Intensive Pronouns

 You often use pronouns that end in –self or –selves. These forms are intensive pronouns.  Intensive: The children made that rug themselves.

 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.

 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.

Intensive Pronouns (add to pronoun flip book) SingularPlurals MyselfOurselves YourselfYourselves Himself, herself, itself themselves

 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)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!