English Language Arts · 7th Grade · Language in Action: Conventions and Style · Weeks 28-36

Intensive and Reflexive Pronouns

Identify and correctly use intensive and reflexive pronouns in sentences.

• Common Core State Standards
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.7.1.a

About This Topic

Intensive and reflexive pronouns both end in "-self" or "-selves" (myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves), but they serve very different grammatical functions. Reflexive pronouns indicate that the subject is also the object of the action ("She taught herself to play guitar"). Intensive pronouns add emphasis to a noun or pronoun but are not grammatically necessary -- remove them and the sentence still makes complete sense ("The principal himself announced the decision").

7th grade students in US classrooms often confuse these two forms or overuse them to avoid deciding between "I" and "me." Common Core Standard L.7.1.a specifically addresses placing pronouns in the proper case, and understanding reflexive versus intensive usage is central to that standard. Clear instruction with varied examples and non-examples helps students develop reliable judgment.

Active learning tasks that require students to test pronoun necessity, construct their own sentences, and evaluate peer work are especially effective for this topic because the distinction is subtle and requires repeated practice across varied contexts.

Key Questions

1. How does an intensive pronoun emphasize a noun or pronoun?
2. Differentiate between the function of a reflexive pronoun and an intensive pronoun.
3. Construct sentences that correctly use both intensive and reflexive pronouns.

Learning Objectives

• Identify intensive and reflexive pronouns in sentences.
• Differentiate the grammatical function of intensive pronouns from reflexive pronouns.
• Construct sentences using intensive pronouns to add emphasis to a noun or pronoun.
• Construct sentences using reflexive pronouns to indicate the subject is also the object of the action.
• Evaluate the necessity of an intensive pronoun by removing it from a sentence.

Before You Start

Identifying Subjects and Objects

Why: Students must be able to identify the subject and object of a sentence to understand how reflexive pronouns refer back to the subject and intensive pronouns emphasize a noun or pronoun.

Basic Pronoun Usage (Case)

Why: Students need a foundational understanding of pronouns and their case (e.g., I vs. me, he vs. him) to grasp the nuances of intensive and reflexive pronoun usage.

Key Vocabulary

Pronoun	A word that takes the place of a noun or noun phrase. Examples include he, she, it, they, myself, ourselves.
Reflexive Pronoun	A pronoun that refers back to the subject of the sentence, indicating the subject performs an action upon itself. It is essential to the sentence's meaning. Examples: myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves.
Intensive Pronoun	A pronoun ending in -self or -selves that is used to add emphasis to another noun or pronoun in the sentence. It is not essential to the sentence's meaning and can be removed. Examples: myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves.
Subject	The noun or pronoun that performs the action of the verb in a sentence.
Object	The noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb in a sentence.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

"Myself" is always more formal or polite than "I" or "me."

What to Teach Instead

Using "myself" instead of "I" or "me" (e.g., "Contact myself if you have questions") is a grammatical error, not a formality upgrade. The reflexive pronoun should only be used when the subject and object are the same. Peer editing and sentence construction tasks in active learning expose students to this error frequently and build correction habits.

Common Misconception

Intensive and reflexive pronouns are interchangeable.

What to Teach Instead

They look identical but function differently. Reflexive pronouns are grammatically required by the sentence; intensive pronouns are optional emphatic additions. The removal test is the most reliable tool students can use to distinguish them, and practicing it in pairs makes the distinction stick.

Common Misconception

Pronouns ending in "-self" always refer back to the subject.

What to Teach Instead

In reflexive use, yes -- but in intensive use, they can emphasize any nearby noun or pronoun, not only the sentence subject. Analyzing a range of sentence types in active tasks helps students see the full range of how these pronouns can function.

Active Learning Ideas

Think-Pair-Share: Pronoun Removal Test

Present sentences containing "-self" pronouns. Students apply the removal test: read the sentence without the pronoun and decide whether meaning is lost. If the sentence still makes sense, the pronoun is intensive; if meaning changes, it is reflexive. Pairs compare results and justify their decisions.

15 min·Pairs

Gallery Walk: Sentence Construction Challenge

Post eight sentence frames around the room, each requiring either an intensive or reflexive pronoun. Students circulate, complete each frame, and add a brief explanation of their choice. Review answers as a class and address any disagreements.

20 min·Small Groups

Sorting Activity: Intensive or Reflexive?

Groups receive a set of sentence cards and sort them by pronoun function. They must also identify the noun or pronoun the "-self" form refers to. Groups then swap sets and check each other's sorting decisions.

15 min·Small Groups

Quick Write: Original Sentences

Students write four original sentences -- two using intensive pronouns correctly and two using reflexive pronouns correctly. They then exchange papers with a partner who checks each sentence using the removal test and gives brief written feedback.

12 min·Individual

Real-World Connections

• Journalists often use intensive pronouns when writing headlines or lead paragraphs to emphasize a key figure or event, such as 'The mayor himself addressed the crowd.' This style adds impact to their reporting.
• Technical writers use reflexive pronouns to describe user actions within software or on a device, for example, 'You can reset the password yourself by following these steps.' This clarifies who is performing the action.
• Authors of young adult fiction employ both types of pronouns to develop characters and add dramatic flair. A character might say, 'I built this fort myself' (reflexive), or the narrator might state, 'The entire plan, she realized, was flawed itself' (intensive).

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

Provide students with a list of 10 sentences. Ask them to underline reflexive pronouns and circle intensive pronouns. Include sentences with correct usage and common errors for them to identify.

Exit Ticket

Give students two prompts: 1. Write one sentence using a reflexive pronoun correctly. 2. Write one sentence using an intensive pronoun correctly. Collect these to check for understanding of both functions.

Peer Assessment

Students write two sentences, one with a reflexive pronoun and one with an intensive pronoun. They then exchange papers with a partner. Each partner must identify which sentence uses a reflexive pronoun and which uses an intensive pronoun, and explain why.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a reflexive and an intensive pronoun?

Both end in "-self" or "-selves," but they do different jobs. A reflexive pronoun shows that the subject is also the object: "He hurt himself." An intensive pronoun emphasizes a noun or pronoun: "She did it herself." The quick test: remove the pronoun. If the sentence still makes sense with the same meaning, it is intensive. If it breaks or changes meaning, it is reflexive.

Can I use "myself" instead of "me" to sound more formal?

No. "Please contact myself" is grammatically incorrect. Use "myself" only when you are both the subject and the object ("I made myself a sandwich") or for emphasis ("I myself will handle it"). Replacing "me" or "I" with "myself" for formality is a very common error in both student and professional writing.

Which Common Core standard covers intensive and reflexive pronouns?

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.7.1.a addresses using pronouns in the proper case, which includes correct identification and use of intensive and reflexive pronouns. Seventh graders are expected to recognize these pronoun types and use them accurately in their reading and writing.

How does active learning make pronoun lessons more effective?

When students construct their own sentences, apply the removal test with a partner, or correct peer examples, they engage with the concept rather than just reading a rule. The removal test is particularly powerful: it gives students a reliable, self-directed strategy for checking their own writing whenever they are uncertain.