Français II H – Leçon 2AStructures

Reflexive VerbsReflexives: Sens idiomatique

A reflexive verb usually describes what a person does

to or for himself or herself.

-It “reflects” the action of the verb back to the subject.

- The pronoun se before an infinitive identifies the verb as

reflexive: se laver

-Reflexive verbs always use reflexive pronouns.

Je uses the reflexive pronoun meTu uses teIl uses se

Elle uses seNous uses nousVous uses vous

Ils uses seElles uses se

The reflexive prounoun goes before the reflexive verb and the verb is conjugated like

normal.

Se laver (to wash oneself)

Je me lave I wash (myself)Tu te laves you wash (yourself)Il se lave He washes (himself)Elle se lave She washes (herself)Nous nous lavons We wash (oursleves)Vous vous lavez You wash (yourself)Ils se lavent They wash (themselves)Elles se lavent They wash (themselves

• You listed several reflexive verbs in your vocabulary notes for this chapter.

• Some verbs can be used both reflexively and non-reflexively. If the verb acts upon something other than the subject, the non-reflexive is used.

reflexive non-reflexive

La mère se réveille à sept heures. Ensuite, elle réveille son fils. The mother wakes up at 7 o’clock. Then, she wakes her son up.

Passé composé

• All reflexive verbs use être in the passé composé.

Je me suis lavé(e). (I washed myself.)

Elle s’est habillée. (She dressed herself.)

Nous nous sommes coiffés. (We did our hair.)

Reflexives: Sens Indiomatique

You’ve leaned that reflexive verbs “reflect” the action back to the subject. Some reflexive verbs, however, do not literally express a

reflexive meaning.

s’amuser s’appeler

s’arrêter

s’assoir

se dépêcher

se détendre

se disputer (avec)

s’énerver

s’ennuyer

s’entendre bien (avec)

s’inquiéter

s’intéresser

se mettre à

se mettre en colére

s’occuper (de)

se préparer

se promener

se rendre compte

se reposerse souvenir (de)

se tromper

se trouver