Transcript Reflexive verbs present tense notes File

Reflexive Verbs
Notes 1
Chapitre 4
What is a reflexive verb?
Reflexive verbs are different from the
verbs we have previously studied
because the subject of the sentence both
performs the action of the verb and
receives the action of the verb.
 When a verb is reflexive, you will see
“se” before the infinitive.
 Ex: Se laver= to wash oneself
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Many verbs may be either reflexive or nonreflexive, depending on whether the subject is
performing the action on itself or on someone
or something else.
 Ex: Je me lave les cheveux= I wash my hair.
Vs. Je lave le chien= I wash the dog
 The second sentence above is not reflexive
because the dog, not the subject receives the
washing.
Use of reflexive verbs
French speakers use reflexive verbs to
describe their daily routines. Here are
some reflexive verbs:
 Se laver=to wash oneself
 Se brosser= to brush oneself
 Se lever= to get up
 s’asseoir= to sit oneself down
 Se peigner= to comb oneself
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More reflexive verbs
S’habiller= to get oneself dressed
 Se déshabiller= to get oneself undressed
 Se maquiller= to put make-up on oneself
 Se raser= to shave
 Se regarder= to look at oneself
 Se préparer= to get oneself ready
 Se déguiser= to dress oneself up
 Se dépêcher= to hurry oneself
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Reflexive pronouns
In order to show that the verb is reflexive
we must use a reflexive pronoun with the
subject of the sentence.
Reflexive pronouns:
Me
Nous
Te
Vous
Se
Se
Conjugating a reflexive verb
 Se laver= to wash oneself
 Je me lave Nous nous lavons
 Tu te laves Vous vous lavez
 Il/Elle/On se lave Ils/Elles se lavent
The definite article and reflexive
verbs
Reflexive verbs often express the action
of doing something to a part of one’s
own body. In this case you use the
definite article instead of the possessive
adjective.
 Ex: Je me brosse les dents= I brush my
teeth.
 Ex: Nous nous lavons les figures= we
wash our faces.
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Reflexive verbs in the negative
To make a negative sentence, put ne in
front of the reflexive pronoun and pas
after the verb. In other words, the
reflexive pronoun is included in the ne…
pas sandwich.
 Ex: Je ne me couche pas à dix heures.
Je me couche à onze heures chaque
soir.
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Reflexive pronouns and inversion
To ask a question using inversion, put
the subject pronoun after the form of the
verb, keeping the reflexive pronoun in
front of the verb.
 Ex: À quelle heure vous couchez-vous?
 Please note: the first “vous” is the
reflexive pronoun, and the second “vous”
is the subject inverted.
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