by There are several ways to get to know the difference between reflexive pronoun and emphatic pronoun, and provides examples to help you understand their usage.
Reflexive and emphatic are two types of pronouns that makes people often confuse. When these seem similar, they indicate different purposes and have different kinds functions in a sentence.
What is the Difference Between Reflexive Pronoun and Emphatic Pronoun?
Reflexive pronouns and emphatic pronouns indicate the subject of the sentence. However, these pronouns have different kinds of purposes . Here you’ll find the main difference between reflexive pronoun and emphatic pronoun:
- Usage:
We use Reflexive pronouns when the subject and the object of the sentence functions the same. They indicate that the action is performed by the subject on itself. For example:
- She cut herself while chopping vegetables.
- They blamed themselves for the mistake.
Emphatic pronouns are used to emphasize the subject of the sentence. These pronouns are not necessary for the meaning of the sentence, but these are used to add emphasis or intensity to the statement. For example:
- I myself witnessed the incident.
- You yourself told me to do it.
- Formation:
Reflexive pronouns are formed by adding -self or -selves to the end of a personal pronoun. The reflexive pronouns are given below:
- Myself
- Yourself
- Himself
- Herself
- Itself
- Ourselves
- Yourselves
- Themselves
Emphatic pronouns are formed by adding -self or -selves to the end of a personal pronoun, just like reflexive pronouns. However, they are preceded by the subject and an appropriate verb. For example:
- I myself saw the accident.
- You yourself said it was easy.
- He himself admitted the mistake.
- Placement:
Reflexive pronouns are generally placed after the verb or after the object of the sentence. For example:
- She cut herself.
- They blamed themselves for the mistake.
Emphatic pronouns are placed after the subject and before the verb or after the verb. For example:
- I myself witnessed the incident.
- You told me to do it yourself.
Examples:
Have a look to better understand the difference between reflexive and emphatic pronouns
Reflexive Pronoun Examples:
- John cut himself while shaving.
- Sarah reminded herself to buy milk.
- We enjoyed ourselves at the party.
- The cat groomed itself for hours.
Emphatic Pronoun Examples:
- I myself completed the project on time.
- You yourself said it was a bad idea.
- He himself admitted that he was wrong.
- She herself made the decision to resign.
FAQs:
- Can reflexive pronouns be used for emphasis?
Yes, reflexive pronouns can be used for emphasis in some cases. For example, “I myself cut the cake” emphasizes that the speaker was the one who performed the action.
- What is the difference between an emphatic pronoun and an intensive pronoun?
Emphatic pronouns and intensive pronouns are the same thing.
