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

It looks like you've uploaded a worksheet titled "Reflexive or Intensive Pronoun? #1" that asks students to identify whether each sentence uses a reflexive pronoun or an intensive pronoun.

Let’s go through the rules first, then solve each item step by step with explanations.

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🔹 Reflexive vs. Intensive Pronouns: Key Differences

| Feature | Reflexive Pronoun | Intensive Pronoun |
|--------|-------------------|-------------------|
| Purpose | The subject and object are the same (action reflects back on the subject) | Emphasizes the noun (not necessary for meaning) |
| Removal Test | If you remove it, the sentence becomes incomplete or illogical | Can be removed without changing meaning |
| Examples | I hurt myself. (I am the one who was hurt) | I myself did it. (Emphasizing "I") |

> ✔ Reflexive: Needed for grammatical completeness
> ✔ Intensive: Adds emphasis — optional

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Now let's analyze each sentence:

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1. The mayor herself addressed the students.

- "herself" emphasizes "the mayor"
- You could say: *The mayor addressed the students.* → Still makes sense.
- So, intensive.
✔ Answer: intensive

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2. Did Jayden injure himself when he fell off his skateboard?

- "himself" refers back to Jayden; he is both the one doing the action and receiving it.
- Without "himself", the sentence would be: *Did Jayden injure?* → Doesn’t work.
- So, reflexive.
✔ Answer: reflexive

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3. Although our parents offered to help, we wanted to build it ourselves.

- "ourselves" refers back to "we"; they built it themselves.
- Removing "ourselves": *We wanted to build it.* → Makes sense but loses meaning of self-reliance.
- But here, “ourselves” adds emphasis — but also indicates the subject is doing the action on its own.
- However, since the action is performed by the subject on itself, it's reflexive.
- But note: sometimes "ourselves" can be intensive. Here, the meaning is "we built it by ourselves" → implies no outside help → emphatic use.
- Still, in this context, it's intensive because it's emphasizing that we did it, not others.
- But wait — if the sentence were: *We built it ourselves*, that's reflexive only if they’re acting on themselves. But building something isn't a self-directed action.

🔍 Clarification: "ourselves" here is used as an intensive pronoun, emphasizing that we (not someone else) built it.

✔ Answer: intensive

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4. You may surprise yourself with what you can do.

- "yourself" = you are surprised by your own abilities
- The subject ("you") is experiencing the surprise about themselves
- So, reflexive — the action affects the subject.
✔ Answer: reflexive

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5. The governor himself will give the award to the principal of the year.

- "himself" emphasizes the governor
- Remove it: *The governor will give...* → still works
- So, intensive
✔ Answer: intensive

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6. The flying squirrel launched itself from a high branch to glide to the next tree.

- "itself" refers to the squirrel; the squirrel launches itself
- Action done by the subject upon itself → reflexive
✔ Answer: reflexive

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7. I myself think school dress codes are a great idea.

- "myself" emphasizes "I"
- Remove it: *I think...* → still correct
- So, intensive
✔ Answer: intensive

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8. You have to save the money yourself.

- "yourself" means you must do it personally
- It emphasizes personal responsibility → intensive
- Not a reflexive action (you're not saving yourself)
✔ Answer: intensive

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9. I imagine myself as a famous film director in the future.

- "myself" is the object of "imagine"
- You imagine yourself → the subject imagines their own self
- This is reflexive — the subject is thinking about themselves
✔ Answer: reflexive

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10. The three friends often found themselves in the most unlikely situations.

- "themselves" = the friends were placed in situations they didn’t expect
- They experienced these situations as subjects — so the action is reflected back
- "found themselves" = became aware of being in those situations
- This is reflexive — they are the ones affected
✔ Answer: reflexive

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11. Caleb himself helped fill the two books in the library's giveaway bin.

- "himself" emphasizes Caleb
- Remove it: *Caleb helped fill...* → still correct
- So, intensive
✔ Answer: intensive

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12. Could you and the team schedule soccer practice yourselves?

- "yourselves" refers to the group (you and the team)
- They are scheduling themselves — meaning they are responsible for organizing it
- It's not that they are acting on themselves physically
- But the usage is emphatic: "You guys do it yourselves"
- So, intensive
✔ Answer: intensive

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13. Although the monarchs were royalty, the show itself went quite smoothly.

- "itself" refers to "the show"
- Emphasizing that the show (not other parts) went smoothly
- Remove it: *Although the monarchs were royalty, the show went quite smoothly.* → still fine
- So, intensive
✔ Answer: intensive

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14. The submarine rebels targeted the ocean floor themselves.

- "themselves" refers to the rebels
- But the sentence says they targeted the ocean floor — so the target is the ocean floor
- "themselves" cannot be reflexive here — they didn't target themselves
- Wait — does it make sense?
- Actually, "themselves" is likely used intensively to emphasize that the rebels themselves (not others) did the targeting
- So, intensive
✔ Answer: intensive

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Final Answers:

| # | Sentence | Answer |
|---|--------|--------|
| 1 | The mayor herself addressed the students. | intensive |
| 2 | Did Jayden injure himself when he fell off his skateboard? | reflexive |
| 3 | Although our parents offered to help, we wanted to build it ourselves. | intensive |
| 4 | You may surprise yourself with what you can do. | reflexive |
| 5 | The governor himself will give the award to the principal of the year. | intensive |
| 6 | The flying squirrel launched itself from a high branch to glide to the next tree. | reflexive |
| 7 | I myself think school dress codes are a great idea. | intensive |
| 8 | You have to save the money yourself. | intensive |
| 9 | I imagine myself as a famous film director in the future. | reflexive |
| 10 | The three friends often found themselves in the most unlikely situations. | reflexive |
| 11 | Caleb himself helped fill the two books in the library's giveaway bin. | intensive |
| 12 | Could you and the team schedule soccer practice yourselves? | intensive |
| 13 | Although the monarchs were royalty, the show itself went quite smoothly. | intensive |
| 14 | The submarine rebels targeted the ocean floor themselves. | intensive |

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🎯 Summary Tips:

- Use reflexive when the subject performs the action on itself (e.g., *I hurt myself*)
- Use intensive when the pronoun adds emphasis (e.g., *I myself did it*)

Let me know if you'd like a printable version or explanation for classroom use!