Removal Test Anchor Chart The Removal Test
The Ultimate Pronoun Litmus Test
How to Test a Pronoun
Identify the -self word.
It Survives!
Intensive Pronoun
I heard it myself!
"I heard it."
Still makes sense!
Adds extra emphasis or "flavor," but isn't required.
It Breaks!
Reflexive Pronoun
I saw myself in the mirror.
"I saw... in the mirror."
Incomplete!
Required for the sentence to function. The subject and object are the same.
"Intensive pronouns hammer home a point!"
Pronoun Power Play Slides Grammar Lab: Phase 1
Pronoun Power Play
The Mystery of the -Self Pronouns
Lab Warm-up
"I saw myself in the mirror."
Experiment:
Try crossing out myself.
Does the sentence still make sense? Why or why not?
Observation Deck
Embedded media
Watch For:
1:51 The "Litmus Test"
2:07 "Not Essential"
2:16 "Hammer home a point"
The Results
Reflexive
The sentence BREAKS without it. It's an essential part of the object.
Intensive
The sentence SURVIVES . It just adds emphasis or "pizazz".
"You're just using these words in order to hammer home a point."
— David, Khan Academy
Cross-Out Challenge
Time to enter the lab. Use your worksheet to test 10 sentences. Remember: If it survives, it's intensive!
Cross Out Challenge Worksheet The Cross-Out Challenge
Pronoun Lab Worksheet
Name:
Date:
Lab Instructions
1. Read each sentence.
# Sentence Under Test Classification 01 The chef herself baked the wedding cake. Intensive
Reflexive
|
| 02 | I accidentally burned myself on the hot stove. |
Intensive
Reflexive
|
| 03 | They cleaned the entire park themselves. |
Intensive
Reflexive
|
| 04 | The cat saw itself in the shiny bowl. |
Intensive
Reflexive
|
| 05 | You yourself are responsible for the project. |
Intensive
Reflexive
|
| 06 | The mayor himself attended our school play. |
Intensive
Reflexive
|
| 07 | We bought ourselves some ice cream after the game. |
Intensive
Reflexive
|
| 08 | The computer shuts itself down every night. |
Intensive
Reflexive
|
| 09 | He solved the difficult puzzle himself. |
Intensive
Reflexive
|
| 10 | She promised herself that she would practice more. |
Intensive
Reflexive
|
Lab Summary:
In your own words, what is the biggest difference between a "survivor" and a "breaker"?
Pronoun Power Play Teacher Guide Pronoun Power Play
Teacher Facilitation Guide
6th Grade ELA
Objective
Students will distinguish between reflexive and intensive pronouns using the 'Removal Test'.
Materials
Pronoun Power Slides
Removal Test Anchor Chart
Cross-Out Worksheet
Red Pens (for "Testing")
Lab Protocol (Pacing)
Warm-up (5 min)
Display Slide 2. Ask students to read "I saw myself in the mirror." Tell them to "remove" the word myself . Discussion: Is it a complete thought? (No, "I saw" needs an object). Explain that this pronoun is "essential" to the sentence's life.
Observation Deck (5 min)
Play Khan Academy video (Slide 3). Pause at 1:55 after David crosses out the words. Ask: "Did the sentences break? Do they still make sense?" Reiterate that these are Intensive because they just add "flavor" or "pizazz."
Cross-Out Challenge (20 min)
Hand out worksheets. Students should use a red pen or marker to physically cross out the -self words. Encourage them to read the "new" sentence aloud to a partner to check if it "broke."
De-brief (5 min)
Ask: "Why would a writer keep a word that isn't required?" (To hammer home a point!). Share examples of emphasis from the worksheet.
Answer Key
Sentence (With Result)
Type
01
The chef herself baked the cake. (Survives!)
INTENSIVE
02
I accidentally burned myself on the stove. (Breaks!)
REFLEXIVE
03
They cleaned the entire park themselves. (Survives!)
INTENSIVE
04
The cat saw itself in the bowl. (Breaks!)
REFLEXIVE
05
You yourself are responsible. (Survives!)
INTENSIVE
06
The mayor himself attended. (Survives!)
INTENSIVE
07
We bought ourselves some ice cream. (Breaks!)
REFLEXIVE
08
The computer shuts itself down. (Breaks!)
REFLEXIVE
09
He solved the puzzle himself. (Survives!)
INTENSIVE
10
She promised herself she would practice. (Breaks!)
REFLEXIVE
Teacher Note:
Watch for students who think #7 (We bought ourselves ice cream) survives. While "We bought ice cream" is a sentence, "ourselves" functions as the Indirect Object. Removing it changes the fundamental meaning of
