Most people assume that ‘themselves’ is just a reflexive pronoun. You use it to refer back to the subject in a sentence while emphasizing the person or thing you are talking about. For example, “John gave himself a pat on the back for his hard work.” But did you know that ‘themselves’ could also be used as an emphatic pronoun? This means it’s used to emphasize the subject or object in a sentence.
Using ‘themselves’ as an emphatic pronoun is not as common as its use as a reflexive pronoun. However, it’s not incorrect to use it that way. In fact, using ‘themselves’ as an emphatic pronoun is often a matter of choice and style preference. Some writers and speakers use it to add emphasis or to sound more conversational.
As you can see, ‘themselves’ has a dual function as both an emphatic pronoun and a reflexive pronoun. Using it as an emphatic pronoun can add a certain flair to your writing or speaking style. So the next time you’re writing or speaking, you can choose to use ‘themselves’ as an emphatic pronoun or a reflexive pronoun, depending on the message you want to convey.
Definition of Emphatic and Reflexive Pronouns
Pronouns are one of the integral parts of the English language. They are words used to substitute nouns, and they play a crucial role in avoiding repetitiveness in writing or speaking. There are several types of pronouns, including personal, possessive, demonstrative, indefinite, and relative pronouns. Two common types of pronouns that writers use in sentences are emphatic and reflexive pronouns.
Emphatic pronouns emphasize or intensify a noun or pronoun in a sentence. They are often used for emphasis by repeating a pronoun in a sentence, and they are not necessary for the sentence to be grammatically correct. For example, “I, myself, will take care of it.” The word “myself” is the emphatic pronoun, and it emphasizes the “I” in the sentence. Another good example could be, “You, yourself, said that you would come.” The “yourself” is an emphatic pronoun that emphasizes “you” in the sentence.
On the other hand, a reflexive pronoun reflects back to the noun or pronoun used in a sentence. The pronoun ends with “-self” or “-selves” and is necessary to make the sentence grammatically correct. Reflexive pronouns act as objects, and they reflect back to the subject or object in the sentence. For example, “She bought herself a new dress.” The word “herself” is a reflexive pronoun that reflects back to “she” in the sentence. Other examples of reflexive pronouns could be, “He cut himself while shaving,” or “The children enjoyed themselves at the party.”
The Use of “Themselves” in Sentences
As we know, “themselves” can be either an emphatic pronoun or a reflexive pronoun. In this subtopic, we will discuss the use of “themselves” as an emphatic pronoun in sentences.
- Emphasizing the object of the sentence: When “themselves” is used as an emphatic pronoun, it emphasizes the object of the sentence. For example: “They themselves cleaned the entire house.” In this sentence, “themselves” puts emphasis on the fact that “they” were the ones who cleaned the entire house. It highlights the idea that no one else helped them.
- Contrasting with others: “Themselves” can also be used to contrast the action of someone with the inaction of others. For example: “They cleaned the entire house themselves, whereas their friends didn’t help at all.” In this sentence, “themselves” contrasts the action of “they” with the inaction of “their friends.” It emphasizes the fact that “they” were the only ones who took the initiative to clean the house.
- Showing self-importance: Sometimes “themselves” is used to highlight self-importance or a sense of accomplishment. For example: “They congratulated themselves on a job well done.” In this sentence, “themselves” puts emphasis on the fact that “they” were responsible for the job done well and felt a sense of pride because of it.
Overall, “themselves” as an emphatic pronoun can be used to emphasize the object, contrast with others, or show self-importance in a sentence. It brings a certain level of emphasis and importance to the object or action of the sentence.
The Use of “Themselves” in Sentences
As we know, “themselves” can be either an emphatic pronoun or a reflexive pronoun. In this subtopic, we will discuss the use of “themselves” as a reflexive pronoun in sentences.
When used as a reflexive pronoun, “themselves” refers back to the subject of the sentence. Here are some examples:
| Sentence | Explanation |
|---|---|
| They hurt themselves while playing basketball. | In this sentence, “themselves” refers back to the subject “they.” It shows that they hurt themselves while playing. |
| Their cat was grooming itself while we were talking. | In this sentence, “itself” refers back to the subject “cat.” It shows that the cat was grooming itself while we were talking. |
Overall, “themselves” as a reflexive pronoun refers back to the subject of the sentence. It shows that the subject is performing the action on itself or for itself.
Examples of sentences with emphatic pronouns
Emphatic pronouns, also known as stressed pronouns, are used for emphasis in a sentence. They are formed by adding “self” or “selves” after the personal pronoun. Here are some examples of sentences with emphatic pronouns:
- She herself cooked the entire meal.
- He himself finished the marathon.
- They themselves decided to quit their jobs and travel the world.
As you can see, the use of emphatic pronouns adds emphasis to the subject of the sentence. It can also be used to emphasize the object of a sentence, as in:
- I saw the movie myself and thought it was great.
- You need to do the work yourself to understand it.
- The kids cleaned the house themselves without any help.
Using an emphatic pronoun in these sentences emphasizes who performed the action or who the action was done to, making the sentence stronger and more impactful.
Examples of Sentences with Reflexive Pronouns
Reflexive pronouns are used to refer back to the subject of the sentence. They end in “-self” or “-selves” and are usually used for emphasis. Here are some examples of sentences with reflexive pronouns:
- She taught herself how to play the guitar.
- I bought myself a new book to read.
- They introduced themselves to the new neighbor.
As you can see, the reflexive pronoun adds emphasis to the sentence and clarifies who is performing the action. Without the reflexive pronoun, the sentence would still make sense, but it wouldn’t have the same impact. For example:
- She taught how to play the guitar.
- I bought a new book to read.
- They introduced to the new neighbor.
While still grammatically correct, these sentences lack the extra emphasis that the reflexive pronoun provides.
In addition to adding emphasis, reflexive pronouns are also used in sentences where the subject is performing an action on themselves. For example:
| Reflexive Pronoun | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| myself | I cut myself while shaving. |
| yourself | Don’t forget to take care of yourself. |
| himself/herself/itself | The cat licked itself. |
| ourselves | We cooked dinner ourselves. |
| yourselves | You need to take care of yourselves too. |
| themselves | They decided to go on vacation themselves. |
In these sentences, the reflexive pronoun shows that the subject is performing the action on themselves.
Overall, reflexive pronouns can add emphasis and clarify who is performing the action in a sentence. They are an important part of grammar that can make a big difference in how a sentence is understood.
How to determine when to use themselves as an emphatic or reflexive pronoun.
Many people often struggle with deciding whether to use ‘themselves’ as an emphatic pronoun or a reflexive pronoun. In order to determine which one to use, consider the following:
- Emphasis: If you want to emphasize the pronoun, then use ‘themselves’ as an emphatic pronoun. For example, “They themselves decided to go to the party.”
- Action: If the action is being performed by the subject on themselves, use ‘themselves’ as a reflexive pronoun. For example, “John hurt himself while playing basketball.”
- Object: If the pronoun is referring to the object of the sentence, use ‘themselves’ as a reflexive pronoun. For example, “The students enjoyed themselves at the school dance.”
It’s important to note that there are some verbs that require the use of reflexive pronouns, such as ‘enjoy’, ‘help’, ‘hurt’, ‘introduce’, ‘prepare’, and ‘accustom’.
Here’s a table outlining some common verbs that require reflexive pronouns:
| Verbs | Reflexive Pronoun |
|---|---|
| Enjoy | themselves |
| Help | themselves |
| Hurt | themselves |
| Introduce | themselves |
| Prepare | themselves |
| Accustom | themselves |
By keeping these guidelines and examples in mind, you can confidently choose whether to use ‘themselves’ as an emphatic or reflexive pronoun in your writing.
Common Mistakes When Using Emphatic and Reflexive Pronouns
Emphatic and reflexive pronouns often cause confusion for non-native English speakers, as well as some native speakers. To use these pronouns correctly, it is important to understand their differences and how they should be used in a sentence. Here are some common mistakes to avoid:
- Using “myself” or “yourself” as a subject
- Confusing “itself” with “it”
- Using “theirself” instead of “themselves”
Let’s go through each of these mistakes in more detail:
Using “myself” or “yourself” as a subject
One of the most common mistakes is to use the emphatic pronoun “myself” or “yourself” as a subject, instead of using the correct subject pronoun “I” or “you”. For example, saying “Myself and John went to the store” instead of “John and I went to the store” is incorrect. The correct sentence should have the subject pronoun “I” in the first position.
Confusing “itself” with “it”
Another mistake is confusing the reflexive pronoun “itself” with the pronoun “it”. “It” is used as a subject or object pronoun, while “itself” is only used as a reflexive pronoun. For example, saying “The book fell off the shelf and it broke itself” is incorrect. The correct sentence should be “The book fell off the shelf and broke.”
Using “theirself” instead of “themselves”
Some people make the mistake of using “theirself” instead of “themselves”. However, “theirself” is not a correct word in Standard English. The correct word is “themselves”. For example, saying “They went to the store by theirself” is incorrect. The correct sentence is “They went to the store by themselves”.
Take a look at this table for a quick reference on emphatic and reflexive pronouns:
| Subject Pronoun | Object Pronoun | Emphatic Pronoun | Reflexive Pronoun |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | Me | Myself | Myself |
| You | You | Yourself | Yourself |
| He | Him | Himself | Himself |
| She | Her | Herself | Herself |
| It | It | Itself | Itself |
| We | Us | Ourself/Ourselves | Ourselves |
| They | Them | Themselves | Themselves |
To summarize, using emphatic and reflexive pronouns correctly takes practice and understanding. Avoid common mistakes such as using “myself” or “yourself” as a subject, confusing “itself” with “it”, and using “theirself” instead of “themselves”. Keep this table handy for a quick reference on subject, object, emphatic, and reflexive pronouns.
Alternative ways to rephrase sentences using emphatic and reflexive pronouns
Emphatic and reflexive pronouns can be used to add emphasis to a sentence or to refer back to the subject. However, there are also alternative ways to rephrase sentences using these pronouns, which can make your writing more interesting and dynamic.
- Use active voice: Instead of using a reflexive pronoun, consider using the active voice to make your writing more direct. For example, instead of saying “She hurt herself,” you could say “She hurt her arm.”
- Use appositives: Another way to rephrase a sentence using a reflexive pronoun is to use an appositive. For example, instead of saying “She herself completed the project,” you could say “She, the only one on the team with experience, completed the project.”
- Use intensifiers: Instead of using an emphatic pronoun, consider using an intensifier to add emphasis to the sentence. For example, instead of saying “I myself saw the accident,” you could say “I personally saw the accident.”
Additionally, you can also combine these techniques to create even more variety in your writing.
Here is a table summarizing the different ways to rephrase sentences using emphatic and reflexive pronouns:
| Technique | Example |
|---|---|
| Active Voice | “She hurt herself” -> “She hurt her arm” |
| Appositives | “She herself completed the project” -> “She, the only one on the team with experience, completed the project” |
| Intensifiers | “I myself saw the accident” -> “I personally saw the accident” |
By using these alternative techniques to rephrase sentences using emphatic and reflexive pronouns, you can add variety and interest to your writing while still conveying your message clearly.
Is Themselves Emphatic Pronoun or Reflexive Pronoun?
Q: What is an emphatic pronoun?
A: An emphatic pronoun is a pronoun that is used to emphasize the subject or object of a sentence. For example, “I myself will take care of it.”
Q: What is a reflexive pronoun?
A: A reflexive pronoun is a pronoun that reflects back to the subject of a sentence. For example, “She hurt herself while exercising.”
Q: Can “themselves” be used as both an emphatic and reflexive pronoun?
A: Yes, “themselves” can be used as both an emphatic and reflexive pronoun. For example, “They themselves cooked dinner” (emphatic) and “They hurt themselves while playing soccer” (reflexive).
Q: How do I know if “themselves” is being used as an emphatic or reflexive pronoun?
A: The context of the sentence will determine whether “themselves” is being used as an emphatic or reflexive pronoun. If it is emphasizing the subject or object, it is being used emphatically. If it is reflecting back to the subject of the sentence, it is being used reflexively.
Q: Can other pronouns also be used as both emphatic and reflexive pronouns?
A: Yes, other pronouns such as “myself,” “himself,” “herself,” and “ourselves” can also be used as both emphatic and reflexive pronouns.
Q: Are there any grammar rules I should know when using emphatic and reflexive pronouns?
A: Yes, it is important to use the correct pronoun depending on whether you are emphasizing the subject or object or reflecting back to the subject of the sentence. It is also important to use the correct form of the verb based on the pronoun used.
Q: Can I use “themselves” instead of “them” in a sentence?
A: Yes, “themselves” can be used instead of “them” in a sentence to emphasize the subject or object. For example, “They themselves bought the tickets” instead of “They bought the tickets.”
Thanks for Reading!
We hope this article helped clarify the difference between emphatic and reflexive pronouns and how “themselves” can be used as both. Remember to use the correct pronoun and verb form based on the intention of the sentence. If you have any further questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to come back and visit us again!