French conjugation explanation

Reflexive pronouns

<p>In French, <strong>reflexive verbs</strong> describe an action that the subject performs on themselves. The infinitive form of these verbs is preceded by the pronoun <strong style="font-style: italic;">se</strong> (or <strong style="font-style: italic;">s'</strong>), such as

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/se%20laver/" title="Click to see conjugations for se laver" target="_blank">se laver</a>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/s%27habiller/" title="Click to see conjugations for s'habiller" target="_blank">s'habiller</a>

<p>To conjugate these verbs, you must use a <strong>reflexive pronoun</strong> that matches the subject. This pronoun is placed immediately <strong>before</strong> the conjugated verb.</p>

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<div><strong>Subject</strong></div>

<div><strong>Before Consonant</strong><br><span style="font-size: 0.9em; font-weight: normal;">(Standard Form)</span></div>

<div><strong>Before Vowel / "Mute h"</strong><br><span style="font-size: 0.9em; font-weight: normal;">(Elision Form)</span></div>

<div><strong>je</strong> (I)</div>

<div><strong>me</strong><br><em>Je <span class="green_emphasis">me</span> lave.</em></div>

<div><strong>m'</strong><br><em>Je <span class="green_emphasis">m'</span>habille.</em></div>

<div><strong>tu</strong> (you)</div>

<div><strong>te</strong><br><em>Tu <span class="green_emphasis">te</span> lèves.</em></div>

<div><strong>t'</strong><br><em>Tu <span class="green_emphasis">t'</span>arrêtes.</em></div>

<div><strong>il / elle / on</strong></div>

<div><strong>se</strong><br><em>Il <span class="green_emphasis">se</span> prépare.</em></div>

<div><strong>s'</strong><br><em>Elle <span class="green_emphasis">s'</span>amuse.</em></div>

<div><strong>nous</strong> (we)</div>

<div><strong>nous</strong><br><em>Nous <span class="green_emphasis">nous</span> couchons.</em></div>

<div><strong>nous</strong><br><em>Nous <span class="green_emphasis">nous</span> entendons.</em></div>

<div><strong>vous</strong> (you)</div>

<div><strong>vous</strong><br><em>Vous <span class="green_emphasis">vous</span> lavez.</em></div>

<div><strong>vous</strong><br><em>Vous <span class="green_emphasis">vous</span> inquiétez.</em></div>

<div><strong>ils / elles</strong></div>

<div><strong>se</strong><br><em>Ils <span class="green_emphasis">se</span> réveillent.</em></div>

<div><strong>s'</strong><br><em>Elles <span class="green_emphasis">s'</span>ennuient.</em></div>

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<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Important Notes</div>

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<div><strong>Elision (se &#8594; s')</strong></div>

<div>The pronouns <strong style="font-style: italic;">me, te,</strong> and <strong style="font-style: italic;">se</strong> drop the <strong style="font-style: italic;">e</strong> and become <strong style="font-style: italic;">m', t',</strong> and <strong style="font-style: italic;">s'</strong> when followed by a vowel or a "mute h".</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Je <span class="green_emphasis">m'</span>habille rapidement. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I get dressed quickly.</span>)</div>

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<div><strong>Liaison with nous/vous</strong></div>

<div>For <strong style="font-style: italic;">nous</strong> and <strong style="font-style: italic;">vous</strong>, the spelling does not change, but the pronunciation does. You must pronounce the final <span style="font-style: italic;">s</span> as a <strong>/z/</strong> sound when linking to a following verb starting with a vowel.</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Nous <span class="green_emphasis">nous</span> entendons bien. (<span style="font-style: italic;">We get along well.</span>)</div>

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<div><strong>Auxiliary Verb</strong></div>

<div>In compound tenses like the

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/81/" target="_blank">Passé Composé</a>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Elles <span class="green_emphasis">se sont</span> réveillées. (<span style="font-style: italic;">They woke up.</span>)</div>

<div>See our guide on

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/french_wrong_auxiliary_verb_for_reflexive/" target="_blank">auxiliary verbs for reflexive forms</a>

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