REFLEXIVE & EMPATIC PRONOUNS

REFLEXIVE & EMPATIC PRONOUNS

These pronoun are formed by adding ‘-self’ or ‘-selves’ to the possessive adjective of the first and second person and to the objective form of the personal pronoun of he third person.
I           -           myself                           you       -           yourself / yourselves
She      -           herself                          we        -           ourselves
He        -           himself                          they      -           themselves
It          -           itself
One      -           oneself
(a)    Used the reflexive pronoun  as the direct or indirect object of the verb in the sentence :
-         He pinched himself to make sure that he was not dreaming. (direct object).
-         She bought herself a pair of shoes. (indirect object)
(b)   Used after a preposition :
-         He grumbled to himself
-         They are feeling sorry for them selves.
-         She was talking to herself to the corner.
(c)    With the verb ‘to be’ :
-         She’ll soon be herself again.
-         I’m sorry – I wasn’t quite myself yesterday.
(d)   Sometimes used to replace a personal pronoun :
-         How many people were on the bus including yourself?
-         All of them went home except herself.
(e)    The empathic pronoun, though having exactly the same form as the reflexive pronoun, has a different function. An empathic pronoun is always strongly stressed and used mainly to emphasize the subject :
-         I made the cake myself
-         They themselves suggested that the piano be moved in to the next room.
-         (The emphatic pronoun can be left out without damaging the sense of the sentence)