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Introduction

Pronominal verbs are verbs that are conjugated with a reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nous, vous, se) which refers to the subject. They express an action that the subject performs on itself or a reciprocal action between several people.

In French, these verbs are always preceded by the pronoun "se" in the infinitive: se laver (to wash oneself), se coucher (to go to bed), se promener (to take a walk)...

Formation of Pronominal Verbs in the Present

To conjugate a pronominal verb of the first group in the present tense, follow these steps:

1. Place the corresponding reflexive pronoun before the verb
2. Conjugate the verb like a regular verb of the first group

Examples of First Group Pronominal Verbs

• Se réveiller (to wake up): Je me réveille, tu te réveilles, il/elle se réveille, nous nous réveillons, vous vous réveillez, ils/elles se réveillent
• Se coucher (to go to bed): Je me couche, tu te couches, il/elle se couche, nous nous couchons, vous vous couchez, ils/elles se couchent
• Se promener (to take a walk): Je me promène, tu te promènes, il/elle se promène, nous nous promenons, vous vous promenez, ils/elles se promènent
• S'habiller (to get dressed): Je m'habille, tu t'habilles, il/elle s'habille, nous nous habillons, vous vous habillez, ils/elles s'habillent

Types of Pronominal Verbs

There are three main types of pronominal verbs:

• Reflexive verbs: The action is performed on the subject itself
  Example: Je me regarde dans le miroir. (I look at myself in the mirror)
• Reciprocal verbs: Several subjects perform the action on each other
  Example: Paul et Marie se téléphonent. (Paul and Marie call each other)
• Essentially pronominal verbs: They only exist in the pronominal form
  Example: Il se souvient de son enfance. (He remembers his childhood) - The verb "souvenir" does not exist without "se" in this context

Negative Form

In the negative form, "ne" is placed before the reflexive pronoun and "pas" after the verb:

• Je ne me lève pas tôt le dimanche. (I do not get up early on Sundays)
• Tu ne te couches pas tard. (You do not go to bed late)
• Il ne s'habille pas en noir. (He does not dress in black)
• Nous ne nous promenons pas le soir. (We do not take a walk in the evening)

Interrogative Form

In the interrogative form, you can use:

• Intonation: Tu te lèves tôt ? (Do you get up early?)
• Est-ce que: Est-ce que tu te lèves tôt ? (Do you get up early?)
• Inversion: Te lèves-tu tôt ? (Do you get up early?)

Common First Group Pronominal Verbs

Interactive Exercise