Reflexive VerbsReflexive Verbs

Reflexive verbs are verbs in which the Reflexive verbs are verbs in which the subject is performing the action on him/ subject is performing the action on him/ herself.herself.

These verbs will have reflexive pronouns.These verbs will have reflexive pronouns. These reflexive pronouns will agree with These reflexive pronouns will agree with

the subject. the subject.

Reflexive PronounsReflexive Pronouns

jeje meme tutu tete ilil elleelle sese onon

nousnous nousnous vousvous vousvous ilsils elleselles sese

The direct object i.e. hair will not have a The direct object i.e. hair will not have a possessive adjective i.e. my, your.possessive adjective i.e. my, your.

The possession is expressed through the The possession is expressed through the reflexive pronoun.reflexive pronoun.

Literally, I brush the hair of me.Literally, I brush the hair of me. Je me brosse les cheveux.Je me brosse les cheveux.

se lever, se promener, and s’appeler are se lever, se promener, and s’appeler are irregular.irregular.

They change in the bootThey change in the boot Pay attention to the changes.Pay attention to the changes.

se leverse lever

je me lèveje me lève tu te lèvestu te lèves il se lèveil se lève

nous nous levonsnous nous levons vous vous levezvous vous levez ils se lèventils se lèvent

se promenerse promener

je me promèneje me promène tu te promènestu te promènes elle se promèneelle se promène

nous nous nous nous promenonspromenons

vous vous promenezvous vous promenez elles se promènentelles se promènent

s’appelers’appeler

je m’appelleje m’appelle tu t’appellestu t’appelles elle s’appelleelle s’appelle

nous nous appelonsnous nous appelons vous vous appelezvous vous appelez ils s’appellentils s’appellent

They are getting up.They are getting up. Ils se lèvent.Ils se lèvent. She is going to bed.She is going to bed. Elle se couche.Elle se couche. You are preparing.You are preparing. Tu te prépares.Tu te prépares.

La NégationLa Négation

You will still add ne.. pas or any of the You will still add ne.. pas or any of the negative expressions to make the negative expressions to make the sentence negative.sentence negative.

The ne will go before the reflexive The ne will go before the reflexive pronoun.pronoun.

The pas or negative expression will go The pas or negative expression will go after the verb.after the verb.

He is not washing.He is not washing. Il ne se lave pas. Il ne se lave pas. You all are not hurrying.You all are not hurrying. Vous ne vous dépêchez pas.Vous ne vous dépêchez pas. The girls are not putting on make up.The girls are not putting on make up. Les filles ne se maquillent pas.Les filles ne se maquillent pas.

Reflexive verbs may be used without the Reflexive verbs may be used without the reflexive pronoun.reflexive pronoun.

They are only reflexive when the subject is They are only reflexive when the subject is acting upon itself. acting upon itself.

If the subject is acting upon someone or If the subject is acting upon someone or something else, it’s no longer reflexive:something else, it’s no longer reflexive:

I am washing the dog.I am washing the dog. Je lave le chien.Je lave le chien.

Notice there was no “me” in the sentence. Notice there was no “me” in the sentence. The sentence was: Je lave le chien.The sentence was: Je lave le chien. The subject is washing something else.The subject is washing something else. She is waking her sister.She is waking her sister. Elle lève Elle lève sasa sœur. sœur. Notice again that there is no reflexive Notice again that there is no reflexive

pronoun. Also notice that there is a pronoun. Also notice that there is a possessive adjective.possessive adjective.