Introduction to Reflexive Verbs

Reflexive verbs in French might seem tricky at first, but they are super useful and easy to master with practice. These verbs describe actions that the subject does to themselves, like getting dressed, washing up, or waking up. Reflexive verbs are always paired with reflexive pronouns like me, te, se, nous, or vous.

Let’s dive into how they work!


What Are Reflexive Verbs?

In French, reflexive verbs are used when the subject and object of the verb are the same person. The action “reflects” back on the subject, which is why these verbs are called “reflexive.”

For example, in Je me lave, both the subject (je) and object (me) refer to the same person: I am washing myself.

Here are a few common reflexive verbs:

  • Se laver (to wash oneself)
  • Se réveiller (to wake up)
  • S’habiller (to get dressed)
  • Se coucher (to go to bed)
  • Se promener (to take a walk)

How to Conjugate Reflexive Verbs

Reflexive verbs follow the same conjugation rules as regular verbs, but with an added reflexive pronoun.

Here’s the formula:

Subject pronoun + Reflexive pronoun + Verb

Reflexive pronouns:

  • Jeme
  • Tute
  • Il/Elle/Onse
  • Nousnous
  • Vousvous
  • Ils/Ellesse

Conjugation of Se laver (to wash oneself)

  • Je me lave (I wash myself)
  • Tu te laves (You wash yourself)
  • Il/Elle/On se lave (He/She/One washes him/herself)
  • Nous nous lavons (We wash ourselves)
  • Vous vous lavez (You wash yourself/yourselves)
  • Ils/Elles se lavent (They wash themselves)

More Examples with Reflexive Verbs

Se réveiller (to wake up):

  • Je me réveille à 7h du matin. (I wake up at 7 a.m.)
  • Tu te réveilles tôt le lundi. (You wake up early on Monday.)
  • Nous nous réveillons en même temps. (We wake up at the same time.)

S’habiller (to get dressed):

  • Il s’habille avant le petit-déjeuner. (He gets dressed before breakfast.)
  • Vous vous habillez rapidement. (You get dressed quickly.)
  • Elles s’habillent pour la fête. (They are getting dressed for the party.)

Se coucher (to go to bed):

  • Je me couche à 22h. (I go to bed at 10 p.m.)
  • Ils se couchent après minuit. (They go to bed after midnight.)

Negative Form with Reflexive Verbs

In negative sentences, the ne… pas surrounds both the reflexive pronoun and the verb.

Example:

  • Je ne me lève pas tôt. (I don’t get up early.)
  • Tu ne te laves pas les mains? (You don’t wash your hands?)
  • Il ne se couche pas avant minuit. (He doesn’t go to bed before midnight.)

Reflexive Verbs in the Past Tense (Passé Composé)

In the past tense, reflexive verbs use être as the auxiliary verb, and the reflexive pronoun comes before the auxiliary. Don’t forget to make the verb agree with the subject in gender and number.

Example with se lever (to get up):

  • Je me suis levé(e) tôt. (I got up early.)
  • Elle s’est habillée rapidement. (She got dressed quickly.)
  • Nous nous sommes promenés au parc. (We took a walk in the park.)

Practice Sentences

Here are some full sentences with reflexive verbs:

  • Je me prépare pour aller au travail. (I am getting ready to go to work.)
    • Tu te prépares aussi? (Are you getting ready too?)
  • Ils se détendent après une longue journée. (They are relaxing after a long day.)
    • Vous vous détendez souvent? (Do you often relax?)

Reflexive verbs are a crucial part of everyday French. They may look a bit different with their reflexive pronouns, but once you get the hang of them, you’ll be using them naturally in your conversations!

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