1. Reflexive and reciprocal verbs
Reflexive verbs typically describe an action that the subject does to or for himself, herself, or itself. Reflexive verbs are conjugated like their non-reflexive counterparts but always use reflexive pronouns.
Reflexive verb
Non-reflexive verb
Bruno se réveille.
Bruno réveille son fils.
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2. Reflexive and reciprocal verbs
Reflexive verbs
se réveiller to wake up je tu
il/elle
nous
vous
ils/elles
me réveille
te réveilles
se réveille
nous réveillons
vous réveillez
se réveillent
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3. Reflexive and reciprocal verbs
Many verbs used to describe routines are reflexive.
s’arrêter to stop (oneself)
se brosser to brush
se coucher to go to bed
se couper to cut oneself
se déshabiller to undress
se dépêcher to hurry
se détendre to relax
se fâcher (contre) to get angry (with)
s’habiller to get dressed
s’habituer à to get used to
s’inquiéter to worry
s’intéresser (à) to be interested (in)
se laver to wash oneself
se lever to get up
se maquiller to put on makeup
se peigner to comb
se raser to shave
se rendre compte de to realize
se reposer to rest
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4. French: Je me brosse les dents à 5 heures du matin.
Remember!
When mentioning body parts, in French you use the definite article (le, la, les) instead of the posessive pronoun.
Example:
French: Je me brosse les dents à 5 heures du matin.
English: I brush my teeth at 5 in the morning.
NOT: Je me brosse mes dents…
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5. Reflexive and reciprocal verbs
Some verbs can be used reflexively or non-reflexively. Use the non-reflexive form if the verb acts upon something other than the subject.
La passagère se fâche.
The passenger is getting angry.
Tu fâches la passagère.
You are angering the passenger.
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6. Pause de Madame!
This is because of how DIRECT OBJECTS work in a sentence. A direct object directly receives the action of the verb. To help you remember (but not always a surefire rule…) A direct object answers the question ‘Who’ or ‘What’? If you can’t logically answer ‘Who’ or ‘What’ – it’s probably not a direct object. I bought a dress. J’ai acheté une robe. --What did I buy? A robe. Une robe is the direct object.
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7. So! With reflexive verbs, the reflexive pronoun IS the direct object.
Jean se promène.
Here, Jean is walking himself. What/Who is he walking? Himself.
SE = the direct object.
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8. What or Who is he walking? Now he’s walking the dog (not himself)
However!!
Jean promène le chien.
What or Who is he walking?
Now he’s walking the dog (not himself)
That means that we take away the reflexive pronoun, because it’s not the direct object. The dog is the direct object.
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9. Who or what is he walking? Himself. Not someone/ something else.
Recap!
Jean se promène.
Who or what is he walking? Himself. Not someone/ something else.
Jean promène le chien.
Who or what is he walking? The dog.
You took notes on this, right? It’s not in the book. Madame added it because it’s pretty important to understand how reflexive/reciprocal pronouns work.
Also, you will kick yourself later on if you’re not paying attention now…
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10. Reflexive and reciprocal verbs
Many non-reflexive verbs change meaning when they are used with a reflexive pronoun and might not literally express a reflexive action.
aller to go
amuser to amuse
apercevoir to catch sight of
attendre to wait (for)
demander to ask
douter to doubt
ennuyer to bother
entendre to hear
mettre to put
servir to serve
tromper to deceive
s’en aller to go away
s’amuser to have fun
s’apercevoir to realize
s’attendre à to expect
se demander to wonder
se douter de to suspect
s’ennuyer to get bored
s’entendre bien avec to get along with
se mettre à to begin
se servir de to use
se tromper to be mistaken
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11. Reflexive and reciprocal verbs
A number of verbs are used only in the reflexive form, but may not literally express a reflexive action.
se méfier de to distrust
se moquer de to make fun of
se souvenir de to remember
se taire to be quiet
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12. Reflexive and reciprocal verbs
Form the affirmative imperative of a reflexive verb by adding the reflexive pronoun at the end of the verb with a hyphen in between. For negative commands, begin with ne and place the reflexive pronoun immediately before the verb.
Habillons-nous. Il faut partir!
Let’s get dressed. We have to leave!
Ne vous inquiétez pas.
Don’t worry.
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13. Reflexive and reciprocal verbs
Remember to change te to toi in affirmative commands.
Repose-toi bien ce week-end.
Rest up this weekend.
Tais-toi!
Be quiet!
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14. Reflexive and reciprocal verbs
Repose-toi bien ce week-end.
Rest up this weekend.
Tais-toi!
Be quiet!
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15. Reflexive and reciprocal verbs
Use l’un(e) l’autre and l’un(e) à l’autre, or their plural forms les un(e)s les autres and les un(e)s aux autres, to emphasize that an action is reciprocal.
Béa et Yves se regardent.
Béa and Yves look at each other.
Béa and Yves look at themselves
but
Béa et Yves se regardent l’un l’autre.
Ils s’envoient des s.
They send each other s.
They send themselves s.
Ils s’envoient des s les uns aux autres.
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