Perfect Tense with Reflexive Verbs
I. Introduction
Reflexive verbs, as you have seen before, are verbs with a reflexive pronoun (for example, ‘se lever’ – to get up).
Reflexive verbs with the perfect tense take ‘être’, but it is important to know where to put the conjugated ‘être’ verb and where to put the reflexive pronoun (me/te/se etc.). Like non- reflexive verbs that take ‘être’ in the perfect tense, their past participles agree according to the gender and number of the subject pronoun (je/tu/il/elle etc.).
II. Formation
Notice in the example below that some of the reflexive pronouns change to have an apostrophe. This is because the form of ‘etre’ that they take begins with a vowel or a silent ‘h’ (e.g. Tu t’es…). Also, remember that the past participle still changes with number and gender.
‘-Er’ Verbs
The example presented below is of ‘se coucher’ (to go to bed). The ‘-er’ is replaced with ‘é’.
Subject Reflexive Etre Past Participle English pronoun Translation Je Me Suis Couché(e) I went to bed (an ‘e’ is added if ‘Je’ refers to a female) Tu (Te) T’ Es Couché(e) You went to bed (an ‘e’ is added if ‘Tu’ refers to a female) Il (Se) S’ Est Couché He went to bed Elle (Se) S’ Est Couchée She went to bed On (Se) S’ Est Couché One went to bed Nous Nous Sommes Couchés We went to bed Vous Vous Etes Couché(s) You (formal or plural) went to bed Ils Se Sont Couchés They (m) went to bed Elles Se Sont Couchées They (f) went to bed
‘-Re’ Verbs
These verbs change from ‘-re’ to ‘u’ in the past participle. The example shown below is ‘s’entendre avec’ (to get along with someone).
Subject Reflexive Etre Past Participle English Pronoun Translation Je Me Suis Entendu(e) avec I got along with… (An ‘e’ is added if ‘Je’ refers to a female) Tu (Te) T’ Es Entendu(e) avec You got along with…(An ‘e’ is added if ‘Tu’ refers to a female) Il (Se) S’ Est Entendu avec He got along with Elle (Se) S’ Est Entendue avec She got along with On (Se) S’ Est Entendu avec One got along with Nous Nous Sommes Entendus avec We got along with Vous Vous Etes Entendu(s) avec You (formal or plural) got along with Ils Se Sont Entendus avec They (m) got along with Elles Se Sont Entendues avec They (f) got along with
‘-Ir’ Verbs
There are not many common ‘-ir’ reflexive verbs at GCSE level. The ‘-ir’ verb shown below is ‘se sentir’, to feel – in an opinionated way. For example, I feel that GCSE French is easy.
Subject Reflexive Etre Past Participle English Pronoun Translation Je Me Suis Senti(e) I felt (an ‘e’ is added if ‘Je’ refers to a female) Tu (Te) T’ Es Senti(e) You felt (an ‘e’ is added if ‘Tu’ refers to a female) Il (Se) S’ Est Senti He felt Elle (Se) S’ Est Sentie She felt On (Se) S’ Est Senti One felt Nous Nous Sommes Sentis We felt Vous Vous Etes Senti(s) You (formal or plural) felt Ils Se Sont Sentis They (m) felt Elles Se Sont Senties They (f) felt
Multiple Choice Questions
1. What are reflexive verbs? a) Normal verbs. b) Verbs that have a different meaning to non-reflexive verbs. c) Verbs with a reflexive pronoun. d) Verbs that are only used in the perfect tense.
2. Which verb do reflexive verbs take in the perfect tense? a) Avoir b) Etre c) Their own reflexive verb! d) Faire
3. Do the past participles agree with gender and number? a) Yes b) No c) Sometimes – it depends on the verb. c) Only with gender.
4. Why do some reflexive pronouns change to take an apostrophe? a) Because it is a general rule for reflexive pronouns. b) Because they are followed by a word beginning with a vowel. c) Because they are followed by a word beginning with a consonant. d) Because they are followed by a word beginning with either a vowel or a silent ‘h’.
5. When can we add an ‘e’ to ‘Tu t’es couché’? a) We can’t. b) When we want to show that we are referring to more than one person. c) When we want to show that ‘Tu’ refers to a female. d) When it is followed by a word starting with a vowel or silent ‘h’.
6. How does the end of the verb ‘s’entendre’ change in the perfect tense? a) It doesn’t. b) The ‘-re’ is replaced with ‘i’. c) The ‘-re’ is replaced with ‘u’. d) The ‘-re’ is replaced with ‘e’.
7.When can we add an ‘s’ to ‘Vous vous etes senti’? a) We can’t. b) When we are showing that we are referring to the ‘plural vous’. c) When we are showing that we are referring to the ‘formal vous’. d) When we are showing that we are referring to a female.
8. What does ‘se sentir’ mean? a) ‘To feel’ in a physical way b) ‘To feel’ in an opinionated way c) ‘To feel’ in an emotional way d) None of the above
9. How can we say ‘We went to bed’ in French? a) Vous vous êtes couchés. b) Ils se sont couchés. c) Elles se sont couchées. d) Nous nous sommes couchés.
10. How is ‘Je me suis entendu bien avec ma famille’ translated into English ? a) I got on well with my family. b) I fell asleep with my family. c) I understood my family. d) I felt that my family was kind. Answers:
1. C 2. B 3. A 4. D 5. C 6. C 7. B 8. B 9. D 10. A