Emphatic Pronouns: Tools for Emphasis in English Language

What Is an Emphatic Pronoun?

Emphatic pronouns, typically known as intensive pronouns, are used to stress a noun or a pronoun. It is used just after the noun to which it refers to indicate emphasis. For singular personal pronouns, it is created by adding "self," and for plural person pronouns ", selves" is added to create an emphatic pronoun. For a better understanding, go through the examples below.

• "I myself did it".
• " We ourselves decided to go on a picnic".

One can recognise the emphatic pronoun sentences as it highlights the subject's role in the action, clarifying that it is the one responsible.

Emphatic Pronoun Definition

According to The Oxford Guide to English Grammar, emphatic pronouns like 'myself' or 'themselves' are used to highlight a noun phrase. For instance, in the sentence "The students organized the event by themselves," the pronoun "themselves" emphasizes that the students did the work independently, without external assistance.

How to Use Emphatic Pronouns in Sentences?

The use of emphatic pronouns in most scenarios typically follows the noun or pronoun it aims to emphasize. Read the example below to understand its use.

Example: "You need to discuss with the boy himself before making any further decision".

However, there are cases when the emphatic pronoun appears slightly after the noun it refers to. Further, you all know how bold text or capital letters are used to highlight or stress a word within a sentence. To some extent, emphatic pronouns are also put into sentences to provide the same effect.

Key Points to Remember

• Emphatic pronouns are not put into sentences as the subject or object of the verb
• Their use in sentences is to reinforce the noun or pronoun they accompany and not to replace it.
• Removing emphatic pronouns from a sentence doesn't affect its meaning to a greater extent.
• Emphatic pronouns cannot be substituted by other pronouns like him, her, you, them. Etc.
• Emphatic pronoun examples include himself, herself, yourself, ourselves, themselves and more.

Examples of Emphatic Pronouns

With the help of emphatic pronoun examples, you can learn about various types of pronouns and their uses in multiple contexts. Some of the most common examples of emphatic pronouns which are often put into use are-

1. Herself

• Chloe herself prepared the dinner as there was no one to help.
• My daughter herself bought a new car.

2. Himself

• The mechanic himself was on leave for three days.
• The boy himself ate the entire pizza.

3. Themselves

• The students themselves organised the entire program
• The team themselves asked for another practice session

4. Myself

• I myself did the cooking
• I myself will handle this situation now

5. Itself

• The movie itself is well-produced
• The box itself moved due to strong wind

6. Ourselves

• We ourselves are going to an event
• We ourselves will handle the situation now

7. Yourself

• She said that you yourself will complete the task
• You yourself must manage the event properly

Difference Between Emphatic Pronoun and Reflexive Pronoun

Emphatic and Reflexive pronouns share the same form (ending in -self and -selves), and both serve distinct grammatical functions. Understanding the difference between emphatic pronoun and reflexive pronoun is crucial as it helps in effective and precise communication. Emphatic pronouns are used to highlight a noun or pronoun, generally the subject. On the other hand, reflexive pronouns are put into sentences when the subject and object of a sentence are the same. It is used to indicate the action of the verb reflecting on the subject. Furthermore, for a clearer understanding of both terms, refer to the table below.

Practice Worksheet

Till now, you have learned what is emphatic pronoun, its use in sentences and its examples. Now, it’s time to check your understanding of this grammatical element. Solve the emphatic pronoun worksheet below to enhance your knowledge.

Exercise 1 – Complete The Following Sentences by Adding Correct Emphatic Pronouns

In this exercise, you are provided with some sentences; your task is to complete each sentence by adding a suitable emphatic pronoun.

1. We enjoyed the trip
2. You should finish the work before evening.
3. I did it! Nobody helped me.
4. The boys played to win the tournament.
5. He made the entire dinner
6. She did all the tasks without anyone’s help.
7. They found the road after hours of searching.
8. I did the cooking because no one else was available.
9. The children built the sandcastle on their own.
10. You should have known better!

Answers for Exercise 1

1. We enjoyed the trip ourselves
2. You should finish the work yourself before evening.
3. I did it myself! Nobody helped me.
4. The boys played themselves to win the tournament.
5. He himself made the entire dinner
6. She did all the tasks herself without anyone’s help.
7. They found the road themselves after hours of searching.
8. I did the cooking myself because no one else was available.
9. The workers built the room themselves on their own.
10. You yourself should have known better!

Exercise 2: Use The Given Emphatic Pronouns and Construct Meaningful Sentences

In this exercise, you have been given a few emphatic pronouns; create your sentences using these pronouns and emphasise the subject in each sentence.

1. Themselves
2. Myself
3. Himself
4. Yourself
5. Itself
6. Herself
7. Ourselves
8. Oneself
9. Yourselves

Example:

• Pronoun: Themselves
• Sentence: They themselves found the way after hours of hard work

 Answers for Exercise 2

1. The students themselves completed the entire syllabus without asking for help.
2. I myself created the poster because I wanted to test my skills.
3. Robert himself fixed the television after watching a tutorial online.
4. You yourself should trust and never doubt your abilities.
5. The cat itself curled up on the bed and fell asleep.
6. Sara herself organised the wedding, ensuring that every detail was perfect.
7. We ourselves prepared the entire dinner, from starters to dessert.
8. To truly grow, one must understand oneself and be open to change.
9. You yourselves can decide how to spend the rest of the

Conclusion

To sum up, this is the only reference guide that you need to learn what is emphatic pronoun. In this blog, we have covered the definition of emphatic pronouns, how to use them in sentences, and provided examples for better clarification. Furthermore, it is expected that you have completed the worksheet provided for your practice. Learning these grammar elements is crucial, as it helps improve the English language. Additionally, you can grasp skills like learning new words, proficient listening and more with the help of our experts at gradding.com. We can help you improve your grammar proficiency and English language skills.

FAQs

1. What is an emphatic pronoun?

An emphatic pronoun is a word that emphasises or highlights a noun or pronoun. Usually, it is done by adding "-self" to singular personal pronouns and "-selves" to plural person pronouns at the end. They clarify that the subject acts or highlights the subject's role in the sentence. 

2. What is the other name for an emphatic pronoun?

An emphatic pronoun is also called an intensive pronoun. It highlights the subject or object of a sentence. 

3. What is the difference between an emphatic pronoun and a reflexive pronoun?

The main difference between emphatic and reflexive pronouns is their function in a sentence. Reflexive pronouns indicate that the action of the verb reflects the subject, while emphatic pronouns emphasise a noun or pronoun. 

4. What are some of the examples of emphatic pronouns?

Examples of Emphatic pronouns include me, yourself, himself, herself, himself, himself, yourselves, themselves, and himself. 

5. How to identify emphatic?

One can identify an emphatic pronoun by looking for a pronoun ending in "-self" or "-selves" and placing it into a sentence to highlight the noun or pronoun.