Rules and usage
Reflexive verbs in French are verbs where the action is performed by the subject on themselves. They use reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nous, vous) positioned before the verb. Understanding when and how to use these verbs correctly is essential for speaking natural French.
What Are Reflexive Verbs?
- A reflexive verb shows that the subject acts upon themselves. The reflexive pronoun indicates this relationship.
- Je me lave. (I wash myself.)
- Il se réveille à sept heures. (He wakes himself up at seven o'clock.)
- Nous nous amusons. (We are having fun - literally, amusing ourselves.)
- Some French reflexive verbs have no reflexive equivalent in English; they are simply used as reflexive in French.
- Je m'en vais. (I am leaving.)
- Elle se souvient de son enfance. (She remembers her childhood.)
✅ Positive sentence examples
| French | English |
|---|
| Je me réveille à 7 heures chaque matin. | I wake up at 7 o'clock every morning. |
| Elle s'habille rapidement ce matin. | She gets dressed quickly this morning. |
⛔ Negative sentence examples
| French | English |
|---|
| Je ne me réveille pas à 6 heures. | I don't wake up at 6 o'clock. |
| Elle ne s'habille pas en noir. | She doesn't get dressed in black. |
❓ Question sentence examples
| French | English |
|---|
| À quelle heure te réveilles-tu? | What time do you wake up? |
| S'habille-t-elle rapidement? | Does she get dressed quickly? |