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)
Singular Plurals
Myself Ourselves

Yourself Yourselves

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!