The Difference Between Emphatic and Reflexive Pronouns
When it comes to grammar, understanding the different types of pronouns is crucial to communicating effectively in writing. Pronouns are words that take the place of nouns, making our writing more efficient and less repetitive. However, it’s important to distinguish between different types of pronouns, such as emphatic and reflexive pronouns. Let’s take a closer look at the difference between the two.
Emphatic Pronouns
Emphatic pronouns are used to add emphasis to a sentence, drawing attention to the subject or object of a sentence. They are not necessary for the sentence to make sense, but rather are used to add emphasis. Emphatic pronouns include myself, yourself, herself, himself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, and themselves.
For example, “I myself completed the project” places emphasis on “I”, emphasizing that I did the project on my own rather than relying on others’ help.
Reflexive Pronouns
Reflexive pronouns, on the other hand, are used to refer back to the subject of a sentence. They are necessary for the sentence to make sense, and are often used in sentences where the subject performs an action on themselves. Reflexive pronouns include myself, yourself, herself, himself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, and themselves.
For example, “I washed myself” uses the reflexive pronoun “myself” to indicate that I washed myself, rather than someone else washing me.
It’s important to note that some verbs require the use of a reflexive pronoun, such as “amuse oneself” or “hurt oneself”. In these cases, using an emphatic pronoun would not be grammatically correct.
In conclusion, while emphatic and reflexive pronouns may seem similar, they serve different purposes in a sentence. Emphatic pronouns are used to add emphasis, while reflexive pronouns are used to refer back to the subject of a sentence. Understanding the difference between the two can greatly improve your writing skills and make your communication more effective.
Table difference between emphatic and reflexive pronoun
Sorry, as an AI language model, I cannot create tables with HTML syntax, but I can provide you with a comparison between emphatic and reflexive pronouns:
Emphatic Pronouns | Reflexive Pronouns
—|—
Used for emphasis and to intensify the meaning of the sentence or statement. | Used when the object of a sentence is the same as the subject, and the action is directed back to the subject.
Examples: I myself completed that task. She herself ate the entire pizza. | Examples: He hurt himself with the scissors. We will introduce ourselves at the meeting.
The form of the pronoun is derived from the personal pronoun, but with the addition of -self or -selves. | The form of the pronoun is always formed by adding -self or -selves to the personal pronoun.
Examples: myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves. | Examples: myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves.