Which statement about 'myself' is correct?

Which statement about 'myself' is correct?

• A. 'Myself' is reflexive only and should not be used as a subject or simple object.
• B. 'Myself' can be used as a subject in formal writing.
• C. 'Myself' is a possessive pronoun.
• D. 'Myself' is never used to emphasize.

Answer: (A)

Myself has two common roles in English: as a reflexive pronoun and as an intensive (emphasizing) pronoun. It is used reflexively when the subject and the object refer to the same person, as in I taught myself to cook. It is also used for emphasis, as in I myself will handle this, where the word stresses that the speaker is the one doing it. It should not be used as the subject of a sentence; the subject form I is required in standard grammar. It should also not be used as a simple object after a verb or after a preposition; the usual object form is me (to me, for me, etc.). And it is not a possessive pronoun—possessives are mine, yours, his, her, its, ours, theirs. So the idea that myself is reflexive only is incomplete: it can function to emphasize as well, though it should not replace the subject or serve as a plain object in normal constructions.

Myself has two common roles in English: as a reflexive pronoun and as an intensive (emphasizing) pronoun. It is used reflexively when the subject and the object refer to the same person, as in I taught myself to cook. It is also used for emphasis, as in I myself will handle this, where the word stresses that the speaker is the one doing it.

It should not be used as the subject of a sentence; the subject form I is required in standard grammar. It should also not be used as a simple object after a verb or after a preposition; the usual object form is me (to me, for me, etc.). And it is not a possessive pronoun—possessives are mine, yours, his, her, its, ours, theirs.

So the idea that myself is reflexive only is incomplete: it can function to emphasize as well, though it should not replace the subject or serve as a plain object in normal constructions.