French grammar: verbes pronominaux au présent

What this grammar point covers

Pronominal verbs in French are verbs used with a reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nous, vous, se). They often describe actions that someone does to themselves or daily routines.

When to use it

Use pronominal verbs when the subject does the action to themselves, especially for daily activities like washing, getting up, or going to bed.

Key forms

• Je me lave
• Tu te lèves
• Il/elle se couche
• Nous nous amusons
• Vous vous habillez
• Ils/elles se réveillent

Examples

Tips

• Always use the correct reflexive pronoun before the verb (me, te, se, nous, vous, se).
• In negative sentences, put 'ne' before the reflexive pronoun and 'pas' after the verb: Je ne me lève pas.
• Remember that some verbs change meaning when used as pronominal verbs.

Exceptions and edge cases

• Some verbs are only used in the pronominal form (for example, 'se souvenir').
• The reflexive pronoun changes with each subject.