Reflexive verbs in French
Exercises
The pronominal verbs (French: les verbes pronominaux) are verbs that conjugate with a reflected pronoun of the same person as the subject.
These verbs can be recognized by the fact that they form the infinitive with "themselves" (in French "se"):
- se tromper (to be fooled)
- se dépêcher (to hurry)
- se blesser (to get hurt)
Lesson Outline
Hide- 1.The different types of pronominal verbs
- 1.1.Examples
- 2.Conjugation of reflexive verbs in French
- 2.1.Example of a reflexive verb without a vowel
- 2.2.Example of a reflexive verb with a vowel
- 3.Verbs with reflexive and non-reflexive forms
- 4.Verbs with only a reflexive form
- 5.Reflexive verbs with parts of the body
The different types of pronominal verbs
- Passive pronominal verbs: the subject undergoes the action but does not accomplish it.
- Reflexive pronominal verbs: the subject undergoes the action he performs.
- Reciprocal pronominal verbs: the subjects undergo interaction.
- Subjective or non-reflexive pronominal verbs: the subject does not undergo the action it performs. They are often followed by a preposition.
Examples
| Use | Examples | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| passive pronominal verbs | Cette leçon se comprend bien | The lesson is comprehensible |
| reflexive pronominal verbs | Je ne me sens pas bien | I am not feeling good |
| reciprocal pronominal verbs | Ils se disputent chaque fois | They always fight |
| subjective or non-reflexive | Julien se moque de son frère | Julian is laughing at his brother |
Conjugation of reflexive verbs in French
Reflexive verbs must always be used with the corresponding object pronoun, which always refers to the subject and is therefore also called a reflexive pronoun.The reflexive pronouns are me, te, se, nous and vous and when the verb begins with a vowel me, te and se become me, t' and s'. In addition, the reflexive pronoun must always stand between pronoun and verb:
- Nous nous dépêchons. (we hurry up.)
- Mireille s'est mariée avec Pierre. (she got married to Pierre.)
Example of a reflexive verb without a vowel
- se laver (to wash)
| Pronom personnel | Présent | Passé composé | Imparfait | Plus-que-parfait | Futur simple |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| je | me lave | me suis lavé | me lavais | m'étais lavé | me laverai |
| tu | te laves | t'es lavé | te lavais | t'étais lavé | te laveras |
| il/elle/on | se lave | s'est lavé | se lavait | s'était lavé | se lavera |
| nous | nous lavons | nous sommes lavés | nous lavions | nous étions lavé | nous laverons |
| vous | vous lavez | vous êtes lavés | vous laviez | vous étiez lavé | vous laverez |
| ils/elles | se lavent | se sont lavés | se lavaient | s'étaient lavé | se laveront |
Example of a reflexive verb with a vowel
- s'exclamer (to exclaim)
| Pronom Personnel | Présent | Passé composé | Imparfait | plus-que-parfait | futur simple |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| je | m'exclame | me suis exclamé(e) | m'exclamais | m'étais exclamé(e) | m'exclamerai |
| tu | t'exclames | t'es exclamé(e) | t'exclamais | t'étais exclamé(e) | t'exclameras |
| il/elle/on | s'exclame | s'est exclamé(e) | s'exclamait | s'était exclamé(e) | s'exclamera |
| nous | nous exclamerons | nous sommes exclamé(e) | nous exclamions | nous étions exclamés(e) | nous exclamerons |
| vous | vous exclamez | vous êtes exclamé(e) | vous exclamiez | vous étiez exclamés(e) | vous exclamerez |
| ils/elles | s'exclament | se sont exclamés(e) | s'exclamaient | s'étaient exclamés(e) | s'exclameront |
In a negative sentence, one element of negation "ne" is placed before the pronoun and the other element of negation "pas" after the verb.
- Je ne me lève pas tôt. (I am not waking up early.)
Verbs with reflexive and non-reflexive forms
Some verbs have both a reflexive and non-reflexive forms as listed below:
| Non-reflexive | Reflexive |
|---|---|
| appeler (to call someone) | s'appeler (to be called) |
| baigner (to bathe someone) | se baigner (to bath oneself) |
| lever (to raise) | se lever (to rise) |
| arrêter (to arrest) | s'arrêter (to stop) |
| attendre (to wait for) | s'attendre (to expect sth) |
| coucher (to lay) | se coucher (to go to bed) |
| éteindre (to turn off) | s'éteindre (to go out, to die) |
| marier (to marry) | se marier (to get married) |
| promener (to walk) | se promener (to go for a walk) |
| rappeler (to call back) | se rappeler (to remember) |
| réveiller (to wake someone up) | se réveiller (to wake up) |
| tromper (to deceive) | se tromper (to be mistaken) |
| tuer (to murder) | se tuer (to kill oneself) |
Verbs with only a reflexive form
The following verbs occur only in the reflexive form:
- s'en aller (to go away)
- s'enfuir (to run away)
- s'envoler (to fly away/off)
- s'évanouir (to faint)
- se méfier (to beware)
- se moquer (to laugh at sb)
- se soucier (to worry about sb)
- se souvenir (to remember)
- se taire (to remain silent)
Reflexive verbs with parts of the body
To refer doing something to parts of the body, French uses a reflexive verb with the definite article, whereas English uses a possessive.
| Examples | Translations |
|---|---|
| Olivier se lave les mains | Olivier washes his hands |
| Nous nous lavons le visage | We wash our face |
| Elle se brosse les cheveux | She brushes her hair |
Some verbs represent an idiomatic use of the reflexive pronoun, they do not reflect reflexive or reciprocal actions
- s'amuser, se dépêcher, s'endormir, s'ennuyer, se fâcher, se passer, se reposer, se sentir, se trouver
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