Reflexive Verbs

Reflexive verbs are verbs in which the subject is performing the action on him/ herself. Reflexive verbs are verbs in which the subject is performing the action on him/ herself. These verbs will have reflexive pronouns. These verbs will have reflexive pronouns. These reflexive pronouns will agree with the subject. These reflexive pronouns will agree with the subject.

Reflexive Pronouns je jeme tu tute il il elle ellese on on nous nousnous vous vousvous ils ils elles ellesse

The direct object i.e. hair will not have a possessive adjective i.e. my, your. The direct object i.e. hair will not have a possessive adjective i.e. my, your. The possession is expressed through the reflexive pronoun. The possession is expressed through the reflexive pronoun. Literally, I brush the hair of me. Literally, I brush the hair of me. Je me brosse les cheveux. Je me brosse les cheveux.

se lever, se promener, and sappeler are irregular. se lever, se promener, and sappeler are irregular. They change in the boot They change in the boot Pay attention to the changes. Pay attention to the changes.

se lever je je me lève tu tu te lèves il il se lève nous nous nous levons vous vous vous levez ils ils se lèvent

se promener je je me promène tu tu te promènes elle elle se promène nous nous nous promenons vous vous vous promenez elles elles se promènent

sappeler je je mappelle tu tu tappelles elle elle sappelle nous nous nous appelons vous vous vous appelez ils ils sappellent

They They are getting up. Ils Ils se lèvent. She She is going to bed. Elle Elle se couche. You You are preparing. Tu Tu te prépares.

La Négation You will still add ne.. pas or any of the negative expressions to make the sentence negative. You will still add ne.. pas or any of the negative expressions to make the sentence negative. The ne will go before the reflexive pronoun. The ne will go before the reflexive pronoun. The pas or negative expression will go after the verb. The pas or negative expression will go after the verb.

He He is not washing. Il Il ne se lave pas. You You all are not hurrying. Vous Vous ne vous dépêchez pas. The The girls are not putting on make up. Les Les filles ne se maquillent pas.

Reflexive verbs may be used without the reflexive pronoun. Reflexive verbs may be used without the reflexive pronoun. They are only reflexive when the subject is acting upon itself. They are only reflexive when the subject is acting upon itself. If the subject is acting upon someone or something else, its no longer reflexive: If the subject is acting upon someone or something else, its no longer reflexive: I am washing the dog. I am washing the dog. Je lave le chien. Je lave le chien.

Notice there was no me in the sentence. Notice there was no me in the sentence. The sentence was: Je lave le chien. The sentence was: Je lave le chien. The subject is washing something else. The subject is washing something else. She is waking her sister. She is waking her sister. Elle lève sa sœur. Elle lève sa sœur. Notice again that there is no reflexive pronoun. Also notice that there is a possessive adjective. Notice again that there is no reflexive pronoun. Also notice that there is a possessive adjective.