Reflexive Verbs in French
First, a reminder about ‘er’ verbs: Take off ‘er’, add e es ons ez ent e.g. ‘laver’ – ‘to wash’ (je) j’ tu il elle nous vous ils elles lave laves lavons lavez lavent (I) (you) (he) (she) (we) (they) (wash) (washes)
What are ‘Reflexive Verbs’ ? In English and in French reflexive verbs are verbs (action words) that one uses to express what one does to oneself. I wash myself I get myself up I call myself Je me lave. Je me leve. Je m’ appelle.
Here are some examples of reflexive verbs se laver se lever s’ appeler se reveiller se doucher s’ habiller se coucher to wash (oneself) to get (oneself) up to call (oneself) to wake (oneself) up to shower (oneself) to get (oneself) dressed / to dress to get (oneself) to bed / to go to bed
What is so different about reflexive verbs ?
It changes depending on who is speaking (the pronoun). In French, the ‘reflexive’ part of the verb (reflexive pronoun) also changes, as well as the verb ending. It changes depending on who is speaking (the pronoun). (I call myself) Je m’ appelle (ending changes) main verb pronoun reflexivepronoun
Here is how it changes: e.g. ‘se laver’ – ‘to wash (oneself)’ je tu il elle nous vous ils elles m(e) t(e) s(e) nous vous lave laves lavons lavez lavent I you he she we they wash washes myself yourself himself herself ourselves themselves
Remember, we have to change the ‘se’ part of the verb, and the verb ending, depending on the pronoun.
Some examples: …easy… Je (se appeller) Bob. Je m’ appelle Bob. Il (se appeller) Bob. Comment tu (se appeller). Je (se lever) à six heures. Nous (se coucher) à onze heures. Elle (se reveiller) quand ? Vous (se laver) à dix heures Ils (se doucher) à sept heures. Je m’ appelle Bob. Il s’ appelle Bob. Comment tu t’ appelles ? Je me leve à six heures. Nous nous couchons à onze heures. Elle se reveille quand ? Vous vous lavez à dix heures. Ils se douchent à sept heures. …easy…
(Just one more step than conjugating). That’s it !! (Just one more step than conjugating).