How to use French reflexive verbs?
French reflexive verbs are an essential part of the language, often used to describe actions that a person does to themselves. These verbs are always accompanied by a reflexive pronoun.
What are reflexive verbs?
Reflexive verbs indicate that the subject of the sentence performs an action on itself. In French, these verbs are always used with a reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nous, vous, se) that matches the subject.
Common reflexive verbs
Here are some frequently used reflexive verbs:
- Se laver (to wash oneself)
- S'habiller (to get dressed)
- Se réveiller (to wake up)
- Se coucher (to go to bed)
How to conjugate reflexive verbs
To conjugate a reflexive verb, you need to:
- Choose the correct reflexive pronoun
- Conjugate the verb as usual
Example with "se laver" (to wash oneself):
- Je me lave (I wash myself)
- Tu te laves (You wash yourself)
- Il/Elle/On se lave (He/She/One washes oneself)
- Nous nous lavons (We wash ourselves)
- Vous vous lavez (You wash yourselves)
- Ils/Elles se lavent (They wash themselves)
When to use reflexive verbs
Use reflexive verbs when the subject performs an action on itself. For example:
- Je me brosse les dents. (I brush my teeth.)
- Elle s'habille pour la fête. (She's getting dressed for the party.)
Remember, some verbs are always reflexive in French, even if they're not in English. For example, "s'appeler" (to be called/named):
- Je m'appelle Pierre. (My name is Pierre.)
Understanding reflexive verbs will help you express many everyday actions in French. Practice using them in simple sentences to become more comfortable with this important aspect of French grammar.