Understanding Reflexive Pronouns
Reflexive pronouns are used when the subject and the object of a sentence are the same person or thing. In this case, we can fill in the blank with "himself."
Application in the Sentence
- The complete sentence becomes: "The boy climbs the tree by himself."
- Here, "himself" emphasizes that the boy is climbing the tree without any help from others.
When to Use Reflexive Pronouns
- Reflexive pronouns are used when the action of the verb reflects back on the subject.
- They can also be used for emphasis, but in this case, we are focusing on the reflexive aspect.
Examples of Reflexive Pronouns
- Myself
- Yourself
- Himself
- Herself
- Itself
- Ourselves
- Yourselves
- Themselves
Using Emphatic Pronouns
- An emphatic pronoun, similar to a reflexive pronoun, is used to add emphasis to the subject.
- For example, in a sentence like "The boy himself climbed the tree," the word "himself" emphasizes that it was indeed the boy who performed the action.
Summary
- When completing the sentence "The boy climbs the tree by ___," the correct reflexive pronoun is "himself."
- This indicates that the boy is accomplishing the action independently, highlighting his initiative.
By understanding the role of reflexive and emphatic pronouns, you can effectively construct sentences that convey clear meanings and nuances.