Singular Intensive Pronoun(9 Important Facts)

Here Readers will get all the details from these examples and also get adequate knowledge of them.

An intensive pronoun is defined as a pronoun that is used in a sentence to emphasize its antecedent. The antecedent may be a noun or a pronoun. The intensive pronouns end with ‘self’ or ‘selves’. Intensive pronouns have two forms: singular intensive pronouns and plural intensive pronouns.

Ex–My friend Sanjoy himself washes his clothes.

Explanation- In this example it is emphasized that Sanjoy is the doer of the action. It must be unexpected that Sanjoy is supposed not to wash his clothes. In it the intensive pronoun ‘himself’ refers back to the subject ‘Sanjoy’ to emphasize it.

Ex–Sabita herself cooks for lunch in the kitchen.

Explanation-In the above example the pronoun ‘herself’ is used to refer back to the subject ‘ Sabita’ to emphasize it. By using the intensive pronoun ‘herself’ the sentence highlights how unexpected it is that Sabita does the work without anybody’s help.

Ex-The  B.D.O. himself distributed the shawls to the poor.

Explanation– In the above example the intensive pronoun ‘himself’ refers back to the subject ‘B.D.O.’ in order to emphasize it. The use of the intensive pronoun highlights how unexpected it is that the chief minister who was not expected was there at the rally.

Ex-My father himself built the house long ago.

Explanation- In this example ‘himself’ is an intensive pronoun that is used to refer back to the subject ‘father’ in order to emphasize the sentence. Its use expresses that my father built the house alone.

Ex-You yourself need to do the work.

Explanation-In the above example ‘yourself’ is an intensive pronoun that is used to emphasize the whole sentence. It is used to refer back to the subject ‘you’ and it is unexpected in the sense that you must do the work without anybody’s help.

Can intensive pronouns be singular?

Intensive pronouns can surely be singular. They are used in main two types: singular intensive pronouns and plural intensive pronouns. The purpose of using intensive pronouns is to emphasize the subject. When the singular number subject is used in a sentence, singular intensive pronoun is used and when the subject is plural number in a sentence plural intensive pronoun is used. It is clear that intensive pronouns can be plural.

Ex–The bird itself somehow managed to open the cage and flew away.

Explanation– In this example the intensive pronoun ‘itself’ is used to emphasize the preceding noun ‘bird’ for the emphasis. Here the intensive pronoun is singular in form for the singular number subject.

Ex-I myself like to travel through forests.

Explanation- In this example ‘myself’ is a singular intensive pronoun because there is a singular number subject ‘I’. 

When intensive pronouns are singular?

The principal object purpose is to provide emphasis on the action the subject does in a sentence. When the intensive pronouns refer to only singular number subjects it is called singular intensive pronoun. The subject may be a noun or a pronoun but it must be in singular number. Then the intensive pronouns that are used to make emphasis must be the singular number intensive pronouns.

Ex-I myself had to take care of our pets as no one was free to stay home.

Explanation-Here the intensive pronoun ‘myself’ is in singular form. It intensifies the preceding pronoun ‘I’.

Ex-Do you think he himself can clean the whole campus?

Explanation-Here the intensive pronoun ‘himself’ emphasizes the preceding pronoun ‘he’.

Which intensive pronouns are singular?

We know that intensive pronouns are used both as singular and plural. There are some intensive pronouns that are used only as a singular number and emphasize the subjects used in the sentences. These are only used to refer to the singular number subjects. These intensive singular pronouns are – myself, himself, herself, yourself etc.

Ex- He himself made the plan and executed it.

Explanation- In this example ‘himself’ is a singular intensive pronoun and is used to emphasize the preceding pronoun ‘he’. 

Ex- Dhoni himself broke his own record.

Explanation- Here the intensive pronoun ‘himself’ is in singular form and intensifies the singular noun ‘Dhoni’.

Why are intensive pronouns singular?

Intensive pronouns are used in both two forms: singular number and plural number. When the intensive pronoun is used to emphasize the preceding singular number noun or pronoun it is in the singular form. For this reason intensive pronouns are singular.

Example- He himself has killed the snake.

Explanation– Here the intensive pronoun ‘himself’ is used to intensify the preceding pronoun ‘he’.

Ex-The girl herself made the dishes.

Explanation- In this example ‘herself’ is an intensive pronoun and it is used instead of the noun ‘girl’ to emphasize it.

          Which intensive pronouns are always singular?

There are some intensive pronouns that are always singular because they only refer to only one person or thing. The intensive pronouns myself, himself, herself, itself and yourself are always singular. They emphasize only singular nouns or pronouns. They can never be plural intensive pronouns.

Ex-Priya herself arranged for the party.

Explanation- In this sentence ‘herself’ is a singular intensive pronoun that intensifies the preceding noun ‘Priya’.

Ex-The landlord himself was the culprit.

Explanation- Here the intensive pronoun ‘himself’ is used to emphasize the noun ‘landlord’.

 Can intensive pronouns be plural?

The above discussion clearly shows that intensive pronouns can be plural. when the intensive pronouns are used to emphasize plural number nouns or pronouns they must be plural. The commonly used plural intensive pronouns are ourselves, yourselves, themselves etc. They refer to more than one person or thing. They refer back to the noun or pronoun in order to emphasize.

Examples with detailed explanations;

• 1. We ourselves are responsible for our cruel actions towards nature.
• 2. The players themselves led the team to victory.
• 3. You yourselves are to blame for the bad result.
• 4. The boys themselves arranged a picnic.
• 5. We ourselves can try to achieve our goal. 

             

1.We ourselves are responsible for our cruel actions towards nature.

Explanation– In this example ‘ourselves’ is an intensive pronoun. It is used to emphasize the preceding pronoun ‘we’.

2.The players themselves led the team to victory.

Explanation- Here the intensive personal pronoun ‘themselves’ is used to intensify the preceding plural noun ‘players’.

3.You yourselves are to blame for the bad result.

Explanation- In this example the intensive pronoun ‘yourselves’ is used to emphasize the plural pronoun ‘you’.

4.The boys themselves arranged a picnic.

Explanation- Here the intensive pronoun ‘themselves’ is in place of the preceding noun ‘boys’. It is plural in number.

5. We ourselves can try to achieve our goal.

Explanation- In the sentence the intensive pronoun ‘ourselves’ is used to intensify the preceding pronoun ‘we’. It is in the plural form.

Which intensive pronoun can be either singular or plural?

There are two types of intensive pronouns. They end with either ‘selves or ‘self’. Singular intensive pronouns end with ‘self’ and plural intensive pronouns end with ‘selves’. The word ‘themself’ is sometimes used as a singular pronoun to neutrally refer to a pronoun.

Ex-The people themselves wanted peace.

Explanation- Here ‘themself’ is used instead of ‘ themselves ‘ and emphasizes the noun ‘people’.

 How to identify intensive pronouns?

Actually intensive pronouns are the non-essential parts of a sentence. We can easily identify intensive pronouns in a sentence. If the sentence can stand on its own without the pronoun, then it is an intensive pronoun.

Ex- He himself has done the sum.

Explanation-In the example ‘himself’ is an intensive pronoun. If it is omitted there will be an actual meaning of the sentence. It is very easy to identify the pronoun.

Ex-They themselves will make the fence.

Explanation–  In the above example ‘themselves’ is an intensive pronoun. If it is omitted the meaning of the sentence will be retained.

Conclusion

This article will certainly enable the readers to use intensive pronouns very well. It is to be noted that right collocation should be maintained while using intensive pronouns .