What is an Intensive Pronoun?
As a language learner, you may have heard of an “intensive pronoun” and wondered, what is an intensive pronoun exactly? Simply put, an intensive pronoun emphasizes a preceding noun, which is often (but not always) the subject of the sentence. In English, these are usually words like “myself”, “ourselves”, “itself”, “himself”, “herself”, and so on. They act like echoing the subject, resonating with intensity.
Unraveling the World of Intensive Pronouns
Intensive pronouns are used to add emphasis to a statement; it isnt just anyone else who is performing the action, it’s that specific person or thing. They might appear redundant, but they serve the important purpose of drawing attention and adding impact. Here’s an example:
I myself baked this cake.
In this sentence, “myself” is the intensive pronoun emphasizing the subject “I”. By including “myself”, the speaker seems to be particularly proud of the accomplishment!
Clearing the Intensive Pronouns Confusion
Now you might wonder what makes these pronouns so “intensive.” Often, intensive pronouns are identical to reflexive pronouns (which refer back to the subject of the clause). But unlike reflexive pronouns, they arent necessary to the sentence’s meaning. Take them out, the sentence still makes sense. But leave them in, and they add that extra spark. Heres an example for clarification:
She prepared the entire meal herself.
In this sentence, “herself” acts as an intensive pronoun, emphasizing that “she” prepared the meal on her own. If we remove “herself”, the sentence still holds its basic meaning, yet loses the emphasis: She prepared the entire meal.
Mastering the Use of Intensive Pronouns
Intensive pronouns serve a decorative purpose; they color the conversation, make our intentions clear, and stress the importance of what we’re saying. Here are a few more intensive pronouns examples:
- The puppy itself found its way home.
- You yourself are responsible for the consequences.
- The kids cleaned their rooms themselves.
Seeing them in use helps clarify their role! They add flavor to our language, making it more expressive and meaningful.
FAQs on Intensive Pronouns
Here are the answers to some of the commonly asked questions about intensive pronouns:
What’s the difference between reflexive and intensive pronouns?
The key difference lies in their purpose. Reflexive pronouns are essential for the sentence to make sense (i.e., “I dressed myself”), whereas intensive pronouns merely add emphasis (“I myself saw the ghost”) and can be removed without altering the basic meaning. However, both share the same words (“myself”, “yourself”, etc.).
Where do you place intensive pronouns in a sentence?
Typically, intensive pronouns are placed immediately after the noun or pronoun they are emphasizing, but to add varied emphasis or stylistic differences, they can be placed elsewhere in the sentence too. Remember, they are flexible and depend on the desired level of emphasis.
Wrap-up on Intensive Pronouns
Intensive pronouns are more than just repeated words; they’re the spices that bring out the flavor in language, making every sentence tasteful. Remember, the key to mastering any language aspect, including intensive pronouns, is practice. So try using these in your daily conversations or writings and before you know it, theyll become a seamless part of your linguistic arsenal!
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