Reflexive verbs in the Present Tense We have

Reflexive verbs in the Present Tense We have already met the reflexive verb s’appeler = to be called. These verbs work in the same way. Se réveiller to wake up Se lever to get up Se laver to get washed Se doucher to shower S’habiller to get dressed

What are Reflexive Verbs? • A reflexive verb is a verb where the action happens to the person who is doing the action. • For example “Je me reveille” means “I wake (myself) up. ” In French you must have the reflexive pronoun (the equivalent of myself, yourself, himself etc. ). • Some verbs are “reflexive” in French even though it wouldn’t make sense to use a reflexive pronoun in English. (Je me promène = I’m walking / I walk myself)

Why are they important? • Sometimes it helps to differentiate between the meaning of two words: attendre = to wait BUT s’attendre = to expect • Sometimes it helps to differentiate who is receiving the action: Je me promène VS Je promène le chien

What’s important to know? • How to form them in present, passé compose and other tenses • When to make agreement with the past participle

For example, Je me couche Tu te couches Il/elle se couche Nous nous couchons Vous vous couchez Ils/elles se couchent NOTE THAT THEY ARE ALL ‘-ER’ VERBS!

Now let’s take that same verb and see what happens in the passé composé… Je me suis couchée Tu t’es couché Il s’est couché Elle s’est couchée • • Se coucher Nous nous sommes couchés Vous vous êtes couchée Ils se sont couchés Elles se sont couchées What helping verb do you use for reflexive verbs in the passé composé? What can you tell about the subjects in this example? (Is the « je » a male or female speaking? How about the « tu » is a male or female being described? And what about the « nous » and « vous » -- what can you tell about those subjects?