French reflexive pronouns - me, te, se
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Sign up for freeReflexive pronouns (French: les pronoms réfléchis) are applied between the subject and the verb when the action in the sentence is executed and received by the subject. They are commonly used when someone is talking about their daily routine. Besides that reflexive verbs aim to use the reflexive pronoun in terms of oneself.
Reflexive pronouns can be divided into
- weak form pronouns
- strong form pronouns
| Person | Reflexive pronoun: weak form | Reflexive pronoun: strong form |
|---|---|---|
| je | me/m' | moi |
| tu | te/t' | toi |
| il/elle/on | se/s' | soi/lui/elle |
| nous | nous | nous |
| vous | vous | vous |
| ils/elles | se/s' | ils |
Keep in mind that me, te and se become m', t' and s' before verbs that start with a vowel or mute h.
Lesson outline
HidePlacement of reflexive pronouns
In general reflexive pronouns are placed directly in front of the verb. To give you an overview about the different kinds of placement variations look at the overview below where you can find all the important information you need to know.
Reflexive pronouns in front of the conjugated verb:
- Elle se dépéche. (She's in a hurry.)
- Je me lave. (I wash myself.)
Reflexive pronouns in front of the infinitve form:
- Il va se dépécher. (He will be in a hurry.)
- Ils vont se préparer. (They will prepare.)
Reflexive pronouns behind the imperative form:
- Dépéche-toi! (Hurry up!)
- Asseyiez-vous! (Sit down!)
Reflexive pronouns in front of the negated imperative:
- Ne te dépéche pas. (Don't hurry.)
- Ne vous préparez pas. (Don't prepare yourselves.)
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