Language/French/Grammar/Pronominal-verbs-and-body-parts
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Pronominal verbs and body parts
Rule
The normal way of describing events in which subjects do things to their own bodies is to use a pronominal verb and the part of the body preceded by a definite or indefinite article, and not by a possessive determiner as in English:
Examples
- Je me lave toujours les mains avant de déjeuner
I always wash my hands before lunch
- Elle va se couper le doigt si elle ne fait pas attention
She will cut her finger if she's not careful
- Nathan s'est cassé la jambe en jouant au football
Nathan broke his leg playing football
- Tu as encore oublié de te brosser les dents!
You forgot to brush your teeth again!
- J'aime bien me brosser les cheveux
I like brushing my hair
- Elle s'est cassé une dent de devant
She broke one of her front teeth
Video: Reflexive verbs with body parts