Difference between revisions of "Language/French/Grammar/Reciprocal-se-and-cases-of-potential-ambiguity"
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<div | <div class="pg_page_title"> Reciprocal se and cases of potential ambiguity</div> | ||
When the subject is third person plural, se may also be interpreted as a 'reciprocal' pronoun, corresponding to English 'each other'. In some cases se is therefore ambiguous, having a 'reflexive' or 'reciprocal' interpretation, and the meaning may depend on the context: | When the subject is third person plural, se may also be interpreted as a 'reciprocal' pronoun, corresponding to English 'each other'. In some cases se is therefore ambiguous, having a 'reflexive' or 'reciprocal' interpretation, and the meaning may depend on the context: | ||
*Les deux écrivains s'admirent depuis 20 ans is most likely to be: | *Les deux écrivains s'admirent depuis 20 ans is most likely to be: | ||
| Line 6: | Line 6: | ||
but could possibly be: | but could possibly be: | ||
The two writers have (each) admired themselves for 20 years | The two writers have (each) admired themselves for 20 years | ||
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The two friends know themselves or each other well | The two friends know themselves or each other well | ||
== | <span link>Once you've mastered this lesson, take a look at these related pages:</span> [[Language/French/Grammar/Possessive-determiners|Possessive determiners]], [[Language/French/Grammar/Omission-of-the-article|Omission of the article]], [[Language/French/Grammar/Plural-of-words-in-"Al"|Plural of words in "Al"]] & [[Language/French/Grammar/Adverb—adjective-compounds|Adverb—adjective compounds]]. | ||
==Other Lessons== | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Use-of-the-definite-article-with-quantities|Use of the definite article with quantities]] | * [[Language/French/Grammar/Use-of-the-definite-article-with-quantities|Use of the definite article with quantities]] | ||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Feminine-Form|Feminine Form]] | * [[Language/French/Grammar/Feminine-Form|Feminine Form]] | ||
| Line 29: | Line 29: | ||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Choosing-between-il-est-and-c'est|Choosing between il est and c'est]] | * [[Language/French/Grammar/Choosing-between-il-est-and-c'est|Choosing between il est and c'est]] | ||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Direct-object-and-indirect-object-pronouns-differences-between-English-and-French|Direct object and indirect object pronouns differences between English and French]] | * [[Language/French/Grammar/Direct-object-and-indirect-object-pronouns-differences-between-English-and-French|Direct object and indirect object pronouns differences between English and French]] | ||
<span links></span> | |||
Latest revision as of 13:55, 27 March 2023
Reciprocal se and cases of potential ambiguity
When the subject is third person plural, se may also be interpreted as a 'reciprocal' pronoun, corresponding to English 'each other'. In some cases se is therefore ambiguous, having a 'reflexive' or 'reciprocal' interpretation, and the meaning may depend on the context:
- Les deux écrivains s'admirent depuis 20 ans is most likely to be:
The two writers have admired each other for 20 years
but could possibly be:
The two writers have (each) admired themselves for 20 years
- Les deux amis se connaissent bien
The two friends know themselves or each other well
Once you've mastered this lesson, take a look at these related pages: Possessive determiners, Omission of the article, Plural of words in "Al" & Adverb—adjective compounds.
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Use of the definite article with quantities
- Feminine Form
- Infinitives
- Subject verb agreement — Verb agreement with collective noun subjects
- How to use « il s'agit de » in French
- "se faire" and "se laisser"
- Number differences between French and English nouns
- "C'est" or "Ce sont"
- Nouns which change meaning when they change gender
- How to use Have
- Regular plurals in French
- Ce, and compound forms of être
- Easy way of generating the present tense
- Choosing between il est and c'est
- Direct object and indirect object pronouns differences between English and French