Nom ___________________________________ Date ___________ Classe _________________

Reflexive verbs CHAPITRE 5

In English Sometimes the action of a verb is directed (or reflected) back on the
subject. When this happens, the verb may be followed by a reflexive pronouns, such
as myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, themselves, ourselves, and yourselves.
Study how the reflexive pronouns are used in the following sentences to show that
the subject acts upon itself.
I looked at myself in the mirror.
He made himself some dinner.
The children dress themselves for school.

A Check the appropriate column to indicate whether the action in the sentence is
reflexive or non-reflexive. Reflexive Non-reflexive
1. He washed the car.
2. The dog scratched itself behind the ear.
3. Do you ever talk to yourself?
4. The speech was made by the President.
5. We enjoyed ourselves at the party.
6. She asked Anne where she left her keys.
7. He bought himself a CD at the store.

In French Reflexive verbs are used when the same person performs and receives the
action of the verb. The pronoun se used before the infinitive identifies the verb as
reflexive (se laver, se réveiller).
Maryse va se brosser les cheveux. (reflexive verb)
Maryse va brosser le chat. (non-reflexive verb)
Unlike English, French reflexive pronouns are placed before the verb.
Je me lève. Nous nous levons.
Tu te lèves. Vous vous levez.
Il/Elle/On se lève. Ils/Elles se lèvent.
In negative sentences, place ne… pas around the reflexive pronoun and verb.
Je ne me peigne pas, je me brosse les cheveux.

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REFLEXIVE VERBS CHAPITRE 5

B Check the appropriate column to indicate whether the verb in the sentence is
reflexive or non-reflexive. Reflexive Non-reflexive
1. Il se réveille à 7h20.
2. Je vais à la piscine tous les jours.
3. Elle s’habille avant le petit-déjeuner.
4. Mes frères se lèvent de bonne heure.
5. Henri prend son dîner au restaurant.
6. On prend une douche tous les matins.
7. Il faut se brosser les dents après le repas.

C Complete the following sentences with the correct form of the reflexive verb in
parentheses.
1. Ma cousine ____________ se lève _____________ à 6h. (se lever)
2. Tu ne ____________________________________ pas? (se dépêcher)
3. Nous ____________________________________ tôt. (se réveiller)
4. Jeanne et Claire ne ____________________________________ pas avant
midi. (s’habiller)
5. On ____________________________________ tous les jours. (se baigner)
6. Vous ____________________________________ avant de prendre une
douche? (se raser)
7. Je ____________________________________ les mains avant de manger.
(se laver)
8. Combien de fois par jour est-ce qu’il ________________________________
les dents? (se brosser)

D Compare the following French and English sentences. What differences do you
see and how could you explain them?
Je me brosse les cheveux. I brush my hair.
Elle se lave les mains. She washes her hands.
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Reflexive verbs in the passé composé

and in commands CHAPITRE 5
In English The past tense of verbs that take a reflexive pronoun is similar to the past
tense of other verbs.
He fixed himself a sandwich.
Like other English verbs, the helping verb is a form of have.
We have enjoyed ourselves here.
In affirmative and negative commands, the reflexive pronoun goes after the verb.
Behave yourselves!
Don’t cut yourself with the knife.
A Circle the correct reflexive pronoun in each sentence. Underline the noun to
which the reflexive pronoun refers refers.
1. Children, enjoy (yourself / yourselves ) at the amusement park.
2. We have often asked (ourselves / themselves) that question.
3. Frank heard (yourself / himself) on the radio.
4. They treated ourselves / themselves) to a banana split.
5. I have already helped (myself / himself) to some salad.
6. Patricia has never burnt (herself / yourself) ironing.
7. Have you ever made (yourself / themselves) a foot-long sandwich?

In French The helping verb of reflexive verbs in the passé composé is always être.
In the passé composé, the past participle agrees in gender and number with the
reflexive pronoun if it is a direct object.
Je me suis lavé(e). Nous nous sommes lavé(e)s.
Tu t’es lavé(e). Vous vous êtes lavé(e)(s).
Il s’est lavé. Ils se sont lavés.
Elle s’est lavée. Elles se sont lavées.
On s’est lavé(e)(s).

When a direct object follows a reflexive verb (se laver les cheveux), the reflexive
pronoun is an indirect object and the past participle does not agree with the reflexive
pronoun.
Iris s’est lavée. (se is the direct object; there is agreement)
Iris s’est lavé les cheveux. (se is the indirect object; no agreement is needed)
In affirmative commands, the reflexive pronoun is attached to the end of the verb
with a hyphen. Te changes to toi in this situation.
Lève-toi! Couchez-vous! Dépêchons-nous!
In negative commands, the reflexive pronoun is placed immediately before the verb.
Ne te lève pas! Ne vous couchez pas! Ne nous dépêchons pas!
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REFLEXIVE VERBS IN THE PASSÉ COMPOSÉ AND IN COMMANDS CHAPITRE 5

B Circle the correct reflexive verb in each sentence.
1. Adèle, tu (t’es lavé / s’est lavé) la figure?
2. Pierre et Henri, ne (couchez-vous / vous couchez) pas tard!
3. Chantal, (dépêche-toi / te dépêche)!
4. Est-ce que les enfants (s’est habillé / se sont habillés)?
5. Élise (s’est réveillé / s’est réveillée) de bonne heure.
6. Moi, je (me suis séché / t’es séché) les cheveux.
7. Alfred, (coiffe-toi / coiffe-nous)!

C Complete each sentence with the passé composé of the verb in parentheses.
1. Olivier et moi, nous ______nous sommes réveillés______ tôt. (se réveiller)
2. Constance ____________________________________ la figure. (se laver)
3. Monique et Corinne ____________________________________. (se
maquiller)
4. Tous les copains ____________________________________ rapidement.
(se préparer)
5. Tu ____________________________________ les cheveux. (se sécher)
6. Odile et Claude, vous ____________________________________ trop tard.
(se coucher)

D Write an affirmative or negative command telling the people indicated what to do

or not do.
1. Emmanuelle: se lever
Lève-toi! ______________________________________________________
2. les enfants: se déshabiller
_____________________________________________________________
3. Monsieur Lecler: ne pas se dépêcher
_____________________________________________________________
4. Françoise: se réveiller
_____________________________________________________________
5. toi et moi: se brosser les dents
_____________________________________________________________
6. Paul: ne pas se raser
_____________________________________________________________
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ANSWER KEY

CHAPITRE 5
Reflexive verbs
A 1. non-reflexive 3. Frank heard (yourself / himself) on
2. reflexive the radio.
3. reflexive 4. They treated (ourselves / themselves)
4. non-reflexive to a banana split.
5. reflexive 5. I have already helped (myself /
6. non-reflexive himself) to some salad.
7. reflexive 6. Patricia has never burnt (herself /
B 1. reflexive yourself) ironing.
2. non-reflexive 7. Have you ever made (yourself /
3. reflexive themselves) a foot-long sandwich?
4. reflexive B 1. Adèle, tu (t’es lavé / s’est lavé) la
5. non-reflexive figure?
6. non-reflexive 2. Pierre et Henri, ne (couchez-vous /
7. reflexive vous couchez) pas tard!
C 1. Ma cousine se lève à 6h. 3. Chantal, (dépêche-toi / te dépêche)!
2. Tu ne te dépêches pas? 4. Est-ce que les enfants (s’est habillé /
3. Nous nous réveillons tôt. se sont habillés)?
4. Gilles et Claire ne s’habillent pas 5. Élise (s’est réveillé / s’est réveillée)
avant midi. de bonne heure.
5. On se baigne tous les jours. 6. Moi, je (me suis séché / t’es séché)
6. Vous vous rasez avant de prendre les cheveux.
une douche? 7. Alfred, (coiffe-toi / coiffe-nous)!
7. Je me lave les mains avant de C 1. Olivier et moi, nous nous sommes
manger. réveillés tôt.
8. Combien de fois par jour est-ce qu’il 2. Constance s’est lavé la figure.
se brosse les dents? 3. Monique et Corinne se sont
D Answers will vary. Possible answer: maquillées.
The French sentences always have a 4. Tous les copains se sont préparés
reflexive pronoun with the reflexive rapidement.
verbs (me, se), but in English the 5. Tu t’es séché les cheveux.
reflexive pronouns myself, herself are 6. Odile et Claude, vous vous êtes
not necessary. Also, in French, the couchés trop tard.
definite article is used with a body part D 1. Lève-toi!
that receives the action of a reflexive 2. Déshabillez-vous!
verb (les) whereas in English, a 3. Ne vous dépêchez pas!
possessive pronoun is used (my, her). 4. Réveille-toi!
Reflexive verbs in the passé 5. Brossons-nous les dents!
composé and in commands 6. Ne te rase pas!
A 1. Children, enjoy (yourself /
yourselves) at the amusement park.
2. We have often asked (ourselves /
themselves) that question.

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