Lesson #1 : Reflexive verbs / Verbes à sens réfléchi

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This lesson has been requested so there it is!

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There are three kinds of pronominal verbs in French. With reflexive verbs, the subject performs the action on itself. Here are the most common French reflexive verbs.


s'approcher de to approach
s'asseoir to sit down
se baigner to bathe, swim
se brosser (les cheveux, les dents) to brush (one's hair, teeth)
se casser (la jambe) to break (one's leg)
se coiffer to fix one's hair
se coucher to go to bed
se couper to cut oneself
se déshabiller to get undressed
se doucher to take a shower
se fâcher to get angry
s'habiller to get dressed
se laver (les mains, la figure) to wash (one's hands, face)
se lever to get up
se maquiller to put on make-up
se marier (avec) to get married (to)
se moquer de to make fun of (someone else)
se moucher to blow one's nose
se peigner to comb one's hair
se raser to shave
se regarder to look at oneself
se reposer to rest
se réveiller to wake up
se souvenir de to remember

Note that many of these verbs have a non-reflexive use as well.

Je me lave les mains. I'm washing my hands.
vs
Je lave la voiture. I'm washing the car.


Some verbs that are normally not reflexive may be used reflexively in a construction known as the passive impersonal in order to avoid the passive voice:

- Ce livre est souvent lu. Ce livre se lit souvent.
- Les mûres ne sont pas vendues ici. Les mûres ne se vendent pas ici.


Note: When referring to a part of the body, the French possessive pronoun is rarely used. Instead, the reflexive pronoun indicates possession and the definite article is used in front of the part of the body.

Je me lave les mains - I'm washing my hands.

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Here is a link to a website explaining more about reflexive verbs that you might want to check out:

http://www.happychild.org.uk/freeway/french/vocab/reflexive00.htm

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I hope that it helped
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Your French Teacher
Alice Cullen