Reflexive Verbs in Passé Composé French 2, Chapter 5

Formation Reflexive verbs use ETRE as the auxillary verb in past tense. They also use the reflexive pronoun just like they did in present tense. This is how they will start: Je me suis Nous nous sommes Tu t’es Vous vous êtes Il/elle s’est Ils/elles se sont

Formation, cont’d Follow each form of ETRE with a past participle. Same rules apply as with regular past tense: er  é ir  i re  u

Agreement: You will add agreement (masc/fem, sing/plural) to the past participle when the reflexive does not take a direct object: EX: Je me suis lavée. (I am a girl) BUT: Je me suis lavé les mains. (I washed my hands – hands is a DO) / e s es

EXCEPTIONS: Some reflexive verbs are also REGULAR verbs – watch out! They are only reflexive when the action is performed upon the self. EX: laver – elle s’est lavée; elle a lavé le chien (*If it’s part of your body, it’s reflexive)

NEGATIVES When making a past tense reflexive NEGATIVE, follow this pattern: Subject , NE, reflexive pronoun, form of être, PAS, past participle EX: je ne me suis pas lavé (e) With inversion: Ne t’es-tu pas lavé (e) ?