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.?)