Emphatic Pronouns: Definition, Usage, and Examples

Pronouns are essential tools in English grammar, allowing us to make our sentences more concise and engaging. Among the various types of pronouns, emphatic pronouns play a special role by emphasising the subject or object of a sentence. If you’re learning English or want to strengthen your grammatical foundation, this guide will help you understand emphatic pronouns, how they differ from reflexive pronouns, and how to use them effectively.

Table of Contents

1. What Is an Emphatic Pronoun? – Meaning and Definition

2. How to Use an Emphatic Pronoun in a Sentence

3. Difference Between Emphatic Pronouns and Reflexive Pronouns

4. Examples of Emphatic Pronouns

5. Test Your Understanding of Emphatic Pronouns

6. Frequently Asked Questions on Emphatic Pronouns

What Is an Emphatic Pronoun? – Meaning and Definition

An emphatic pronoun is used to emphasise a noun or pronoun in a sentence. Words such as myself, yourself, herself, himself, itself, ourselves, yourselves and themselves are examples of emphatic pronouns. These pronouns appear immediately after the noun or pronoun they emphasise, thereby adding emphasis to the subject or object of the sentence.

Definition:
According to the Oxford Guide to English Grammar, an emphatic pronoun is “a pronoun such as ‘myself’ or ‘themselves’ that emphasises a noun phrase, for example, ‘The artist herself painted the masterpiece.’”

How to Use an Emphatic Pronoun in a Sentence

Emphatic pronouns are usually placed right after the noun or pronoun they emphasise. Their removal from the sentence would not change its grammatical correctness but would reduce the emphasis on the noun or pronoun.

Examples:

1. The president himself visited the disaster-stricken area.

2. I myself completed the entire project without any assistance.

3. They themselves admitted their mistake.

In these sentences, emphatic pronouns add a layer of importance, highlighting that the action was performed personally or without external help.

Key Rule:

While emphatic pronouns add emphasis, they should not replace other pronouns such as “me,” “him,” or “her.”

Difference Between Emphatic Pronouns and Reflexive Pronouns

Though emphatic pronouns and reflexive pronouns use the same words, they serve different purposes. Here’s a quick comparison:

Emphatic pronouns and reflexive pronouns are both formed using the same set of words, such as myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, and themselves. However, their functions in a sentence differ significantly. Here’s a detailed comparison presented in a table for easy understanding:

Examples of Emphatic Pronouns

Below are examples demonstrating how emphatic pronouns can be used in sentences:

1. I myself solved the problem when no one else could.

2. The Prime Minister herself announced the new policy.

3. They themselves cleaned the entire house after the party.

4. The town itself has a rich history dating back centuries.

5. We decided to take the initiative ourselves.

Removing the emphatic pronoun from any of these sentences would not affect their grammatical accuracy, but the sense of emphasis would be lost.

Test Your Understanding of Emphatic Pronouns

Identify whether the italicised pronouns in the sentences below are emphatic or reflexive pronouns:

1. She cooked the meal all by herself.

2. The CEO himself approved the new budget.

3. I bought this gift for myself as a reward.

4. They went to meet the minister himself.

5. She took the blame upon herself.

Answers:

1. Reflexive Pronoun

2. Emphatic Pronoun

3. Reflexive Pronoun

4. Emphatic Pronoun

5. Reflexive Pronoun

Frequently Asked Questions on Emphatic Pronouns

Q1. What is an emphatic pronoun?
An emphatic pronoun is a pronoun such as “myself” or “himself,” used to add emphasis to a noun or pronoun in a sentence.

Q2. How is an emphatic pronoun different from a reflexive pronoun?
An emphatic pronoun emphasises the subject or object, while a reflexive pronoun reflects back to the subject and is essential to the sentence’s meaning.

Q3. Can you give some examples of emphatic pronouns?

• • The teacher herself graded all the exams.
  • We ourselves will take care of the arrangements.
  • He himself admitted to making the error.

Q4. Can removing an emphatic pronoun change the sentence’s meaning?
No, removing an emphatic pronoun won’t change the grammatical meaning of the sentence, but it will lose the emphasis it provides.