REFLEXIVE VERBS
Reflexive verbs are verbs that need a reflexive pronoun in addition to a subject pronoun,
because the subject(s) performing the action of the verb are the same as the object(s) being
acted upon.
Examples:
Nous nous habillons. We're getting dressed (dressing ourselves).
Tu te douches. You're taking a shower (showering yourself).
In French, you can recognize reflexive verbs by the se which precedes the infinitive.
These reflexive verbs indicate that the subject of the verb is performing the action upon himself,
herself, or itself. Reflexive verbs mainly have to do with parts of the body, clothing, personal
circumstance, or location. Here are some common reflexive verbs:
s’appeler
s’asseoir
se baigner
se brosser (les cheveux)
se coiffer
se coucher
se dépêcher
se doucher
s’énerver
se fâcher
s’habiller
to call oneself (be named)
to sit down
to bathe, swim
to brush (one’s hair)
to do one’s hair
to go to bed
to hurry
to take a shower
to get annoyed
to get angry
to get dressed
se laver
se lever
se maquiller
se moucher
se peigner
se promener
se raser
se regarder
se reposer
se réveiller
se taire
to wash oneself
to get up
to put on makeup
to blow one’s nose
to comb one’s hair
to go for a walk
to shave
to look at oneself
to rest
to wake up
to be quiet
There are two steps in conjugating pronominal verbs. First, take the reflexive pronoun se,
change it to agree with the subject of the verb (Je, tu, nous etc), and place it directly in front
of the verb. Then, as with all verbs, conjugate the infinitive according to whether it's an -er, -ir,
-re, or irregular verb.
singular
Subject
je
tu
il
elle
on
reflexive pronoun
me (m’)
te (t’)
se (s’)
se (s’)
se (s’)
example
Je me lave
Tu te douches
Il s’appelle
Elle se maquille
On se dépêche
English
I wash myself
You shower
He calls himself (he is called)
She puts on her makeup
One hurries
plural
Reflexive verb pronouns:
nous
vous
ils
elles
nous
vous
se (s’)
se (s’)
Nous nous levons
Vous vous réveillez
Ils se brossent les cheveux
Elles s’énervent
We get up
You wake up
They brush their hair
They get annoyed
10.
Exercise A: Fill in the verb in its correct form for each sentence. Remember to choose the
correct pronoun each time.
1. Je me lève à sept heures. (se lever)
2. Ils se rasent avant de partir. (se raser)
3. Le petit garçon se couche après le diner. (se coucher)
4. Nous nous reposons pendant les vacances. (se reposer)
5. Tu te maquilles devant le miroir. (se maquiller)
6. Le prof se fâche quand les élèves sont méchants. (se fâcher)
7. Je me promène avec mon chien sur la plage. (se promener)
8. Le film s’appelle “Titanic”. (s’appeler)
9. On se mouche quand on a le nez qui coule. (se moucher)
10. Vous vous réveillez tôt le matin. (se réveiller)
Exercise B : Translate the following sentences.
1. I get up and get dressed at quarter past six. Je me lève et je m’habille à six heures et
quart.
2. My mum gets annoyed when she is tired. Ma mère s’énerve quand elle est fatiguée.
3. You (tu) get dressed in the morning before breakfast. Tu t’habilles le matin avant le petit
déjeuner.
4. We go for a walk every Sunday afternoon. Nous nous promenons le dimanche après-midi.
5. Marie and Lucille hurry up to catch the bus. Marie et Lucille se dépêchent pour prendre le
bus.
6. My brothers shave in the bathroom. Mes frères se rasent dans la salle de bains.
7. You (vous) go to bed very late on a Saturday night. Vous vous couchez très tard le samedi
soir.
The passé composé and reflexive verbs
The verb “être” is always used as the auxiliary verb with reflexive verbs. As with TASMAN verbs,
the past participle agrees in gender and number with the preceding direct object (which in the
case of reflexive verbs is the same as the subject!)
Some examples to remind you…
I washed myself. (f)
Je me suis lavée.
Pierre got up.
Pierre s’est levé.
We had fun. (f)
Nous nous sommes bien amusées.
They got married.
Ils se sont mariés.
The girls fell asleep.
Les filles se sont endormies.
My mother approached the snake.
Ma mère s’est approchée du serpent.
We (m) got lost in the forest.
Nous nous sommes perdus dans la
forêt.
Ma prof s’est fâchée.
My teacher (f) got angry.
NOTE: When the preceding pronoun is actually the indirect object then there is no agreeement.
(This situation can be recognised because there will be a noun after the verb)
Examples:
Elle s’est brossé les dents.
She brushed her teeth, not herself – no agreement
Ils se sont lavé les mains.
Marie s’est cassé la jambe.
The washed their hands, not themselves – no agreement
Marie broke her leg, not herself – no agreement
Exercise: Translate the following sentences using the passé composé form of the verb in
brackets – take care with agreements.
1. You (f,pl) got up early yesterday [se lever] Vous vous êtes levées tôt (de bonne heure) hier.
2. The boys got dressed before breakfast [s’habiller] Les garcons se sont habillés avant le
petit déjeuner.
3. She went for a walk on the beach [se promener] Elle s’est promenée sur la plage.
4. Suzanne cut her finger [se couper] Suzanne s’est coupé le doigt.
5. The class got bored during the film [s’ennuyer] La classe s’est ennuyée pendant le film.
6. The group went swimming in the sea [se baigner] Le groupe s’est baigné dans la mer.
7. Corinne and Marilyn met last week [se rencontrer] Corinne et Marilyn se sont rencontrées
la semaine dernière.