What are the differences between personal, reflexive, and intensive pronouns?
1 Answer
A personal pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun for a specific person or thing.
A reflexive pronoun is a word that 'reflects back' to its antecedent.
An intensive pronoun is a word used to emphasize its antecedent.
Explanation:
The personal pronouns are: I, you, we, he, she, it, me, us, him, her, they, them.
The reflexive pronouns are: myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves.
The intensive pronouns are the reflexive pronouns used to emphasize the antecedent.
Example use of personal pronouns:
When George got to 19th Street, he got off the train.
The Smiths came to visit and they brought the baby with them.
The cat played with a sock that it found under the bed.
Example use of reflexive pronouns:
Dad got up an made himself some breakfast.
I was shocked when I saw myself in the mirror,
Example use of intensive pronouns:
Dad himself got up and made breakfast.
The Smiths installed their new roof themselves .
