Reflexive Verbs in French

Definition:
Reflexive verbs (les verbes pronominaux) are verbs where the subject performs an action on itself. They are often used to describe actions related to daily routines, emotions, or reciprocal actions.

In reflexive verbs, a reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nous, vous, se) is used before the verb to indicate that the subject and object of the action are the same.

Structure

Reflexive verbs are conjugated like regular verbs, but they always include a reflexive pronoun. Here’s the structure:

Subject Pronoun + Reflexive Pronoun + Verb

For example:

• Je me lave. (I wash myself.)
• Nous nous levons. (We get up.)

Reflexive Pronouns

The reflexive pronouns correspond to the subject pronouns:

Conjugation Example

Let’s take the verb se laver (to wash oneself) as an example:

Uses of Reflexive Verbs

1. Daily Routines
   Reflexive verbs are commonly used to describe daily habits or personal care activities:
   • Se réveiller (to wake up)
   • Se brosser les dents (to brush one’s teeth)
   • Se coucher (to go to bed)
2. Emotions and States
   They can express feelings or states:
   • Se sentir bien/mal (to feel good/bad)
   • S’énerver (to get annoyed)
3. Reciprocal Actions
   When two or more people perform an action on each other:
   • Nous nous aidons. (We help each other.)
   • Ils se parlent. (They talk to each other.)
4. Idiomatic Expressions
   Reflexive verbs are sometimes part of idiomatic expressions:
   • S’en aller (to go away)
   • Se souvenir de (to remember)

Negation

To negate reflexive verbs, place ne before the reflexive pronoun and pas after the verb.

• Je ne me lève pas. (I don’t get up.)
• Nous ne nous couchons pas tard. (We don’t go to bed late.)

In the Past Tense (Passé Composé)

Reflexive verbs in the passé composé are always conjugated with être as the auxiliary verb. The past participle agrees with the subject unless there’s a direct object after the verb.

Example:

• Je me suis lavé(e). (I washed myself.)
• Elle s’est réveillée. (She woke up.)
• Nous nous sommes parlé. (We talked to each other—no agreement because “parlé” is indirect.)

Common Reflexive Verbs

Here are a few examples:

• S’habiller (to get dressed)
• Se lever (to get up)
• Se reposer (to rest)
• Se marier (to get married)
• Se dépêcher (to hurry)

By mastering reflexive verbs, you’ll significantly enhance your ability to describe actions, emotions, and interactions in French.

You can take the multiple-choice quiz.

In this activity, you’ll have the opportunity to test your knowledge of French by choosing the correct verb form for reflexive verbs. Reflexive verbs are verbs that require the use of reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nous, vous, se) to indicate that the action of the verb is performed by the subject on themselves.