Reflexive pronouns are used in French when the subject of the sentence performs an action on itself. They always accompany reflexive verbs, which are verbs preceded by the pronoun se (or s’ before a vowel). These pronouns appear before the conjugated verb or before the auxiliary verb in compound tenses.
| Person | Reflexive Pronoun |
|---|---|
| je (I) | me (m’) |
| tu (you singular) | te (t’) |
| il/elle/on (he/she/one) | se (s’) |
| nous (we) | nous |
| vous (you plural/formal) | vous |
| ils/elles (they) | se (s’) |
⟶ Notice how written forms change to m’, t’, and s’ before vowels or mute h* for smoother pronunciation.
Using Reflexive Pronouns with Simple Tenses
Reflexive pronouns come directly before the verb.
| French Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| Je me lève à 7 heures. | I get myself up at 7 a.m. |
| Tu te brosses les dents. | You brush your teeth. |
| Elle se couche tard. | She goes to bed late. |
| Nous nous habillons rapidement. | We get dressed quickly. |
| Vous vous réveillez tôt. | You wake up early. |
| Ils se reposent après l’école. | They rest after school. |
Using Reflexive Pronouns with Compound Tenses (Passé Composé)
Reflexive pronouns appear before the auxiliary verb être. The past participle usually agrees in gender and number with the subject.
| French Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| Je me suis levé(e) tôt. | I got myself up early. |
| Tu t’es lavé(e) les mains. | You washed your hands. |
| Il s’est habillé. | He got dressed. |
| Nous nous sommes préparé(e)s. | We got ready. |
| Vous vous êtes reposé(e)(s). | You rested. |
| Elles se sont promenées. | They went for a walk. |
⟶ *The past participle agrees with the reflexive pronoun when the pronoun is the direct object (i.e., when no other direct object follows).
Reflexive Pronouns in Negative Sentences
Place ne before the reflexive pronoun and pas after the verb.
| French Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| Je ne me couche pas tard. | I don’t go to bed late. |
| Tu ne te réveilles pas tôt. | You don’t wake up early. |
| Elle ne se lave pas le visage. | She doesn’t wash her face. |
| Nous ne nous dépêchons pas. | We’re not hurrying. |
| Vous ne vous reposez pas assez. | You don’t rest enough. |
| Ils ne se disputent pas souvent. | They don’t argue often. |
Role of Reflexive Pronouns
Reflexive pronouns indicate that the subject both performs and receives the action. They add the meaning of “doing something to oneself.”
- se regarder = to look at oneself
- se laver = to wash oneself
- se souvenir de = to remember (literally “to remember oneself of”)
- se dépêcher = to hurry oneself
These pronouns are essential for clarity, ensuring that the action is understood as reflexive rather than directed toward someone or something else.
Summary
- Reflexive pronouns are used with verbs preceded by se.
- They always match the subject in person and number.
- They precede the verb (or auxiliary in compound tenses).
- In the past tense, use être as the auxiliary and make agreement when appropriate.
- Reflexive pronouns show that the subject acts on itself.
Flashcards (1 of 18)
- English Example: I get myself up at 7 a.m.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
