Reflexive or Intensive Pronoun? #1 | Interactive Worksheet ... - Free Printable

Let’s go through each sentence one by one. We need to decide if the bolded pronoun is reflexive or intensive.

Quick reminder:

- Reflexive pronouns are used when the subject and object of the verb are the same person/thing — they “reflect” back on the subject.
Example: *She hurt herself.* → She did something to herself.

- Intensive pronouns are used just for emphasis — you could remove them and the sentence still makes sense.
Example: *I myself baked the cake.* → You could say “I baked the cake” and it’s still correct. The word “myself” just adds emphasis.

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Now, let’s analyze each sentence:

1. The mayor himself addressed the students.
→ Could we say “The mayor addressed the students”? Yes. So “himself” is just adding emphasis → intensive

2. Did Jeryin injure himself as he fell off his skateboard?
→ Who got injured? Jeryin. Who caused the injury? Also Jeryin (by falling). So “himself” reflects the action back → reflexive

3. Although our parents offered to help us, we decided to do it ourselves.
→ Who did the work? “We”. Who received the action? Also “we”. So “ourselves” reflects the action → reflexive

4. Was my surprise yourself with what you saw?
→ Wait — this sentence seems grammatically odd. But assuming it means “Did you surprise yourself...”, then “yourself” is receiving the action from “you” → reflexive

5. Which of you built these birdhouses yourselves?
→ Who built them? “You”. Who received the building? Also “you”. So “yourselves” reflects the action → reflexive

6. The governor himself will give the award to the principal of the year.
→ Could we say “The governor will give the award...” without “himself”? Yes. So it’s just emphasis → intensive

7. The flying squirrel launched itself from a high branch to glide to the next tree.
→ Who launched? The squirrel. Who was launched? Also the squirrel. So “itself” reflects the action → reflexive

8. I myself think school codes are a great idea.
→ Could we say “I think school codes are a great idea”? Yes. “Myself” is just emphasizing → intensive

9. You have to learn to trust yourself.
→ Who must learn to trust? “You”. Who is being trusted? Also “you”. So “yourself” reflects the action → reflexive

10. Imagine yourself in the future as an astronaut.
→ Who should imagine? “You”. Who is being imagined? Also “you”. So “yourself” reflects the action → reflexive

11. The three friends often found themselves in the most unlikely situations.
→ Who found? The friends. Who were found? Also the friends. So “themselves” reflects the action → reflexive

12. Caleb threw himself at the few books in the library’s growing bin.
→ Who threw? Caleb. Who was thrown? Also Caleb. So “himself” reflects the action → reflexive

13. Could you and the team schedule soccer practices yourselves?
→ Who schedules? “You and the team”. Who receives the scheduling? Also “you and the team”. So “yourselves” reflects the action → reflexive

14. Although the rehearsals were rocky, the show itself went smoothly.
→ Could we say “the show went smoothly” without “itself”? Yes. So “itself” is just emphasizing → intensive

15. The submarine robots repaired the ocean floor themselves.
→ Who repaired? The robots. Who received the repair? The ocean floor — NOT the robots. So “themselves” here is NOT reflecting the action onto the subject. It’s emphasizing that the robots did it alone → intensive

Wait — let’s double-check #15.

Sentence: *The submarine robots repaired the ocean floor themselves.*

Subject: The submarine robots
Verb: repaired
Object: the ocean floor
Pronoun: themselves

Since the object is “the ocean floor”, not “the robots”, the pronoun “themselves” cannot be reflexive — because the action isn’t going back to the subject. Instead, it’s emphasizing that the robots did it without help → so yes, intensive

But hold on — sometimes people get confused here. Let me test: Can we remove “themselves”?
→ “The submarine robots repaired the ocean floor.” → Still makes perfect sense. So “themselves” is extra emphasis → intensive.

✔ Confirmed.

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Final Answers:

1. intensive
2. reflexive
3. reflexive
4. reflexive
5. reflexive
6. intensive
7. reflexive
8. intensive
9. reflexive
10. reflexive
11. reflexive
12. reflexive
13. reflexive
14. intensive
15. intensive

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Final Answer:
1. intensive
2. reflexive
3. reflexive
4. reflexive
5. reflexive
6. intensive
7. reflexive
8. intensive
9. reflexive
10. reflexive
11. reflexive
12. reflexive
13. reflexive
14. intensive
15. intensive