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• Reflexive pronouns are used with reflexive verbs, which have se in the infinitive.

• The French reflexive pronouns are me (myself), te (yourself) and se (oneself/himself/herself/itself).

• The position of reflexive pronouns depends on the tense the sentence is in and whether it is a positive or negative sentence.

• Higher Tier – the plural reflexive pronouns are nous (ourselves), vous (yourself/yourselves) and se (themselves).

• Higher Tier - Reflexive verbs with reciprocal meanings are verbs where the reflexive pronoun can be translated as ‘each other’, such as se regarder (to look at each other).

Reflexive pronouns are used with reflexive verbs, which have the reflexive pronoun se in the infinitive.

Here are some useful reflexive verbs that are important to know for Foundation level:

The reflexive pronouns in French are shown below. Before a vowel or ‘h’, me becomes m’, and so on.

Sometimes, the reflexive pronoun can be translated as ‘myself’, etc, but often these are not used in English.

For example:

Je me lève. – I get (myself) up.

Qu’est-ce qui se passe ? – What is happening?

The position of the reflexive pronoun in a sentence depends on which tense the sentence is in.

When using the present and imperfect tenses, the reflexive pronoun comes between the subject and the verb:

For example:

• Tu te lèves. – You get up.

• Il ��’intéressait aux trains. – He used to be interested in trains.

In the immediate future (aller + infinitive) or after a modal verb + infinitive, the reflexive pronoun goes just before the infinitive.

For example:

• Je vais me lever. – I am going to get up.

In the perfect tense, the reflexive pronoun goes before the auxiliary verb, which is always ê�ٰ��� (to be) with reflexive verbs.

For example:

• Je me suis levé(e). – I got up.

• Qu’est-ce qui ��’est passé ? – What happened?

Did you know?

You always have to ‘agree’ the past participle when the auxiliary verb is ê�ٰ��� (to be).

For example, to say ‘she got up’ or 'she got changed', etc, you need an extra ‘e’ on the end of the past participle, to agree the fact that the subject of the sentence is female.

• Elle ��’est levée. – She got up.
• La fille s'est changée – The girl got changed.

In negative sentences, the reflexive pronoun usually goes between the ne and the conjugated verb. In the immediate future and with modal verbs, it goes before the infinitive.

When using a negative sentence in the present and imperfect tenses, the reflexive pronoun goes between the ne and the conjugated verb.

For example:

• Tu ne te lèves pas ? – Aren’t you getting up?

When using a negative sentence in the immediate future (aller + infinitive) or with modal verbs + infinitive, the reflexive pronoun goes just before the infinitive.

For example:

• Je ne vais pas me lever. – I am not going to get up.
• Elle ne veut pas se changer. – She doesn't want to get changed.

When using the perfect tense, the reflexive pronoun goes after the ne and before the auxiliary verb ê�ٰ���.

For example:

• Je ne me suis pas levé(e). – I didn’t get up.
• Elle ne s'est pas mariée. – She didn't get married.

Practise what you’ve learned about reflexive pronouns with this quiz.

The plural reflexive pronouns are as follows:

Remember:

Vous can mean ‘you’ in a formal situation with one person or for a group of people (formal and informal).

Here are some useful reflexive verbs that are important to know at Higher Tier:

The rules for the position of plural reflexive pronouns are the same as for the other reflexive pronouns.

• In the present, imperfect or future tenses, the reflexive pronoun goes between the subject and the verb.

Nous nous excusons. – We apologise.

• In the immediate future (aller + infinitive) or when using modal verbs with infinitives, the reflexive pronoun goes before the infinitive.

Vous allez bien vous intégrer ici. – You’re going to fit in well here.

• When using the perfect tense, the reflexive pronouns go before the auxiliary verb ê�ٰ��� (to be).

Ils se sont inquiétés. – They worried.

Reflexive verbs with reciprocal meanings are verbs where the reflexive pronoun can be translated as ‘each other’.

For example:

They are only used with plural subject pronouns: on/nous (we), vous (you) and ils/elles (they).

The sentence structure of reciprocal verbs depends on the tense the sentence is in and whether it is a positive or negative sentence. The rules are the same as for all other reflexive verbs.

For example:

• Ils ��’écrivent tous les jours. – They write to each other every day.

• Nous allons nous parler demain. / On va se parler demain. – We’re going to speak to each other tomorrow.

• Vous voulez vous donner des cadeaux ? – Do you want to give each other presents?

• Elles se sont regardées dans les yeux. – They looked into each other’s eyes.

• Nous aimons nous parler tous les jours. – We like speaking to each other every day.

Practise what you’ve learned about reflexive pronouns with this quiz for Higher Tier.

Now you’ve learned about reflexive pronouns, why not explore relative pronouns?