Les verbes réfléchis au présent

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10A.1-1

Point de départ

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. Reflexive verbs always use
reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nous, vous).

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10A.1-2

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10A.1-3

The pronoun se before an infinitive identifies the verb
as reflexive: se laver.

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10A.1-4

When a reflexive verb is conjugated, the reflexive pronoun
agrees with the subject. Except for se, reflexive pronouns
have the same forms as direct and indirect object pronouns
(me, te, nous, vous); se is used for both singular and plural
third-person subjects.

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10A.1-5

Note that the reflexive pronouns nousand vousare identical
to the corresponding subject pronouns.

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10A.1-6

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10A.1-7

S’endormir is conjugated like dormir. Se lever and se
sécher follow the same spelling-change patterns as
acheterand espérer, respectively.

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10A.1-8

Some verbs can be used reflexively or non-reflexively.
If the verb acts upon something other than the subject
(for example, son fils in the second example below),
the non-reflexive form is used.

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10A.1-9

When a body part is the direct object of a reflexive verb,
it is usually preceded by a definite article.

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10A.1-10

Form the imperative of a reflexive verb as you would
that of a non-reflexive verb. Add the reflexive pronoun to
the end of an affirmative command. In negative
commands, place the reflexive pronoun between ne and
the verb. (Remember to change te to toi in affirmative
commands.)

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10A.1-11

In the futur proche and passé récent, place the
reflexive pronoun after the conjugated forms of aller
and venirand before the infinitive. Note that although
the reflexive pronoun changes according to the subject,
the second verb stays in the infinitive.