[vc_row][vc_column][insignia_section_heading title=”The French reflexive verbs made easy” subtitle=”” add_icon=”” heading_tag=”h1″ font_weight=”default” sub_font_weight=”default”][vc_column_text]Reflexive verbs are much more common in French than in English, and many of them are part of everyday language. In this guide, you’ll learn how they are formed, when to use them and how to conjugate them through clear explanations and examples.
Whether you’re studying independently, taking online French classes or learning in person, understanding these verbs will help you communicate more confidently in French.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”18806″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][insignia_section_heading title=”1. What is a French reflexive verb in French ?” subtitle=”” add_icon=”” heading_tag=”h2″ font_weight=”default” sub_font_weight=”default”][vc_column_text]Reflexive verbs belong to the broader category of pronominal verbs. These verbs include a reflexive pronoun that agrees with the subject.
First, let’s look at the difference between a non-reflexive and a reflexive construction:
Je lave mon chien. = I wash my dog.
Here, the action is directed at my dog, so no reflexive pronoun is needed.
Je me lave les dents. = I brush my teeth.
Here, me refers back to the subject je and shows that the action concerns the subject’s own body. In French, we generally use a reflexive pronoun and a definite article with parts of the body: me + les dents, rather than mes dents.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][insignia_section_heading title=”2. What are the most common French reflexive verbs ?” subtitle=”” add_icon=”” heading_tag=”h2″ font_weight=”default” sub_font_weight=”default”][vc_column_text]Furthermore, we also use a lot of reflexive verbs in everyday communication in French.
2.1 Useful reflexive verbs for your daily routine :
- Se brosser (les cheveux/les dents) = to brush (your hair/teeth)
- Se coiffer = to do one’s hair
- Se coucher = to go to bed
- Se doucher = to shower
- S’habiller = to get dressed
- Se laver = to wash oneself
- Se lever = to get up
- Se réveiller = to wake up
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2.2 Additional French reflexive verbs :
And we could also use :
- Se baigner = to bath or to swim
- S’occuper de = to take care of
- Se reposer = to rest
- Se souvenir de = to remember about
[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”18807″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][insignia_section_heading title=”3. How can you recognize reflexive verbs ?” subtitle=”” add_icon=”” heading_tag=”h2″ font_weight=”default” sub_font_weight=”default”][vc_column_text]You will then recognize them by paying attention to the pronouns that come before the verbs. Moreover, verbs with ‘nous nous‘ or ‘vous vous‘ are not a mistake. In fact, these are reflexive plural.
And here is how they look like :
- Je > me
- Tu > te
- Il / Elle / On > se
- Nous > nous
- Vous > vous
- Ils / Elles > se
The reflexive pronouns change with the subject.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][insignia_section_heading title=”4. Where do you add the pronoun in these verbs?” subtitle=”” add_icon=”” heading_tag=”h2″ font_weight=”default” sub_font_weight=”default”][vc_column_text]
4.1 With the Présent ou Futur simple
Firstly, with simple tenses, the general structure is : subject + pronoun + verb.
For example, with the verb se lever (to get up) :
- Je me lève
- Tu te lèves
- Il/Elle/On se lève
- Nous nous levons
- Vous vous levez
- Ils/Elles se lèvent
But, be careful : when the verb starts with a vowel the pronouns me, te and se become m’, t’ and s’.
And for the negative, we have : subject + NE + pronoun + verb + PAS[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
4.2 With the Futur Proche and Semi-Auxiliary Verbs
When a reflexive verb follows the futur proche or a semi-auxiliary verb such as pouvoir or devoir, the reflexive pronoun is placed immediately before the infinitive:
conjugated verb + reflexive pronoun + infinitive
Je vais me maquiller. = I’m going to put on makeup.
Tu ne peux pas te reposer. = You can’t rest.
Ils doivent s’occuper du chien. = They have to take care of the dog.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
4.3 In the Passé Composé and Compound Tenses
Finally, with compound tenses, we have : pronoun + auxiliary + past participle
Indeed, reflexive verbs are always used with the auxiliary être in past tenses like passé composé, plus que parfait, … As a result, the past participle must be in agreement with the subject.
- Il ne s’est pas souvenu de son anniversaire = He didn’t remember his birthday
- Nous nous sommes habillés rapidement = We quickly got dressed
Ultimately, to practice your conjugation, feel free to use Le Conjugueur.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”18812″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][insignia_section_heading title=”5. What are the different types of French reflexive verbs?” subtitle=”” add_icon=”” heading_tag=”h2″ font_weight=”default” sub_font_weight=”default”][vc_column_text]
5.1 For the Reflexive Pronominal Verbs
In this first category of verbs, we do the action on ourselves.
- Je lave mon vélo = I wash my bike
- Je me lave = I wash myself
- Je réveille mon mari à 7h = I wake up my husband at 7am
- Je me réveille à 8h = I wake up at 8am
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5.2 With Reciprocal Reflexive Verbs
Two people do the action one toward each other.
- Pierre aime Julie = Pierre loves Julie
- Pierre et Julie s’aiment = Pierre and Julie love each other
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][insignia_section_heading title=”6. Reflexive or Non Reflexive Verbs ?” subtitle=”” add_icon=”” heading_tag=”h2″ font_weight=”default” sub_font_weight=”default”][vc_column_text]Last but not least, some verbs can be only reflexive. We have, for example, s’envoler (to fly), se moquer de (to make fun of) or s’évanouir (to faint).
But others can be both pronominal and non pronominal. This is quite important as the meaning will be different. Some examples are :
- Aimer / S’aimer
- Laver / Se laver
- Maquiller quelqu’un / Se maquiller
- Passer / Se passer
- Promener / Se promener
- Téléphoner / Se téléphoner
[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”18813″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row gap=”0px” css_animation=”none” css=”.vc_custom_1788342314042{background-color: #E8F0EB !important;}”][vc_column][insignia_section_heading title=”Ready to Make Further Progress in French?” subtitle=”” add_icon=”” heading_tag=”h2″ font_weight=”default” sub_font_weight=”default”][vc_column_text]I hope this guide has helped you understand how French reflexive verbs work and how to use them correctly. If you’d like more practice and personalized guidance from a certified native French teacher, explore my private French lessons or get in touch. I’d be delighted to help you progress.[/vc_column_text][insignia_button btn_text=”Tell Me About Your French Goals” btn_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.frenchwithagnes.com%2Fcontact-private-french-tutor%2F|title:Start%20your%20French%20Tutor|target:_blank” button_size=”btn-medium” button_align=”text-center” enable_icon=”” text_font_weight=”font-weight-600″ btn_bg_color=”#5C977A” hover_bg_color=”#6FAF8F” border_color=”#5C977A” hover_border_color=”#6FAF8F”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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