Emphatic Pronouns :
A reflexive pronoun is a word showing that the action in the sentence has its effect on the person or thing that does the action.
(i) I enjoyed myself.
('myself' - reflects on 'I')
myself - reflexive pronoun
(ii) I cut myself, shaving this morning.
'myself' - refers to 'I'
myself - reflexive pronoun.
(iii) We got out of the tank and dried ourselves.
'ourselves' - reflects on 'we'
'ourselves' - reflexive pronoun
(iv) Talking to yourself shows that you are discussing something seriously.
yourself - refers to 'you'
yourself - reflexive pronoun
(v) He was talking to himself.
himself - reflexive pronoun.
(It refers to 'He')
(vi) The Minister, himself spoke to me.
himself - reflexive pronoun
('himself' - refers to the Minister)
(vii) I'd like to have my own airplane.
Note : 'my' gives the idea of possession, but reflexive pronoun
(viii) They were criticizing themselves.
Here it means, each one of them criticizing himself or herself.
(ix) They were criticizing each other.
Here it means, each criticizing the other people.
(x) I hurt myself. (reflexive pronoun)
No one hurt me. It is only me who jurt me.
Study the following sentences.
1. I hate myself.
2. I love myself.
3. He hates himself.
4. She hates herself.
5. The dog loves itself.
6. They love themselves.
Note : These reflexive pronouns, mentioned above, are used as objects of the verbs - referring to the same person or thing as that denoted by the subject of the verb.
A pronoun of this form need not be an object always.
1. She will do it herself.
2. I myself did it.
3. He himself said it.
4. It was told by the Minister himself.
5. We saw Lord Krishna, himself.
6. The place itself is not beautiful.
7. They themselves made the declaration.
Here the pronouns give emphasis to the persons or things referred to.
These are called emphatic pronouns.
Study the following.
(1) I will go myself. (Emphatic pronoun)
(2) I he boys hid themselves. (Reflexive pronoun)
(3) They enjoyed themselves. (Emphatic pronoun)
(4) I myself murdered my husband. (Emphatic pronoun)
(5) We often deceive ourselves. (Reflexive pronoun)
(6) The cat choked itself. (Reflexive pronoun)
(7) Some men prefer to talk always about themselves. (Reflexive pronoun)
(8) I was sitting by myself. (Reflexive pronoun)
(9) She has landed herself in difficulties. (Reflexive pronoun)
(10) She exerted herself. (Reflexive pronoun)
Emphatic Pronouns
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