#23. Emphatic Pronouns: Definition, Usages, Types and Formation with Examples

Lesson No. 23

Emphatic Pronoun: Definition, Usages, Types and Formation with Examples 

Emphatic pronouns are pronouns that are used to emphasize the antecedent noun or pronoun. They are used to give extra emphasis to the subject of the sentence, and they include "myself," "yourself," "himself," "herself," "itself," "ourselves," "yourselves," and "themselves." They are used to add emphasis to the subject or object of the sentence, usually for rhetorical effect. For example: "I did it myself," or "She baked the cake herself."

Functions of Emphatic Pronouns in English language

The main function of emphatic pronouns is to emphasize the subject or object of a sentence, to give extra emphasis to the noun or pronoun being referred to. This can be done for a variety of reasons, such as to add emphasis for rhetorical effect, to make a point, or to convey a sense of personal responsibility or involvement.

Examples of the use of emphatic pronouns include:

• I did it myself.
• (The use of "myself" emphasizes the speaker's personal responsibility for the action.)
• 
  
• She baked the cake herself.
• (The use of "herself" emphasizes that the subject performed the action without assistance.)
• 
  
• We will do it ourselves.
• (The use of "ourselves" emphasizes the speaker's personal involvement in the action.)

In each of these examples, the use of the emphatic pronoun serves to add emphasis to the subject of the sentence and to convey a sense of personal responsibility or involvement in the action being described.

Types of Emphatic Pronouns

There are two main types of emphatic pronouns: Reflexive and Intensive pronouns:

1. Reflexive Pronouns: Reflexive pronouns are used when the action of the verb in a sentence reflects back on the subject. In other words, the subject is both the doer and the receiver of the action. For example, "I cut myself while shaving." In this sentence, "myself" is a reflexive pronoun because the subject, "I," is both the doer and the receiver of the action. Other reflexive pronouns include "himself," "herself," "itself," "ourselves," "yourselves," and "themselves."

2. Intensive Pronouns: Intensive pronouns are used to add emphasis to the subject of a sentence. Unlike reflexive pronouns, the subject of the sentence is not the receiver of the action, but the intensive pronoun is still used to emphasize the subject. For example, "She herself made the cake." In this sentence, "herself" is an intensive pronoun because it is used to emphasize the subject, "She." Other intensive pronouns include "myself," "yourself," "himself," "itself," "ourselves," "yourselves," and "themselves."

Both reflexive and intensive pronouns serve the same purpose, which is to add emphasis to the subject of a sentence, but they are used in different contexts. Reflexive pronouns are used when the subject is both the doer and the receiver of the action, while intensive pronouns are used when the subject is not the receiver of the action, but is still emphasized for rhetorical effect.

Formation of Emphatic Pronouns in English

Emphatic pronouns in English are formed by combining the personal pronoun with the reflexive pronoun.

The personal pronouns in English are:

• I
• you
• he
• she
• it
• we
• they

The reflexive pronouns in English are:

• myself
• yourself
• himself
• herself
• itself
• ourselves
• yourselves
• themselves

To form an emphatic pronoun, simply add the appropriate reflexive pronoun to the corresponding personal pronoun:

1. I + myself = myself
2. You + yourself = yourself
3. He + himself = himself
4. She + herself = herself
5. It + itself = itself
6. We + ourselves = ourselves
7. They + themselves = themselves

Example sentences using emphatic pronouns:

1. "I did the work myself."
2. "You need to do it yourself."
3. "He built the house himself."
4. "She made the dress herself."
5. "It healed itself."
6. "We solved the problem ourselves."
7. "They finished the project themselves."

An overview of Emphatic Pronouns in English language

Emphatic pronouns are a type of pronoun used in English to add emphasis to the subject of a sentence. They are formed by combining the personal pronoun with the reflexive pronoun, and they serve to emphasize the noun or pronoun being referred to.

Emphatic pronouns can be either reflexive or intensive, depending on their use in the sentence. Reflexive pronouns are used when the subject of the sentence is both the doer and the receiver of the action, while intensive pronouns are used to add emphasis to the subject of the sentence, regardless of whether or not the subject is the receiver of the action.

Examples of reflexive pronouns include "myself," "yourself," "himself," "herself," "itself," "ourselves," "yourselves," and "themselves." Examples of intensive pronouns include the same words.

In conclusion, emphatic pronouns are a useful tool for adding emphasis and conveying a sense of personal responsibility or involvement in English. Understanding the difference between reflexive and intensive pronouns and how they are formed and used is an important part of mastering the English language.

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