Intensive vs. Reflexive Pronouns: Key Differences Explained
Intensive pronouns end in -self/-selves and add emphasis to the subject: “I myself wrote it.” Reflexive pronouns look identical but reflect the action back on the subject: “I cut myself.” Same look, different job.
People confuse them because they both pop up after the subject and use -self. The mix-up often happens in quick speech or while texting—your brain hears “myself” and slaps it in without asking why.
Key Differences
Use intensive when you could delete it and the sentence still stands: “The CEO herself answered.” Use reflexive when the subject and object are the same: “The CEO hurt herself.”
Which One Should You Choose?
Stressing a point? Intensive. Showing the subject receives the action? Reflexive. Read the sentence aloud; if it still makes sense after dropping the pronoun, you’ve got intensive.
Examples and Daily Life
WhatsApp: “I myself will send the file” (intensive). “I sent the file to myself” (reflexive). Quick check: remove “myself.” First sentence survives; second collapses—voilà.
Can “himself” be both types in one sentence?
No. A single pronoun can’t do both jobs at once; context decides.
Is “themselves” ever wrong?
Only if it doesn’t refer clearly to the plural subject.