Reflexive and emphatic Pronuuns

REFLEXIVE AND EMPHATIC PRONOUNS

When -self is added to my, your, him, her, it, and -selves to our, your, them, we get what are called Compound Personal Pronouns.

They are called Reflexive Pronouns when the action done by the subject turns back (reflects) upon the subject; as,

I hurt myself.
We hurt ourselves.
You will hurt yourself.
You hurt yourselves.
He hurt himself.
She hurt herself.
They hurt themselves.
The horse hurt itself.

It will be noticed that each of these Reflexive Pronouns is used as the Object of a verb, and refers to the same person or thing as that denoted by the Subject of the verb.

Sometimes, in older English, especially in poetry, a simple pronoun was used reflexively; as;


Now I lay me down to sleep.

The word self is sometimes used as a Noun; as, To thin own self be true.

He cares for nothing but self. He thinks much for self.

Emphatic Pronouns

Now look at the following sentences:-I will do it myself.

I myself saw him do it. We will see to it ourselves. You yourself can best explain. He himself said so.
She herself says so.

It was told so by the teacher himself. We saw the Prime Minister himself. The town itself is not very large.

They themselves admitted their guilt.

It will be seen that here Compound Personal Pronouns are used for the sake of emphasis, and are therefore called Emphatic Pronouns.

Exercise in Grammar

Tell which Pronouns in the following sentences are Reflexive and which Emphatic:-[Emphatic Pronouns are also called Emphasizing Pronouns.]

I will go myself.
Rama has hurt himself.
We often deceive ourselves.
I myself heard the remark.
You express yourself very imperfectly.
I wash myself when I get up.
The boys hid themselves.
They have got themselves into a mess.
Boadicea poisoned herself.
         They loved themselves so much that they thought of no one else.
The prisoner hanged himself.
The poor widow poisoned herself.
They enjoyed themselves.
Don't you deceive yourself?
I myself heard the remark.
He set himself a hard task.
We exerted ourselves.
The dog choked itself.
They gave themselves a lot of trouble.
We seldom see ourselves as others see us.
A house divided against itself cannot stand.
He that wrongs his friend wrongs himself more.
Some people are always talking about themselves.

Xerxes himself was the last to cross the Hellespont,
He has landed himself in difficulties.
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Quit yourselves like men.
Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased.
Sinai itself trembled at the presence of, God.
I cannot bring myself to do it.
Pray do not inconvenience yourself.
I was sitting by myself.
And sometimes I do hate myself.