Français 2

1. In English, sometimes the action of a verb is directed – or reflected back on the subject. When this happens, the verb may be followed by a reflexive pronoun, such as myself, yourself, him/herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves and themselves.

a. I looked at myself in the mirror. b.The children dress themselves for school. c. He made himself some dinner.

2. Reflexive verbs are used when the same person performs and receives the action of the verb. Since the subject also receives the action, an additional pronoun is needed. This is called the reflexive pronoun.

NOTE: The pronoun se used before the infinitive identifies the verb as reflexive. Par ex. – se laver = to wash oneself vs. laver = to wash

3. To form a reflexive verb, use the correct form of the verb and the reflexive pronoun that agrees with the subject. Par exemple…

Je me lave Nous nous lavons Tu te lavesVous vous lavez Il/Elle/ se lave On Paul These noun Anne subjects take Le garçon the same form La fille as their pronouns! Ils/Elles se lavent Paul et Luc These noun Anne et Lise subjects take Les garçons the same form Les filles as their pronouns!

Shorten me to m te to t se to s Par exemple…

Je mhabille Nous nous habillons Tu thabillesVous vous habillez Il/Elle/ shabille On Paul These noun Anne subjects take Le garçon the same form La fille as their pronouns! Ils/Elles shabillent Paul et Luc These noun Anne et Lise subjects take Les garçons the same form Les filles as their pronouns!

ne comes before the reflexive pronoun and pas follows the verb. Par ex. – Il se lève, mais il ne shabille pas tout de suite.

the reflexive pronoun agrees with the subject. Par exemple – Demain, nous allons nous lever tôt. (Tomorrow, we are going to get up early.)

JeNous TuVous Il/Elle/OnIls/Elles

Je me lèveNous nous levons Tu te lèvesVous vous levez Il/Elle se lève On Ils/Elles se lèvent

A. se réveiller – to wake up Je me réveille à 6 heures. (I wake up at 6:00.)

B. se brosser – to brush Elle se brosse. (She brushes her hair.) Tu te brosses les dents. (You brush your teeth.)

C. se sécher – to dry oneself Elle se sèche les cheveux. (She dries her hair.)

D. se raser – to shave oneself Jacques se rase le matin. (Jacques shaves in the morning.)

E. se maquiller – to put on makeup Marie se maquille le matin. (Marie puts on makeup in the morning.)

F. se peigner – to comb ones hair Je me peigne. (I comb my hair.)

G. se coiffer – to do ones hair Tu te coiffes. (You do your hair.)

H. se déshabiller – to undress oneself Je me déshabille. (I undress myself.)

I. se coucher – to go to bed Ils se couchent à 11 heures. (They go to bed at 11:00.)

Les autres verbes réfléchis importants sont… J. sappeler – to call (onself); to be named Ex. – Je mappelle Lise. (I call myself Lise./ My name is Lise.) Note: This verb takes an extra l for the entire singular side and the 3 rd person plural forms. K. se dépêcher – to hurry (oneself) Ex. – Nous nous dépêchons le matin. (We hurry {ourselves} in the morning.)