Reflexive Pronouns with Pronominal Verbs Flashcards
What is a pronominal verb?
A pronominal verb is always accompanied by an object pronoun, called a reflexive pronoun, which is identical to the subject. In English, they are the -self/-selves pronouns.
The child dressed himself.
Did you hurt yourself?
We talk to ourselves.
I bought myself a new computer.
What were the three types of pronominal verbs
French has three types of pronominal verbs: the reflexive, reciprocal, and idiomatic pronominals. In reflexive constructions, the action of the verb reflects back upon the subject.
- Je me réveille à sept heures. (I wake up [I wake myself] at sever AM)
- Ces enfants s’endorment trop tard. (Those children fall asleep too late)
Reflexive pronouns (myself)
Myself (me/m’)
Reflexive pronouns (yourself)
Yourself (te/t’)
Reflexive pronouns (him-/her-/oneself)
Him-/her-/oneself (se/s’)
Reflexive pronouns (ourselves)
Ourselves (nous)
Reflexive pronouns (yourself/yourselves) formal
Yourself/yourselves (vous)
Reflexive pronouns (themselves)
Themselves (se/s’)
The infinitive of a reflexive or pronominal verb is written with what?
The infinitive of a reflexive or pronominal verb is written with the pronoun se/s’: se réveiller (to wake up), s’endormir (to fall asleep).
The reflexive pronoun always precedes the conjugated verb form (Je me reveille, I wake up), except in the affirmative imperative, where it follows.
Reflexive verb
Se lever
•Meaning
•conjugation
Se lever-to get up, to stand up
Je me lève (I get up) Tu te lèves (you get up) Il/elle/on se lève (he/she/one gets up) Nous nous levons (we get up) Vous vous levez (you get up) Ils/elles se lèvent (they get up)
*nous nous levons toujours pendant la pause (We always get up during the break)
Reflexive verb
S’endormir
•Meaning
•conjugation
S’endormier-to fall asleep
Je m’endors (I fall asleep) Tu t’endors (You fall asleep) Il/elle/on s’endort (he/she/one falls asleep) Nous nous endormons (we fall asleep) Vous vous endormez (you fall asleep) Ils/elles s’endorment (they fall asleep)
- Est-ce que vous vous endormez tard le week-end? (Do you go to sleep late on the weekend?)
- Oui, je m’endors après minuit. (Yes, I fall asleep after midnight)
To have a good time, have fun
S’amuser
To take a bath; to go swimming
Se baigner
To brush (one’s teeth, hair)
Se brosser (les dents, les cheveux)
To go to bed
Se coucher
To get undressed
Se déshabiller
To take a shower
Se doucher
To fall asleep
S’endormir
To become board
S’ennuyer
To work out; to train
S’entraîner
*Elles s’entraînent pour le marathon (They’re training for the marathon)
To get dressed
S’habiller
*Tu ne t’habilles pas pour sortir? (Aren’t you getting dressed to go out?)
To sit down, get settled
S’installer
To wash oneself (one’s hands, face)
Se laver (les mains, le visage)
To stand up, get up
Se lever (je me lève)
To put on makeup
Se maquiller
To comb (one’s hair)
Se peigner
To get ready, to prepare (for, to)
Se préparer (à)
To take a walk, a drive, etc.
Se promener (Je me promène)
Georges se promène dans le parc. (Georges takes a walk in the park.)
To shave (oneself)
Se raser
Je me rase avant le petit déjeuner (I shave before breakfast)
To look at (oneself)
Se regarder
To rest
Se reposer
To wake up
Se réveiller
- Tu te réveilles à quelle heure? (What time do you wake up?)
- Je me réveille vers sept heures. (I wake up around 7 AM)
Where is the reflexive pronoun in a verb+verb constructions?
In verb verb constructions, the reflexive pronoun precedes its infinitive.
*Nous allons nous préparer avant de partir. (We’re going to get ready before leaving.)
How to form negatives of pronominal verbs?
In the negative, ne precedes the reflexive pronoun, and pas follows the verb.
*Tu ne te reposes pas suffisamment. (You don’t get enough rest [don’t rest enough])
How to make questions with pronominal verbs?
Question forms of pronominal verbs can be made with intonation, est-ce que, or inversion.
- Tu t’habilles déjà? (Getting dressed already?)
- Les étudiants se baignent le samedi? (Do the students go swimming on Saturdays?)
- Est-ce que vous vous brossez les dents souvent? (Do you brush your teeth often?)
How to make inverted question of a pronominal verb?
In the inverted question form of a pronominal verb, the subject pronoun is inverted and follows the verb, attached by a hyphen. The reflexive pro- noun precedes the inverted verb subject pronoun.
- Vous endormez-vous tard le week-end? (Do you fall asleep late on the weekend?)
- Ne te lèves-tu pas quand le réveil sonne? (Don’t you get up when the alarm rings?)
In pronominal verbs questions, when there is a subject noun, it precedes the…?
When there is a subject noun, it precedes the verb and is repeated by the attached subject pronoun, as for non-pronominal verbs.
- Rachelle se lève-t-elle à midi? (Does Rachelle get up at noon?)
- Les professeurs s’installent-ils tôt à leur bureau? (Do the teachers sit down at their desks early?)
Imperatives of pronominal verbs?
In the affirmative imperative, the reflexive pronoun follows the verb and is attached to it by a hyphen. Te/t’ becomes toi after the verb. However, in the negative imperative, the reflexive pronoun precedes the verb.
Imperatives of pronominal verbs
To get up, to stand up
Imperative vs Negative Imperative
Se lever
Imperative
Lève-toi!
Levez-vous!
Levons-nous!
Negative Imperative
Ne te lève pas!
Ne vous levez pas!
Ne nous levons pas!
Imperatives of pronominal verbs
To fall asleep
Imperative vs Negative Imperative
s’endormir
Imperative
Endors-toi!
Endormez-vous!
Endormons-nous!
Negative imperative
Ne t’endors pas!
Ne vous endormez pas!
Ne nous endormons pas!
Reflexive verbs with parts of the body have what kind of object? Definite article?
Reflexive and other pronominal verbs can have both an indirect and a direct object. Note the use of the definite article with parts of the body.
*On se peigne les cheveux avant l’interview. (One combs one’s [We comb our] hair before the interview.)
In the preceding sentence, les cheveux is the direct object of se peigne, while se is the indirect object. The indirect object preposition à is understood.
What are reciprocal verbs?
Some verbs can be used in the plural as reciprocal verbs. Reciprocal verbs show that an action is mutual, involving two or more people. Thus, they are usually plural verb forms.
Reciprocal constructions take either a direct or indirect object, depend- ing on the verb used. The reflexive pronouns nous, vous, and se/s’ are used as both direct and indirect object pronouns.
*Nous nous parlons. (nous: indirect object, parler à)
(We speak to each other)
*Vous vous envoyez des mails? (vous: indirect object, envoyer à)
(Do you email each other)
*Ils se voient souvent. (se: direct object, se voir)
(They see each other often.)
*Elles s’écrivent. (se: indirect object, s’écrire)
(They write (to) each other)
*Nous nous téléphonons et nous nous écrivons aussi.
(We call each other, and we write, too.)
*Ils se regardent longuement.
(They look at each other for a long time)
*Vous ne vous quittez pas? Quand les Français se rencontrent, on s’embrasse ou on se serre la main.
(When the French meet, they kiss, or they shake hands.)
Where is the reflexive pronoun in verb+verb construction
With reciprocals in a verb +verb construction, the reflexive pronoun precedes the infinitive.
- Nous devons nous quitter. (We must leave each other.)
- Ils vont se revoir. (They are going to see other again.)
- Vous préférez vous écrire? (Do you prefer writing to each other?)
What can nous be replaced with in reciprocal action?
On, the third-person singular subject pronoun, is used conversationally to express a reciprocal action, replacing the nous form. It is used with se/s’ and the verb remains singular.
- Nous nous revoyons (On se revoit) au Nouvel An. (We will see each other again at New Year’s.)
- On s’écrit plus tard, d’accord? (We’ll write (to) each other later, O.K.?)
To help each other
S’aider
To understand each other
Se comprendre
To get acquainted with, know each other
Se connaître
To argue with
Se disputer avec
To make an appointment with each other
Se donner rendez-vous [à]
To write each other
S’écrire [à]
To get along (well, badly) with each other
S’entendre (bien, mal)
To send (e-mails) to each other
S’envoyer (des mails) [à]
To give gifts to each other
Se faire des cadeaux [à]
To speak to each other
Se parler [à]
To look at each other
Se regarder
To come across each other
Se rencontrer
To resemble each other
Se ressembler [à]
To meet each other (planned)
Se retrouver
To see each other again
Se revoir
To shake hands
Se serrer la main [à]
To phone each other
Se téléphoner [à]
To see each other
Se voir
What is a idiomatic pronominal verb
French has many idiomatic pronominal verbs. The reflexive form is used for a specific meaning of the verb. The same verb may have different meanings in a non-pronominal form.
To leave, depart
S’en aller
To notice (something, someone)
S’apercevoir de (qqch, qqun)
To be named, called
S’appeler
To decide to (do something)
Se décider à + inf.
To wonder; to ask oneself
Se demander
To hurry to (do something)
Se dépêcher de+ inf.
To argue with (someone)
Se disputer avec (qqun)
To get bord (doing something)
S’ennuyer de + inf.
To get along with (someone)
S’entendre avec (qqun)
To get angry with (someone)
Se fâcher avec (qqun)
To get accustomed to
Se faire à/s’habituer à
To marry, get married to (someone)
Se marier avec (qqun)
To begin to (do something)
Se mettre à + inf.
To take care of, busy oneself with (something, someone)
S’occuper de (qqch, qqun)
To manage, do without (someone, something)
Se passer de (qqun, qqch)
To remember, recall (something, someone)
Se rappeler (qqch, qqun)
To realize (something)
Se rendre compte de/que (qqch)
To remember, recall (something, someone)
Se souvenir de/que (qqch, qqun)
To make a mistake (in something)
Se tromper de (qqch)
What happens to verbs not in pronominal form?
When they are not pronominal, the verbs (with the exception of souvenir) have different meanings from those given.
- Comment est-ce que tu t’appelles? (What is your name?)
- J’appelle le patron pour m’excuser. (I’m calling the boss to excuse myself)
Pronominal verb
•To notice
•Conjugation
S’apercevoir
Je m’aperçois Tu t’aperçois Il/elle/on s’aperçoit Nous nous apecevons Vous vous apercevez Ils/elles s’aperçoivent
- Tu t’aperçois de sa mauvaise humeur? (Do you notice his/her bad mood?)
- Elles s’aperçoivent que nous nous trompons (They notice that we’re making a mistake)
What is before and after a pronominal verbs?
When they refer to a person, pronominal verbs are followed by a stressed pronoun (moi, toi, etc.); they don’t use a preceding indirect object pronoun.
- Nous nous fions à nos amis. Nous nous fions à eux. (We trust our friends. We trust them.)
- Il s’occupe de sa sœur. Il s’occupe d’elle. (He takes care of his sister. He takes care of her.)
Are there non-pronominal forms of pronominal verbs
Many pronominal verbs are also used in their simple (non-pronominal) form, often with an object noun or pronoun. In the simple (non-pronominal) form, the subject of the verb acts upon another object.
*Je me réveille facilement. (I wake up easily)
(me reflexive, direct object)
*Plus tard, je réveille ma femme. (Later, I wake up my wife)
(ma femme direct object)
*Je la réveille. (I wake her)
(la direct object pronoun)
S’amuser vs amuser
S’amuser= to have a good time, have fun
Amuser=to amuse
S’arrêter de vs Arrêter
S’arrêter de=to stop (oneself)
Arrêter= to stop (something, someone)
S’ennuyer vs ennuyer
S’ennuyer= to get bored, annoyed Ennuyer= to bore, annoy (s.o.)
Se fâcher vs fâcher
Se fâcher= to become angry
Fâcher= to anger, annoy (s.o.)
Se parler vs parler
Se parler= to talk to oneself, each other
Parler (à)= to speak, talk (to s.o.)
Se regarder vs regarder
Se regarder=to look at oneself, each other
Regarder= to look at (s.th. S.o.
To have a good time, have fun
S’amuser
To stop (oneself)
S’arrêter de
To get bored, annoyed
S’ennuyer
To become angry, annoyed
Se fâcher
To talk to oneself, each other
Se parler
To look at oneself, each other
Se regarder
When is se used with impersonal expressions
Many verbs are commonly used with the third-person reflexive pronoun se to convey a truism or other generality. The pronoun to express generalities is always se/s’; the third-person verb form is singular or plural, depending on the subject.
- Le vin blanc se boit frais. (White wine is drunk cold)
- Les maillots de bain se vendent bien en été. (Bathing suits sell well in the summer)
- Cela ne se fait pas ici. (That isn’t done here)
- Ici, les omelettes ne se mangent pas le matin. (Here, omelets are not eaten in the morning)
- Le bruit s’entend d’ici. (You can hear the noise from here)
What is the english equivalent of the present participle
In English, the present participle ends in -ing: While living abroad, Christine gained a better understanding of her own country.
How are present participles formed
The French present participle is formed by dropping the -ons ending from the nous form of the present tense and adding -ant.
Boire
•Present tense
•Present participle and definition
Boire
•Present tense (nous buvons)
•Present participle (buvant=drinking)
Donner
•Present tense
•Present participle and definition
Donner
•Present tense (nous donnons)
•Present participle (donnant=giving)
Faire
•Present tense
•Present participle and definition
Faire
•Present tense (nous faisons)
•Present participle (faisant=doing, making)
Finir
•Present tense
•Present participle and definition
Finir
•Present tense (nous finissons)
•Present participle (finissant=finishing)
Perdre (to lose)
•Present tense
•Present participle and definition
Perdre
•Present tense (nous perdons)
•Present participle (perdant=losing)
Vouloir
•Present tense
•Present participle and definition
Vouloir
•Present tense (nous voulons)
•Present participle and definition (voulant=wanting)
Present participles of
Avoir
Ayant (having)
Present participle of être
Étant
Present particle of savoir
Sachant (knowing)
How to use the present participle
The present participle is often preceded by the preposition en (while, upon) to express an action taking place at the same time as the main verb. Both actions are performed by the same subject.
- J’écoute la radio en faisant mes devoirs. (I listen to the radio while doing my homework)
- Ne parle pas au téléphone en conduisant! (Don’t talk on the phone while driving!)
- En rentrant, il allume les lampes. (Upon arriving home, he turns on the lights)
How to use the present participle to indicate cause and effect
The present participle with en can also indicate a relationship of cause and effect. With this meaning, en corresponds to the English prepositions in or by. An object pronoun, if needed, follows en and precedes the present participle.
- C’est en voyageant qu’on devient voyageur. (It’s by traveling that you become a traveler)
- Nous apprenons le français en étudiant. (We learn French by studying.)
- Je fais la connaissance d’un ami en lui parlant. (I get to know a friend by speaking to him)
