Pronominal verbs are verbs that are always used with reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nous, vous, se). Reflexive verbs describe actions that the subject does to themselves. Pronominal verbs can express reflexive actions, reciprocal actions, or other idiomatic meanings.
Pronominal Pronouns
| Pronoun Subjet | Pronoms Réfléchiss | English Reflexive Pronouns |
|---|---|---|
| je | me (m’) | myself |
| tu | te (t’) | yourself |
| il/elle/on | se (s’) | himself/herself/oneself |
| nous | nous | ourselves |
| vous | vous | yourself/yourselves |
| ils/elles | se (s’) | themselves |
The reflexive pronoun always agrees with the subject and comes before the verb or auxiliary.
When to Use Reflexive Verbs
Reflexive Meaning
- The subject performs the action on itself.
Examples:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Je me lave. | I wash myself. |
| Elle se coiffe. | She does her hair. |
Reciprocal Meaning
- The action is done mutually between two or more subjects.
Examples:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Nous nous parlons. | We talk to each other. |
| Ils se voient souvent. | They see each other often. |
Idiomatic or Non-Reflexive Meanings
Some pronominal verbs have meanings fixed by usage and do not literally mean “oneself.”
Examples:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Je me méfie de lui. | I distrust him. |
| Elle s’en va. | She’s going away. |
She’s going away. (Elle s’en va.)
herself
'S’en aller' is an idiomatic pronominal verb where 'se' refers back to the subject, but the meaning is 'go away' rather than a literal reflexive action.
Reflexive Verbs and Auxiliary Choice
Pronominal verbs use être as the auxiliary in compound tenses (e.g., passé composé), and the past participle usually agrees with the subject unless a direct object follows.
Examples:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Je me suis levé(e). | I got up. |
| Elle s’est lavé les mains. | She washed her hands. |
Common Pronominal Verbs
| Verb | Meaning | Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| se lever | to get up | Je me lève tôt. | I get up early. |
| s’habiller | to get dressed | Tu t’habilles vite. | You get dressed quickly. |
| se coucher | to go to bed | Ils se couchent tard. | They go to bed late. |
| se dépêcher | to hurry | Dépêche-toi ! | Hurry up! |
| se fâcher | to get angry | Elle se fâche facilement. | She gets angry easily. |
| se souvenir | to remember | Je me souviens de toi. | I remember you. |
| se moquer | to make fun of | Ils se moquent de moi. | They make fun of me. |
| se rencontrer | to meet (each other) | Nous nous sommes rencontrés. | We met each other. |
| se préparer | to get ready | Je me prépare pour le voyage. | I’m getting ready for the trip. |
I remember you. (Je ___ de toi.)
me souviens
'Se souvenir de' requires reflexive pronoun matching the subject: 'Je me souviens de toi.'
They make fun of me. (Ils ___ de moi.)
se moquent
'Se moquer de' means 'to make fun of'. For 'ils', use 'se moquent' (third person plural).
Summary
- Pronominal verbs always use reflexive pronouns matching the subject.
- Reflexive verbs describe actions done to oneself.
- Reciprocal verbs describe mutual actions.
- Some pronominal verbs have idiomatic meanings.
- Use être as the auxiliary in compound tenses, and watch for past participle agreement.
Flashcards (1 of 23)
- Pronoun Subjet: je
- Pronoms Réfléchiss: me (m’)
- English Reflexive Pronouns: myself
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
