Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns: Understanding the Differences, Lecture notes of English

Download Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns: Understanding the Differences and more Lecture notes English in PDF only on Docsity! Reflexive and Intensive  You know those words that end in –self or –selves? Himself, herself, myself, themselves, etc…  These forms are either reflexive pronouns or intensive pronouns. Although their spellings are the same, their uses in sentences are different. Intensive Pronouns Intensive pronouns draw MORE attention to the original noun or pronoun to INTENSIFY it. Even Mr. Franco HIMSELF would think your room is messy. (It’s funny and ironic because Mr. Franco is messy, so he has no business telling other people that their rooms are messy) Even if you had an excuse note from the President HIMSELF, I would not let you miss next week’s test. (Using the intensive pronoun ‘himself ’ emphasizes that there is no way I’d excuse you from the test) My daughter washed the dishes HERSELF. (‘Herself ’ emphasizes that it’s a big deal that she did this without help) Reflexive Pronouns  A reflexive pronoun has its antecedent as the subject of the sentence.  It completes the meaning of a sentence and generally cannot be left out.  Burton knows himself very well.  Did you teach yourself music? The quick and dirty rule for reflexive pronouns Think of a mirror… What does a mirror do? It reflects. When you look in a mirror, your reflection is ALWAYS THERE. It HAS TO BE…because you’re not a vampire. In the same way, REFLEXIVE pronouns HAVE TO BE in the sentence for the sentence to make sense.