Language/French/Grammar/Pronominal-verbs-used-reciprocally
Definition
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
- D'ordinaire, les journalistes se consultent avant de publier un article de ce genre
Journalists usually consult each other before publishing this kind of article
- Ils se rencontreront à Paris
They will meet (each other) in Paris
- Nous nous connaissons
We know each other
- Les enfants se disputant
The children are arguing (with each other)
The pronoun is an indirect object
The pronoun can be a direct object, as in the above examples, or an indirect object, as in the following examples:
- Souvent les participants s'écrivent et restent en contact après la conférence
Participants often write to one another and keep in touch after the conference
- Il a ensuite été demandé aux élèves de se poser des questions sans le secours du professeur
Pupils were then required to ask each other questions without the teacher's help
- Nous nous envoyons des cadeaux à Noël chaque année
We send each other presents every year at Christmas
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. For example, where a direct object is involved:
- Les boxeurs se sont blessés l'un l'autre
The boxers hurt each other
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
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 electronic mail