Language/French/Grammar/Pronominal-verbs-used-reflexively
Pronominal verbs used reflexively
When pronominal verbs are used to describe something which the subject does to herself, himself, themselves, etc., they are being used reflexively:
Tab1
No form of –self / reflexive pronoun always required
Note that English translations of pronominal verbs used reflexively do not always require a form of -self. In French, however, the reflexive pronoun is always required:
Tab2
Pronoun being the direct or indirect object
The pronoun itself may be the direct or indirect object of the verb. If the verb in its non-pronominal form is directly transitive, the pronoun will be a direct object. If the verb in its non-pronominal form is indirectly transitive, the pronoun will be an indirect object pronoun. For example, laver takes a direct object: laver la voiture. Therefore in Je me lave the pronoun is direct. But parler (parler à qn) takes an indirect object, e.g. parler à une amie. Therefore in Je me parle the pronoun is indirect.
The reflexive pronoun is the direct object
tab3
The reflexive pronoun is the indirect object
tab4
The difference between direct object reflexives and indirect object reflexives is clear from the last example in each set:
- Marianne se cache dans l'armoire
- Marianne se cache la vérité
In the first example the se is the person who is hidden: Marianne cache Marianne dans l'armoire. In the second example it is la vérité which is hidden and the se is the indirect object: Marianne cache la vérité à Marianne. These differences are
significant when it comes to past participle agreement.
Used pronominally as reflexives
Many ordinarily directly transitive, indirectly transitive and ditransitive verbs can be used pronominally as reflexives, for example:
- II critique son patron II se critique
He criticizes his boss He criticizes himself
- Je juge le prisonnier coupable Je me juge coupable
I consider the prisoner guilty I consider myself guilty
- Elle regarde son amie Elle se regarde
She is looking at her girlfriend She is looking at herself
- Tu offres un cadeau à Philippe Tu t'offres un cadeau
You are giving a present to Philip You are giving a present to yourself
- II parle à sa mère II se parle
He's talking to his mother He's talking to himself
- Elle cache la vérité à son mari Elle se cache la vérité
She is hiding the truth from her husband She is hiding the truth from herself