How to Use French Pronominal Verbs: With a Download
In French, certain verbs require a pronoun in addition to the subject; these verbs are called “pronominal verbs,” or les verbes pronominaux.
Pronominal verbs may express either of the following:
- What the subject is doing to himself–a reflexive function where the verb reflects the action back onto the subject, or
- What two subjects are doing to one another, or an action where two subjects are interacting–a reciprocal function where the verb expresses an action that is done “to one another.”
Whether the pronominal verb is reflexive or reciprocal in function, it is always accompanied by either a reflexive or reciprocal pronoun.
The Pronouns that Accompany French Pronominal Verbs
The pronoun that must accompany the pronominal verb almost always appears before the verb. Here is a sample of the pronominal verb construction, using the verb se lever (to get up):
Singular
je me lève - I get (myself) up
tu te lèves - You (familiar) get (yourself) up
il/elle/on se lève - He/she/one gets (himself/herself/oneself) up
Plural
nous nous levons - They get (themselves) up
vous vous levez - You get (yourselves) up
ils/elles se lèvent - They (m/f) get (themselves) up
At the bottom of this article is a link to Download & Print a French Pronominal Verb Vocabulary List
Common French Pronominal Verbs
French pronominal verbs are truly everyday verbs; they are verbs that describe much of a person’s daily routine, and verbs that you will use constantly if you are immersed in a French language environment. Therefore, it is vital to learn the most common French pronominal verbs and be prepared to use them. Here is a list of some of the most important pronominal verbs and their English equivalents:
se réveiller - to wake up
se lever - to get up
se laver - to wash (oneself)
se promener - to go walking
s’habiller* - to dress (oneself)
se coucher - to lie down
se doucher - to bathe (oneself)
se maquiller - to put makeup on (oneself)
se préparer - to get (oneself) ready
se reposer - to rest/relax
se dépêcher - to hurry
In cases where the pronoun se is followed by a verb beginning with h or a vowel, elision occurs to avoid having a vowel on another vowel sound: thus for the verb s’habiller, for example, you will have: m’habille, t’habilles, s’habille … s’habillent.
