Pronominal Verbs in French
French has a special category of verbs that include a built-in pronoun. These types of verbs are called verbes pronominaux(pronominal verbs). They're easy to recognize because they're always used in conjunction with this built-in pronoun, commonly known as the pronom réfléchi(reflexive pronoun).
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In this article, you'll learn how pronominal verbs work, how to conjugate them, what kinds exist, and what special agreement rules you should keep in mind. C'est parti !(Let's go!)
Questions This Article Answers
What are pronominal verbs in French?
How do you conjugate pronominal verbs in French?
What's the difference between reflexive, reciprocal, idiomatic, and passive uses?
Where does the reflexive pronoun go in French?
What are agreement rules with pronominal verbs?
What Is a Pronominal Verb?
A verbe pronominal(pronominal verb) is a verb that is paired with a reflexive pronoun. Pronominal verbs are conjugated just like any other French verb. The only difference is that you need to include the reflexive pronoun se(default infinitive form), which changes depending on the subject. The reflexive pronoun always matches the subject. Here's what the reflexive pronoun looks like for each subject.
Types of Pronominal Verbs
Not all pronominal verbs are the same! They fall into four main categories.
- Reflexive Verbs
- Reciprocal Verbs
- Idiomatic Pronominal Verbs
- Passive Pronominal Verbs
All four types above are types of pronominal verbs.
1. Reflexive Verbs
Reflexive verbs describe actions that the subject does to itself. The subject and the reflexive pronoun refer to the same person (or thing). In French, these verbs are common for everyday routines and personal care, such as getting up, washing, or getting dressed.
In English, we often use reflexive pronouns like myself, yourself, or themselves to express this idea, but not always.
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2. Reciprocal Verbs
Reciprocal verbs describe actions that two or more people do to each other. These verbs use the same reflexive pronouns as reflexive verbs (me, te, se, nous, vous, se), but their meaning is reciprocal rather than reflexive. Instead of doing something to itself, the subject is doing something to someone else in the group and receiving the action in return.
In English, we often use reciprocal pronouns like each other and one another to express this idea, but not always.
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3. Idiomatic Pronominal Verbs
Some pronominal verbs are idiomatic expressions. They include a reflexive pronoun but do not reflect a literal action done to oneself or to each other. Instead, the reflexive pronoun is simply part of the verb's structure and meaning. In these expressions, the reflexive pronoun often doesn't have a direct English equivalent.
Here are some very common idiomatic pronominal verbs in French:
4. Passive Pronominal Verbs
Some pronominal verbs are used to express passive constructions, especially in general, impersonal, or habitual contexts. They let you express the idea that something is done, said, or experienced, without having to mention who is doing it.
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In these sentences, the verb appears in a pronominal form, but there is no reflexive or reciprocal meaning. The subject is not doing the action, but rather receiving it. This usage often replaces more formal or heavier passive constructions formed with the auxiliary verb être(to be).
Special Rules and Grammar Notes
Agreement in Compound Tenses
In compound tenses like the passé composé(compound past), pronominal verbs always use êtreas the auxiliary verb. The past participle agrees with the subject unless:
- there's a direct object after the verb, or
- the reflexive pronoun is an indirect object.
Placement of the Reflexive Pronoun
The reflexive pronoun goes:
- before the verb in simple tenses
- before the auxiliary in compound tenses
- after the verb in the affirmative imperative
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Te Becomes Toi in the Affirmative Imperative
In the last example sentence above, notice how the reflexive pronoun for the second-person singular changes to toi! This is because te becomes toi when used in the affirmative imperative. Additionally, its placement changes: it goes after the verb and is linked to it with a hyphen.
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The second-person singular reflexive pronoun becomes toi only in the affirmative imperative! When there's negation, use the regular reflexive form te before the verb.
Negation and Pronominal Verbs
If you want to use negation, simply place ne … pas (not) around the reflexive pronoun and verb in simple tenses, and around the reflexive pronoun and auxiliary verb in compound tenses. This applies to other negative pairs such as ne … plus (not … anymore), ne … jamais (never), and ne … rien (not ... anything).
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Questions and Pronominal Verbs
In est-ce que questions, inversion questions, and intonation questions (questions that are formed by simply raising your voice at the end of a normal statement, without changing the word order), the reflexive pronoun goes where it would normally go in a regular sentence.
Learn more about French verbs in these articles!
