Language/French/Grammar/Pronominal-verbs-used-reciprocally
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Definitions
Pronominal Verbs
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.
Reciprocal Verbs
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.
Pronominal Verbs used Reciprocally
When a pronominal verb is used in the plural and describes a situation where several subjects are doing things to each other, it is being used reciprocally.
Examples
The pronoun is an direct object
- Habituellement, les journalistes se consultent avant de publier ce genre d'article polémique
Usually, journalists consult each other before publishing this kind of controversial article.
- Ils se donneront rendez-vous à la station Opéra à Paris
They will meet at the Opéra metro station in Paris
- Nous nous connaissons déjà bien depuis 5 ans
We have known each other well for 5 years
- Les enfants se disputent souvent quand ils sont fatigués
Children often argue (with each other) when they are tired
Indirect Object Pronoun
The pronoun can be a direct object, as in the examples above, or an indirect object, as in the following examples:
- Souvent les personnes s'écrivent pour restent en contact
Often people write to one another to keep in touch
- Il a été demandé aux enfants de se poser les bonnes questions sans demander au professeur
Children were asked to ask themselves the right questions without asking the teacher
- Nous nous envoyons un cadeau à chaque vacance de Noël
We send each other a gift every Christmas holiday
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Ambiguity
Sometimes there is a possible ambiguity between a reflexive interpretation of the pronoun and a reciprocal interpretation, for example:
- Les boxeurs se sont blessés
The boxers hurt each other or The boxers hurt themselves (i.e. each hurt himself but not the other)
- Les participants se sont posé des questions
The participants asked each other questions or The participants asked questions of themselves
Use « l'un l'autre »
One way to make the reciprocal interpretation entirely clear is to add the expression "l'un l'autre" (each other) in its appropriate form.
Direct Object
For example, where a direct object is involved:
- Les boxeurs se sont blessés l'un l'autre
The boxers hurt each other
Indirect Object
But where an indirect object is involved:
- Les participants se sont posé des questions l'un à l'autre
The participants asked each other questions
Gender and number variation
l'un l'autre also varies for gender and number. If the subjects are feminine in gender "l'une l'autre" is required:
- On s'aide l'une l'autre pour la garde des enfants
We help each other out with looking after the children
If more than just two subjects are involved a plural form of "l'un l'autre" is required:
- Les universitaires du monde entier peuvent se contacter les uns les autres par courrier électronique
Academics all over the world can contact each other by email