Which term refers to pronouns that refer back to the subject?

• A. Reflexive Pronoun
• B. Intensive Pronoun
• C. Pronoun Reference
• D. Feeble

Answer: (A)

Reflexive pronouns are used when the action of the verb returns to the subject of the clause. They function as the object of the verb or a preposition and reference the same entity that performs the action. Examples include myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves. For instance, in “She prepared herself for the interview,” the pronoun shows that the subject is also the one receiving the action.

Intensive pronouns serve a different role: they’re used to add emphasis and can be removed without changing the sentence’s essential meaning, as in “The author herself spoke” versus “The author spoke.” Feeble isn’t a grammatical term, and pronoun reference is a broader idea, not a specific label for pronouns that refer back to the subject.