2 1 Reflexive and reciprocal verbs Reflexive

2. 1 Reflexive and reciprocal verbs • Reflexive verbs typically describe an action that the subject does to or for himself, herself, or itself. Reflexive verbs are conjugated like their non-reflexive counterparts but always use reflexive pronouns. Reflexive verb Non-reflexive verb Bruno se réveille. Bruno réveille son fils. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 2. 1 -1

2. 1 Reflexive and reciprocal verbs Reflexive verbs se réveiller to wake up je tu il/elle nous vous ils/elles © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. me réveille te réveilles se réveille nous réveillons vous réveillez se réveillent 2. 1 -2

2. 1 Reflexive and reciprocal verbs • Many verbs used to describe routines are reflexive. s’arrêter to stop (oneself) se fâcher (contre) to get se lever to get up se brosser to brush angry (with) se maquiller to put se coucher to go to bed s’habiller to get dressed on makeup se couper to cut oneself s’habituer à to get used to se peigner to comb se déshabiller to undress s’inquiéter to worry se raser to shave se dépêcher to hurry s’intéresser (à) to be se rendre compte de interested (in) to realize se laver to wash oneself se reposer to rest se détendre to relax © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 2. 1 -3

2. 1 Remember! • When mentioning body parts, in French you use the definite article (le, la, les) instead of the posessive pronoun. • Example: French: Je me brosse les dents à 5 heures du matin. English: I brush my teeth at 5 in the morning. NOT: Je me brosse mes dents… © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 2. 1 -4

2. 1 Reflexive and reciprocal verbs • Some verbs can be used reflexively or non-reflexively. Use the non-reflexive form if the verb acts upon something other than the subject. La passagère se fâche. The passenger is getting angry. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. Tu fâches la passagère. You are angering the passenger. 2. 1 -5

2. 1 Pause de Madame! This is because of how DIRECT OBJECTS work in a sentence. A direct object directly receives the action of the verb. To help you remember (but not always a surefire rule…) A direct object answers the question ‘Who’ or ‘What’? If you can’t logically answer ‘Who’ or ‘What’ – it’s probably not a direct object. I bought a dress. J’ai acheté une robe. --What did I buy? A robe. Une robe is the direct object. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 2. 1 -6

2. 1 • So! With reflexive verbs, the reflexive pronoun IS the direct object. Jean se promène. Here, Jean is walking himself. What/Who is he walking? Himself. SE = the direct object. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 2. 1 -7

2. 1 • However!! • Jean promène le chien. What or Who is he walking? Now he’s walking the dog (not himself) That means that we take away the reflexive pronoun, because it’s not the direct object. The dog is the direct object. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 2. 1 -8

2. 1 Recap! • Jean se promène. Who or what is he walking? Himself. Not someone/ something else. • Jean promène le chien. Who or what is he walking? The dog. You took notes on this, right? It’s not in the book. Madame added it because it’s pretty important to understand how reflexive/reciprocal pronouns work. Also, you will kick yourself later on if you’re not paying attention now… Vista Higher Learning, Inc. © and ® 2011 2. 1 -9

2. 1 Reflexive and reciprocal verbs • Many nonreflexive verbs change meaning when they are used with a reflexive pronoun and might not literally express a reflexive action. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. aller to go amuser to amuse apercevoir to catch sight of s’en aller to go away s’amuser to have fun s’apercevoir to realize attendre to wait (for) se demander to wonder demander to ask douter to doubt ennuyer to bother entendre to hear mettre to put servir to serve tromper to deceive se douter de to suspect s’ennuyer to get bored s’entendre bien avec to get along with se mettre à to begin se servir de to use se tromper to be mistaken s’attendre à to expect 2. 1 -10

2. 1 Reflexive and reciprocal verbs • A number of verbs are used only in the reflexive form, but may not literally express a reflexive action. se méfier de to distrust se moquer de to make fun of © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. se souvenir de to remember se taire to be quiet 2. 1 -11

2. 1 Reflexive and reciprocal verbs • Form the affirmative imperative of a reflexive verb by adding the reflexive pronoun at the end of the verb with a hyphen in between. For negative commands, begin with ne and place the reflexive pronoun immediately before the verb. Habillons-nous. Il faut partir! Let’s get dressed. We have to leave! © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. Ne vous inquiétez pas. Don’t worry. 2. 1 -12

2. 1 Reflexive and reciprocal verbs • Remember to change te to toi in affirmative commands. Repose-toi bien ce week-end. Rest up this weekend. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. Tais-toi! Be quiet! 2. 1 -13

2. 1 Reflexive and reciprocal verbs Repose-toi bien ce week-end. Rest up this weekend. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. Tais-toi! Be quiet! 2. 1 -14

2. 1 Reflexive and reciprocal verbs • Use l’un(e) l’autre and l’un(e) à l’autre, or their plural forms les un(e)s les autres and les un(e)s aux autres, to emphasize that an action is reciprocal. Béa et Yves se regardent. Béa and Yves look at each other. Béa and Yves look at themselves but Béa et Yves se regardent l’un l’autre. Béa and Yves look at each other. Ils s’envoient des e-mails. They send each other e-mails. They send themselves e-mails. but Ils s’envoient des e-mails les uns aux autres. They send each other e-mails. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 2. 1 -15