:
Rule 1: Ignore the conjunction and the
other noun or pronoun:
If you have any questions, contact the
office assistant or myself.
Ignore “or the office assistant.”
Would you say If you have any
questions, contact myself?
Or would you say If you have any
questions, contact me?
19. Rule 2: Always use me, him, her, us,
and them after between.
The responsibilities will be divided
between you and me.
There is a big difference between my
opponent and me.
The confidentiality agreement is between
the company and me.
20. Attention!
Although the pronouns I, me, and
myself refer to the same person—
the person speaking or writing—
these pronouns are not
interchangeable in a sentence.
21. The following are not reflexive pronouns:
•hisself
•ourself
•themself
•theirself
•theirself
•theyself
22. Let’s practice!
Choose the correct pronoun.
Holyfield handles (hisself, himself) very well in
the boxing ring.
33. Find the antecedent of each
underlined pronoun.
1. Hubert found himself in the middle of a
flood.
2. We met the plumber herself.
3. The oven cleaned itself.
4. Let’s try to fix the sink ourselves.
5. I will call the painters myself.
6. Don’t slip and hurt yourselves.
34. Antecedent Answers
1. Hubert found himself in the middle of a
flood.
2. We met the plumber herself.
3. The oven cleaned itself.
4. Let’s try to fix the sink ourselves.
5. I will call the painters myself.
6. Don’t slip and hurt yourselves.
35. How would you correct each
of the following sentences?
7. The painters protected theirselves
from fumes.
8. Mrs. Sullivan and myself found the
source of the leak under the sink.
9. Her son can repair pipes hisself now.
10. Herself and Russell will fix the sink
tomorrow.
36. Answers
7. The painters protected themselves
from fumes.
8. Mrs. Sullivan and I found the source of
the leak under the sink.
9. Her son can repair pipes himself now.
10. She and Russell will fix the sink
tomorrow.
37. Complete each sentence
with an appropriate pronoun.
11. Her brother has taught _______ much
about house repair and maintence.
12. The painters should see ______ in those
funny hats.
13. We ________ aren’t sure of the color we
should use.
14. You should learn to repair things
_________.
15. The work __________ is not difficult.
38. Answers
11. Her brother has taught himself much about
house repair and maintenance.
12. The painters should see themselves in
those funny hats.
13. We ourselves aren’t sure of the color we
should use.
14. You should learn to repair things yourself.
15. The work itself is not difficult.
39. Identify the pronoun in each
sentence.
16. They themselves knew they looked funny.
17. One had painted himself green.
18. Another had decorated herself with blue
spots.
19. The paint itself was splattered all over the
floor.
20. The painters thought themselves very
comical.
21. I myself had to try hard not to laugh.
40. Answers
16. They themselves knew they looked funny.
17. One had painted himself green.
18. Another had decorated herself with blue
spots.
19. The paint itself was splattered all over the
floor.
20. The painters thought themselves very
comical.
21. I myself had to try hard not to laugh.
41. Rewrite each sentence
correctly. Underline the
corrected word.
22. My brother and myself tried to fix
something once.
23. My brother fooled hisself that time.
24. Himself and I tried to fix the clock.
25. Between you and myself, we ruined
the job.
42. Answers
22. My brother and I tried to fix
something once.
23. My brother fooled himself that time.
24. He and I tried to fix the clock.
25. Between you and me, we ruined the
job.
43. Rewrite each sentence, adding an
appropriate pronoun.
26. First, you should read the directions
__________.
27. Several professional repair persons
________ gave me that advice.
28. Repair manuals ________ also provide the
amateur with excellent advice and tips about
working.
29. I _______ found out about repair manuals
the hard way.
30. One night last week, my mother and father
had given ________ an evening out.
44. Answers
26. First, you should read the directions
yourself.
27. Several professional repair persons
themselves gave me that advice.
28. Repair manuals themselves also provide
the amateur with excellent advice and tips
about working.
29. I myself found out about repair manuals the
hard way.
30. One night last week, my mother and father
had given themselves an evening out.
45. Rewrite each sentence, adding an
appropriate pronoun.
31. Meanwhile, I decided to repair my broken
alarm clock ________.
32. My brother Patrick said, “You can’t do that
________.”
33. He decided to help me _______.
34. As it later turned out, Pat and I could have
saved _________ much time and trouble.
35. The clock ________ needed only a new
battery!
46. Answers
31. Meanwhile, I decided to repair my broken
alarm clock myself.
32. My brother Patrick said, “You can’t do that
yourself.”
33. He decided to help me himself.
34. As it later turned out, Pat and I could have
saved ourselves much time and trouble.
35. The clock itself needed only a new battery!
