Pronouns: Reflexive Or Intensive? Worksheet - Free Printable

Let's solve this worksheet step by step.

Understanding Reflexive vs. Intensive Pronouns

- Reflexive pronouns are used when the subject and object of the sentence are the same person or thing. They are necessary for the sentence to make sense.
- Example: *She hurt herself.* (She is the one who hurt — the action reflects back on the subject.)

- Intensive pronouns are used to emphasize the subject. They can be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence, but they add emphasis.
- Example: *I myself saw it.* (The word "myself" emphasizes that *I* did it, not someone else.)

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Now, let’s analyze each sentence:

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1. You yourself saw the accident.
→ "yourself" emphasizes "you" — it adds stress but isn't essential.
✔ I (Intensive)

2. He will harm himself if he’s not careful.
→ "himself" is the object of the verb "harm" — he harms *himself*. The action reflects back to the subject.
✔ R (Reflexive)

3. Those girls are proud of themselves.
→ "themselves" refers back to "those girls" — they are proud of their own selves.
✔ R (Reflexive)

4. Ask yourself if you are really happy.
→ "yourself" is the object of the verb "ask" — you're asking *yourself* a question.
✔ R (Reflexive)

5. When we allow ourselves to be creative, we shine.
→ "ourselves" is the object of "allow" — we allow *ourselves* to be creative.
✔ R (Reflexive)

6. Before arriving, she doused herself in perfume.
→ "herself" is the object of "doused" — she applied perfume to *herself*.
✔ R (Reflexive)

7. They’ll have to do that themselves.
→ "themselves" means they must do it alone — no one else. It reflects back to the subject.
✔ R (Reflexive)

8. I don’t see myself living overseas.
→ "myself" is the object of "see" — I don’t imagine *myself* living there.
✔ R (Reflexive)

9. He ought to take care of that himself.
→ "himself" emphasizes that *he*, not someone else, should do it. It adds emphasis.
✔ I (Intensive)

10. Jack himself decided to bake the cake.
→ "himself" emphasizes Jack — it stresses that Jack (not someone else) made the decision.
✔ I (Intensive)

11. Mom told me she made the scarf herself.
→ "herself" emphasizes that Mom did it alone, not someone else.
✔ I (Intensive)

12. Kim herself is grouchy most days.
→ "herself" emphasizes Kim — it highlights that it’s Kim specifically who is grouchy.
✔ I (Intensive)

13. I have to ask myself if I believe you.
→ "myself" is the object of "ask" — I’m asking *myself* a question.
✔ R (Reflexive)

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✔ Final Answers:

1. I
2. R
3. R
4. R
5. R
6. R
7. R
8. R
9. I
10. I
11. I
12. I
13. R

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Summary:

- Reflexive (R): Used when the pronoun reflects back to the subject as the receiver of the action.
- Intensive (I): Used for emphasis; can be removed without breaking the sentence.

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