Reflexive and intensive pronouns

Myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves and themselves can serve two different jobs. The ending does not identify the job by itself. To choose correctly, ask whether the pronoun is required as an object or complement that refers back to the subject, or whether it simply emphasizes a noun or pronoun already in the sentence.

Reflexive pronouns refer back to the subject

A reflexive pronoun usually acts as an object of a verb or preposition and refers to the subject of that clause. In “Jordan blamed himself,” Jordan is both the person blaming and the person blamed. In “We prepared ourselves for the test,” the object refers back to “we.” Many verbs allow a reflexive construction, but some meanings require the reflexive form to distinguish the action: “She introduced herself.”

Intensive pronouns add emphasis

An intensive pronoun emphasizes the noun or pronoun it follows or closely relates to: “The principal herself answered the question,” or “The principal answered the question herself.” Remove “herself” and the sentence remains complete: “The principal answered the question.” The emphasis disappears, but the core grammar and meaning remain.

Use removal as a quick test

1. Find the -self or -selves pronoun.
2. Remove it temporarily.
3. If the sentence still has its required subject, verb and objects, the pronoun may be intensive.
4. If removing it leaves the verb's intended object missing or changes who receives the action, it is reflexive.
5. Check that the pronoun agrees in person and number with the noun it refers to.

Do not use myself as a subject or object substitute

A reflexive form is not a more formal replacement for I or me. Write “Maya and I reviewed the results,” not “Maya and myself reviewed the results.” Write “Please send the report to Maya and me,” not “to Maya and myself,” unless the pronoun genuinely refers back to the subject: “I sent myself a copy.” A compound phrase can make the error harder to hear, so remove the other name and test the sentence.

Common examples

• Reflexive: “The child dressed herself.” The child performs and receives the action.
• Intensive: “The child herself chose the outfit.” The pronoun stresses the child.
• Reflexive: “They congratulated themselves.” The object points back to the subject.
• Intensive: “They completed the project themselves.” Remove “themselves” and the sentence still works.
• Incorrect: “My colleague and myself attended.” Use “my colleague and I.”

Key takeaway

Reflexive pronouns complete an action that turns back to the subject; intensive pronouns can be removed and only reduce emphasis. Use ordinary subject and object forms when no reflexive relationship exists.

Reflexive pronouns point back to the subject

Reflexive pronouns end in -self or -selves: myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, and themselves. Use one when the subject and object refer to the same person or thing: “Mina prepared herself for the interview.” Mina performed the action, and Mina received it. The pronoun reflects the action back to its subject.

A reflexive pronoun can also serve as the object of a preposition when that object refers to the subject: “He kept the notes beside himself.” The noun or pronoun that controls the reference must be clear. Reflexives should not replace an ordinary object pronoun merely because they sound formal: “Please send the schedule to Sam and me,” not “to Sam and myself,” when myself has no matching first-person subject.

Intensive pronouns add emphasis

An intensive pronoun has the same form but adds emphasis to a noun or pronoun: “The director herself approved the schedule.” Remove herself and the sentence remains grammatical: “The director approved the schedule.” That test distinguishes intensive use from a reflexive object, as in “The director introduced herself,” where removing herself leaves the intended action incomplete or changes its meaning.

Intensive pronouns usually appear right after the noun they emphasize or at the end of a clause: “I myself checked the totals” or “I checked the totals myself.” They do not change the sentence’s subject or verb agreement. Use emphasis sparingly; an intensive pronoun should clarify who personally performed an action, not serve as a substitute for I or me.

Check person and number

The form must match its antecedent in person and number: I with myself, she with herself, they with themselves or themself in contemporary singular usage depending on style. For a plural subject, use -selves. Do not write “themselves” for a single person whose pronoun is he or she, and do not use “hisself” or “theirselves” in standard edited English. Follow the individual’s stated pronouns and the style context.

When revising, identify the subject first, trace the pronoun’s reference, and decide whether it receives the action or only emphasizes the subject. If the pronoun has no clear antecedent, replace it with an ordinary noun phrase or recast the sentence.

• Use a reflexive when subject and object refer to the same entity.
• Use an intensive pronoun only for emphasis; the sentence works without it.
• Do not use myself as a formal-sounding replacement for me or I.
• Match the pronoun to its person and number, respecting stated personal pronouns.
• Remove the pronoun to test whether it is intensive.

Avoid reflexives without a matching antecedent

A reflexive pronoun should refer back to a subject or another clear antecedent in the same clause: “I reminded myself”; “The panel members prepared themselves.” In “Please send the form to myself,” there is no first-person subject for myself to reflect. Use me. In “The manager and myself reviewed the form,” use I as part of the compound subject.

Intensive pronouns add emphasis to a noun already present: “The manager herself called.” Removing herself leaves a complete sentence. If removal leaves the action incomplete—“The manager introduced herself”—the pronoun is reflexive, not merely emphatic. Both forms are spelled alike, so function determines classification.