Intensive Pronouns
An intensive pronoun emphasizes the noun or pronoun it refers to: “I baked the bread myself.” Because it is emphatic rather than required as a reflexive object, removing it usually leaves the sentence’s core grammar intact.
Intensive (emphatic) pronouns use the same forms as reflexive pronouns—myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves—but add emphasis instead of functioning as a reflexive object.
Key details
Further guidance
Core Rule
Use an intensive pronoun to emphasize the identity of the subject or another noun phrase, not because the verb requires a reflexive object.
Diagnostic
If removing “myself/herself/themselves” leaves the core clause grammatically complete, the pronoun is often intensive rather than reflexive.
Terminology
Many grammar references use “emphatic pronoun” for the same function commonly called an “intensive pronoun.”
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Reflexive pronouns — LearnEnglish (opens in a new tab)British Council · Grammar-reference evidence that reflexive forms can also be used emphatically/intensively, as in “I baked the bread myself.”