Common Reflexive Verbs in French: Conjugation and Usage

In French, reflexive verbs are special verbs where the subject does something to themselves. In this article, we will go over some popular reflexive verbs, how to change them in the present tense, and some important grammar rules.

Common Reflexive Verbs

Here are some reflexive verbs you will often use:

• se laver (to wash oneself)
• s'habiller (to dress oneself)
• se réveiller (to wake up)
• s'amuser (to have fun)
• se coucher (to go to bed)

How to Conjugate Reflexive Verbs

To conjugate reflexive verbs, you use a special pronoun that matches the subject. When you're using the present tense, these verbs follow the regular patterns of -er, -ir, and -re verbs.

Example: Conjugating se laver

1. Je me lave (I wash myself)
2. Tu te laves (You wash yourself)
3. Il/Elle/On se lave (He/She/One washes themselves)
4. Nous nous lavons (We wash ourselves)
5. Vous vous lavez (You wash yourselves)
6. Ils/Elles se lavent (They wash themselves)

Other Common Reflexive Verbs in Present Tense

• s'habiller
  • Je m'habille (I dress myself)
• se réveiller
  • Ils se réveillent (They wake up)

Important Grammar Points

1. Articles and Their Agreement

In French, nouns can be masculine or feminine, and they can be singular or plural. Articles (like "the" or "a") need to match the noun:

• Indefinite Articles: un (masculine), une (feminine), des (plural)
• Definite Articles: le (masculine), la (feminine), les (plural)

2. Using Adjectives

Adjectives also need to match the noun they describe in gender and number:

• Un homme intelligent (An intelligent man)
• Une femme intelligente (An intelligent woman)
• Des hommes intelligents (Intelligent men)

3. Introduction to Passé Composé

To make the passé composé, you need a helping verb (either avoir or être) and the past form of the main verb. Reflexive verbs usually use être, and the reflexive pronoun comes before the helping verb:

• Je me suis réveillé(e) (I woke up)
• Ils se sont lavés (They washed themselves)

By understanding these grammar rules and practicing reflexive verbs, you will improve your French skills a lot. Keep practicing so that you can speak more confidently and fluently!