Pronominal verbs

1 Definition

A pronominal verb (also called a reflexive verb) is a verb like se lever or se coucher which takes a reflexive pronoun (one which refers back to the verb's subject ). The reflexive pronouns are me, te, se, nous and vous.

Il se couche à 10 heures

He goes to bed at ten

When used in a compound tense like the perfect, pronominal verbs always take the auxiliary être:

Je me suis levé de bonne heure ce matin

[and not *Je m'ai levé... ]

I got up early this morning

In compound tenses the past participle will often agree with the reflexive pronoun:

Elle s'est coupée avec le couteau à pain

She cut herself with the bread knife

Ils se sont rencontrés à une soirée

They met at a party

2 Word-order of pronominal verbs

2.1 Regular word order

Reflexive pronouns come before the main verb in simple tense forms (like the present), or before the auxiliary in compound tense forms (like the perfect):

Tous les jours de la semaine je me lève à sept heures

Every weekday I get up at seven o'clock

Je me suis levé de bonne heure ce matin

I got up early this morning

T'es-tu / Vous êtes-vous levé de bonne heure ce matin?

Did you get up early this morning?

Ne t'es-tu pas / Ne vous êtes-vous pas levé de bonne heure ce matin?

Didn't you get up early this morning?

2.2 Word order in the imperative

In affirmative imperative sentences (like Get up!), the reflexive pronoun comes immediately after the main verb. Note that the pronoun te is replaced with toi:

In negative imperative sentences (like Don't get up!), however, the word order reverts to the regular word order:

3 Uses of pronominal verbs

3.1 Self-focussed action

When doing something that is focussed on oneself:

Elle s'est lavée avec le gant de toilette

She washed herself with the flannel

3.2 Reciprocal action

When two or more people are doing something to each other:

Ils se sont rencontrés à une soirée

They met each other at a party

3.3 Equivalent of English passive

In a situation where English would often use the passive:

Ce fromage se vend à 7 euros le kilo

This cheese is sold / sells at 7 euros per kilo

Ce vin se boit frais

This wine is drunk chilled

C'est un roman qui se lit facilement

It's a novel which is easy to read / which reads easily

Dans le mot condamner, le m ne se prononce pas

In the word condamner, the m is not pronounced

3.4 No obvious reflexive meaning

Sometimes pronominal verbs do not have any obvious reflexive or passive meaning:

Je me souviens bien de ce jour-là

I remember that day well

Il se moque des dangers

He couldn't care about the dangers

Je me doute bien qu'il doit être très déçu

I can well imagine he is very disappointed