Language/French/Grammar/Reflexive-and-reciprocal-verbs

Reflexive & Reciprocal Pronominal Verbs

In French, reflexive and reciprocal pronominal verbs are a type of verb that require a reflexive pronoun (such as "se") to indicate that the subject is performing the action upon itself or that the action is mutual among the subjects. Understanding the use of these verbs is essential for fluent and accurate French communication.

In this lesson, we will explore the differences between reflexive and reciprocal pronominal verbs and provide examples of how they are used in French sentences. We will also discuss the common misconceptions about these verbs and provide tips for using them correctly.

By the end of this lesson, you will have a better understanding of the proper usage of reflexive and reciprocal pronominal verbs in French and be able to apply this knowledge to your conversations and writing. So let's start exploring the world of reflexive and reciprocal pronominal verbs in French!

What is a pronominal verb?

Pronominal verbs ("Les verbes pronominaux" in French), of which there are several categories, are verbs that are constructed with a reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nous, vous) of the same person as the subject. This pronoun is always placed before the verb.

Reflexive & Reciprocal pronominal verbs

Video

1. Reflexive verbs are very common in French. All you need to know is which reflective pronoun to use and where it goes in the sentence (including the negative sentence).
2. Reciprocal verbs are a form of pronominal verbs. Reflexive or pronominal verbs are used in all tenses.

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Reflexive pronominal verb

A reflexive pronominal verb expresses an action that the subject does on himself:

• Tu te laves.

You wash yourself.

Reciprocal pronominal verb

The reciprocal pronominal verb expresses an action both accomplished and received by each of the actors in the action.

• Toutes les étudiants se sont regardés.

All the students looked at each other.

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Not all pronominal verbs are reflective or reciprocal

There are:

• Essentially pronominal verbs like: "se souvenir", "s'abstenir", "s'en aller" ... (to remember, to abstain, to go away ...)
• Passive pronominal verbs such as: "se fabriquer", "se faire", "se vendre" .... (to build, to make, to sell ...)
• Active verbs that change their meaning in the pronominal form, such as: "s'attraquer à", "se passer de" ... (to tackle, to do without ...)

Other Lessons

• Imperative mood
• Use of the definite article with seasons
• y and en as an integral part of the verb structure
• How to use “et” in cardinal numbers
• Indefinite article
• Comparing neutral ce, cela, ça with personal il ils and elle elles
• Questions
• Plural forms of adjectives — The normal case
• Nouns
• Relative pronouns
• Reciprocal se and cases of potential ambiguity
• Directly transitive verbs take the auxiliary “avoir”
• The plural of compound nouns
• Dates
• Plurals of nouns ending in eu, au, eau