UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Les Verbes Réfléchis (Reflexive Verbs)
Video
Notes
- Reflexive verbs describe what a person does for him/herself, meaning that it reflects the action of the verb back on the subject (the subject and the object are the same).
- The pronoun se before an infinitive verb indicates that the verb is reflexive.
Ex: se laver > to wash oneself - There are two steps to conjugating a reflexive verb:
1) Conjugate the verb regularly
2) Choose the correct reflexive pronoun according to the subject and place it before the verb. - The reflexive pronouns are as follows:
- If the verb begins with a vowel, the reflexive pronouns me and te become m' and t'.
Ex: Je m'excuse, j'ai oublié votre nom. > Excuse me, I forgot your name.
- Note that the reflexive pronouns for nous and vous are identical to the subject pronouns for nous and vous, so you will simply repeat the same word twice.
Ex: We shave. > Nous nous rasons. - Here is an example conjugation of the verb se laver (to wash oneself).
- Some reflexive verbs can be used non-reflexively by omitting the reflexive pronoun and introducing a new object.
Ex: La mère se réveille. > The mom wakes up.
La mère réveille son fils. > The mom wakes up her son. - When a body part is the direct object of a reflexive verb, it is preceded by a definite article (le, la, les). The action is still reflexive because the subject is still receiving the action of the verb, but you are specifying which body part is receiving the action.
Ex: Vous vous brossez les dents. > Y'all brush your teeth. - To make a reflexive verb negative, you simply place the ne... pas around the verb and the reflexive pronoun.
Ex: Ils ne se lèvent pas à l'heure. > They do not get up on time. - Here is a Quizlet list of reflexive verbs and their definitions.
Activities
Introducing Les Verbes Réfléchis with the song "T'es Belle" by Volo
- Give students a copy of the lyrics to the song T'es Belle in French. Underline where one sees les verbes réfléchis. Here is a PDF of the lyrics.
- Before you allow the students to follow with the lyrics, have them just watch the video the first time and predict what the song is about.
- Allow students to listen to the song and follow the lyrics the second time.
- Then, have students go through and define unknown words. They can use a dictionary.
- Go over the definitions after about 5 minutes.
- Next, have students identify the rules of using les verbes réfléchis using the underlined words in the song.
- Next, review and share the construction and rules of les verbes réfléchis. If the students are unable to identify how they work, explain it.
- Have the students listen to the song one more time, this time focusing on how the verbs are reflecting on the subject.
- Finally, as an extension activity, have your students write their own love song in a similar manner (ironic or truthful) using reflexive verbs.
La Routine Quick Write
Directions:
Materials: prompt (at link above)
La Routine Bande Dessinée
Directions:
Materials: assignment sheet (at link above)
Directions:
- Students have 30 minutes to write as much as they can following the prompt and using the required grammar constructions.
- Students MUST write for the entire 30 minutes, there is no point at which they are done.
- Allow lower-level writers to write using simple sentences, but expect higher-level writers to be very detailed.
Materials: prompt (at link above)
La Routine Bande Dessinée
Directions:
- Students choose a character, real or fictional, and create a 5-frame comic strip describing his/her morning routine.
- Each box must have a complete sentence using a reflexive verb correctly conjugated to the subject.
- Encourage students to be creative, it makes it more fun!
Materials: assignment sheet (at link above)
Additional Sites
French.About
This site is about the different types of pronominal verbs, so if you want your students to only study reflexives, direct them to the section focusing on reflexives.
Languages Online
This site introduces reflexive verbs in the present and the past.
Cliffs Notes
A succinct explanation of how to use reflexive verbs followed by a list of French reflexive verbs.
This site is about the different types of pronominal verbs, so if you want your students to only study reflexives, direct them to the section focusing on reflexives.
Languages Online
This site introduces reflexive verbs in the present and the past.
Cliffs Notes
A succinct explanation of how to use reflexive verbs followed by a list of French reflexive verbs.
Video
Video created by YouTuber Parapluie French.