Intensive Pronouns

Intensive pronouns use reflexive pronouns to add emphasis to the subject of the sentence. The intensive/reflexive pronouns are myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves and themselves. You’ll usually find the intensive pronoun right after the noun or pronoun it’s modifying, but not necessarily.

The way to identify an intensive pronoun is to remove it from the sentence; if it’s an intensive pronoun, the sentence will still make sense. If the sentence no longer makes sense, it’s a reflexive pronoun.

Did you yourself make the cake?

The sentence would still make sense if we removed yourself: Did you make the cake?

I myself like a little stroll after dinner.

We went to hear the man himself speak.

The author approved the book cover herself.