Reflexive verbs, called verbes pronominaux in French, describe actions that the subject does to or for itself. They are common in daily routines, emotions, movement, and changes of state. This cheat sheet helps students choose the correct reflexive pronoun, place it correctly, and conjugate the verb in common tenses.
It is especially useful because reflexive verbs look similar to regular verbs but follow extra rules.
The key pattern is subject + reflexive pronoun + conjugated verb, such as je me lave. Reflexive pronouns are me, te, se, nous, vous, and se, and they must match the subject. In the passé composé, reflexive verbs usually use être, as in elle s'est levée.
Students also need to know how reflexive pronouns work with negation, infinitives, and commands.
Key Facts
- A reflexive verb uses a reflexive pronoun that refers back to the subject, as in je me réveille, meaning I wake up.
- The present tense pattern is subject + reflexive pronoun + conjugated verb, such as tu te couches and nous nous habillons.
- The reflexive pronouns are me, te, se, nous, vous, and se, and they match je, tu, il/elle/on, nous, vous, and ils/elles.
- Before a vowel or silent h, me, te, and se become m', t', and s', as in je m'appelle and elle s'habille.
- In negative sentences, ne comes before the reflexive pronoun and pas comes after the conjugated verb, as in je ne me lève pas.
- In the passé composé, most reflexive verbs use être plus past participle, as in nous nous sommes lavés.
- Past participles of reflexive verbs usually agree with the subject when the reflexive pronoun is a direct object, as in elles se sont réveillées.
- In affirmative commands, the reflexive pronoun comes after the verb with a hyphen, and te changes to toi, as in lève-toi.
Vocabulary
- Verbe pronominal
- A French verb used with a reflexive pronoun, such as se laver or se souvenir.
- Reflexive pronoun
- A pronoun that refers back to the subject, such as me, te, se, nous, or vous.
- Infinitive
- The unconjugated form of a verb, such as se lever, se coucher, or s'appeler.
- Passé composé
- A common past tense formed with an auxiliary verb and a past participle, such as je me suis levé.
- Past participle
- The verb form used in compound tenses, such as lavé, levé, couché, or habillé.
- Agreement
- The change in spelling of a past participle to match gender and number, such as levé, levée, levés, or levées.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using the wrong reflexive pronoun is wrong because the pronoun must match the subject. Write je me lave, not je se lave.
- Forgetting elision before a vowel is wrong because me, te, and se shorten before vowel sounds. Write elle s'habille, not elle se habille.
- Putting ne and pas in the wrong places is wrong because the reflexive pronoun stays between ne and the verb. Write nous ne nous réveillons pas, not nous nous ne réveillons pas.
- Using avoir in the passé composé is wrong for most reflexive verbs because verbes pronominaux usually take être. Write il s'est levé, not il s'a levé.
- Forgetting agreement in the passé composé can be wrong when the reflexive pronoun is a direct object. Write elles se sont lavées when elles washed themselves.
Practice Questions
- 1 Conjugate the 3 reflexive verbs in the present tense: je se lever, tu se coucher, and nous s'habiller.
- 2 Rewrite these 2 sentences in the negative: elle se maquille and vous vous réveillez tôt.
- 3 Put this sentence in the passé composé and make any needed agreement: elles se préparer pour l'école.
- 4 Explain why je me brosse les dents does not make brossé agree with je in the passé composé sentence je me suis brossé les dents.