How to Conjugate French Reflexive Verbs

How to Conjugate French Reflexive Verbs Megan L. Need to brush up on French reflexive verbs ? In this lesson, French tutor  Carol Beth    teaches how to conjugate French reflexive verbs in the present and past tenses French (and many other romance languages) include a category of verbs, called reflexive verbs, that are treated a little differently than in English. Indeed, we have the same concept in English. We might say that we wash our face, we dress ourselves, and so on. That is, we are taking action towards ourselves. In French, this type of action is addressed by reflexive verbs. Common French Reflexive Verbs Here are a few verbs that are very commonly used reflexively: se laver   to wash (oneself) se laver les mains to wash ones hands se coiffer to do (ones) hair se coucher to go to bed se réveiller  to wake up se lever to get up sasseoir to sit (down) sappeler to be called sarrêter to stop (oneself) se taire to be/become quiet Some verbs are usually reflexive; some are only sometimes reflexive, depending on the situation. For example: Je regarde un film. I am watching a film. Je me regarde dans le miroir. I am looking at myself in the mirror. The presence of “myself” in the English translation of the second sentence is a big cue to use the reflexive form of the verb in French. How to Conjugate French Reflexive Verbs Now for their conjugation. The main part of the verb (laver, coiffer, etc.) conjugates much like other French verbs. With the exception of the irregular sassoeir and se taire, all those listed above are regular -er verbs. The reflexive portion (the “se”) conjugates as follows: Je me Tu te Il / elle / on se Nous nous Vous vous Ils / elles se To conjugate a full example in the present tense: Se laver (to wash oneself) Je me lave Tu te laves Il / elle / on se lave Nous nous lavons Vous vous lavez Ils / elles se lavent Lets try a few examples. Try conjugating the verbs in parenthesis in the following sentences: 1) Je _______________ (se brosser) les dents le matin. I brush my teeth in the mornings. 2) La fille _______________ (se coiffer) avant de manger le petit déjeuner. The girl brushes her hair before eating breakfast. 3) Nous _______________ (se lever) à 7h30 du matin. We get up at 7:30 in the morning. 4) Tu _______________ (se réveiller) avant nous. You wake up before us. 5) Vous _______________ (se coucher) à 22h du soir. You go to bed at 10:00 at night. Now check your answers: 1) me brosse 2) se coiffe 3) nous levons 4) te réveilles 5) vous couchez Most other tenses are pretty straightforward, since the same endings still tack themselves onto the end just like other French verbs. French Reflexive Verbs in the Past Tense The tense to watch out for the most is the passé composé. Reflexive verbs always take être (not avoir) as their auxiliary verb. Like verbs of motion, the past participle will agree with the subjects number and gender. The conjugation of être will go between the reflexive particle and the main verb. So se laver would conjugate itself as follows: Je me suis lavé(e) Tu tes lavé(e) Il sest lavé Elle sest lavée On sest lavé Nous nous sommes lavé(e)s Vous vous êtes lavé(e)(s) Ils se sont lavés Elles se sont lavées The optional es and ss following the je, tu, nous, and vous forms depend on the context in which they are used and whether the subject is masculine, feminine, singular, or plural. Lets try a few of these out. Try conjugating the verbs in parenthesis in the passe compose in each of the following sentences: 1) Je _______________ (se brosser) les dents ce matin. I brushed my teeth this morning. 2) La fille _______________ (se coiffer) avant de manger le petit déjeuner. The girl brushed her hair before eating breakfast. 3) Nous _______________ (se lever) à 7h30 hier matin. (Assume the speaker and the friends or family she is including are all women or girls.) We got up at 7:30 yesterday morning. 4) Tu _______________ (se réveiller) avant nous. (You can decide whether you are speaking to a man, woman, boy, or girl.) You woke up before us. 5) Vous _______________ (se coucher) à 22h hier soir. (Assume the speaker is talking to many people, of whom at least one of which is a guy.) You went to bed at 10:00 last night. 6) Le garçon _____________ (se coucher) à vingt-et-une heures. The boy went to bed at 9pm. Now check your answers. 1) me suis brossé 2) sest coiffée 3) nous sommes levées 4) tes réveillé(e) If you decided you were speaking to a man or boy, be sure you didnt add the extra “e.” Make sure you did if you decided you were talking to a woman or girl. 5) vous êtes couchés 6) sest couché If you didnt get them all right this time, dont worry. Either way, keep practicing and using these verbs in context to master them. See even more French verb and grammar lessons here! Do you have any additional tips for memorizing French reflexive verbs? Share them with us in the comments below! Post Author:  Carol Beth L. Carol Beth teaches  French lessons in San Francisco, CA. She has her Masters in French language education from the Sorbonne University in Paris and has been teaching since 2009.  Learn more about Carol Beth here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher