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REFLEXIVE VERBS

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REFLEXIVE VERBS

  • Reflexive verbs show that the subject of the verb is performing the action upon himself, herself, or itself.

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  • Examples:
    •    se baigner�    - to bathe / to swim
    •    se lever� - to get (oneself) up

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REFLEXIVE VERBS – CONJUGATION

  1. Change the reflexive pronoun (se or s’) to agree with the subject. Here are the reflexive pronouns:��

Pronoun

Reflexive Pronoun

English Meaning

Je

Me

Myself

Tu

Te

Yourself

Il/Elle/On

Se

Himself / Herself

Nous

Nous

Ourselves

Vous

Vous

Yourself or Yourselves

Ils/Elles

Se

Themselves or Each Other

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REFLEXIVE VERBS – CONJUGATION

  1. Then conjugate the infinitive�(-er, -ir, -re, or irregular verb).��Ex. Se coucher (to go to bed)

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Singulier

Pluriel

Je

me couche

Nous

nous couchons

Tu

te couches

Vous

vous couchez

Il/Elle

se couche

Ils/Elles

se couchent

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REFLEXIVE VERBS – CONJUGATION

  1. Then conjugate the infinitive �(-er, -ir, -re, or irregular verb).��Ex. Se doucher (to shower)

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Singulier

Pluriel

Je

me douche

Nous

nous douchons

Tu

te douches

Vous

vous douchez

Il/Elle

se douche

Ils/Elles

se douchent

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REFLEXIVE VERBS – NEGATIVE

  • When doing the negative form of a reflexive verb, you still use the ne…pas sandwich.

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  • Example: Se lever

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Singulier

Pluriel

Je

ne me lève pas

Nous

ne nous levons pas

Tu

ne te lèves pas

Vous

ne vous levez pas

Il/Elle

ne se lève pas

Ils/Elles

ne se lèvent pas

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REFLEXIVE VERBS – NEGATIVE

  • When doing the negative form of�a reflexive verb, you still use the�ne…pas sandwich.

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  • Example: S’habiller

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Singulier

Pluriel

Je

ne m’habille pas

Nous

ne nous habillons pas

Tu

ne t’habilles pas

Vous

ne vous habillez pas

Il/Elle

ne s’habille pas

Ils/Elles

ne s’habillent pas

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WHERE TO PUT �THE REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS

  • Usually reflexive pronouns go directly in front of the conjugated verb. Example: Je me couche.

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  • Exceptions
  • When there is an infinitive verb, the reflexive object pronouns goes in front of the infinitive.
    • Example: Je vais me laver. (I’m going to wash myself).

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WHERE TO PUT �THE REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS

  • Exceptions
  • When there is a command…
    • the reflexive pronouns go after the conjugated verb.
    • The reflexive pronouns also change for some!
  • Examples:
    • Lave-toi
    • Levez-vous

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Normal

Reflexive Pronoun

Reflexive Pronouns for commands

Je

Moi

Tu

Toi

Il/Elle

Il/Elle

Nous

Nous

Vous

Vous

Ils/Elles

Ils/Elles

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COMMON �REFLEXIVE VERBS

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COMMON REFLEXIVE VERBS

Reflexive verb

English meaning

s’amuser

to have fun / to amuse oneself

se baigner        

to bathe

se brosser (les cheveux, les dents)  

to brush (one's hair, one's teeth)

se casser (la jambe, le bras)   

to break (one's leg, one's arm)

se coiffer     

to fix one's hair

se coucher  

to go to bed

se couper     

to cut oneself

se dépêcher

to hurry up

se habiller / se déshabiller

to get dressed / to get undressed

se lever

to get up

se raser

to shave

se réveiller

to wake up

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REFLEXIVE�AND�NON-REFLEXIVE

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REFLEXIVE & NON-REFLEXIVE

  • It is important to note that most reflexive verbs can also be used in a non-reflexive way. Example:

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Reflexive

Non-reflexive

Je me brosse les dents

Je brosse les dents de ma fille.

I brush my teeth.

I brush my daughter’s teeth.

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REFLEXIVE & NON-REFLEXIVE

  • Sometimes the meaning of the verb actually changes. Common verbs of this type include:

Non-reflexive

Reflexive

Demander – to ask

Se demander – to wonder

Ennuyer – to annoy

S’ennuyer – to be bored

Passer - to go past/to spend time

Se passer – to happen

Sentir – to smell something

Se sentir – to feel

Trouver – to find

Se trouver – to be in a place