Reflexive Verbs: se lever, se coucher, s'appeler
Learn the full reflexive verb system with me/te/se/nous/vous/se, verbs you already use in daily routine.
You have already used se lever (to get up) and s'appeler (to be called) in earlier lessons without knowing the full system. Reflexive verbs use reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nous, vous, se) to show that the subject acts on itself. They are very common in daily routine descriptions.
REFLEXIVE VERBS (VERBES PRONOMINAUX): the verb's action reflects back onto the subject
THE SIX PRONOUNS: me / te / se / nous / vous / se (se serves both il/elle/on and ils/elles), always come BEFORE the verb: je me lève (I get up), tu te couches (you go to bed), il se lève (he gets up), nous nous levons (we get up), vous vous levez (you get up), ils se lèvent (they get up)
ELISION before a vowel or silent H: me → m', te → t', se → s': je m'appelle (my name is), tu t'habilles (you are getting dressed), il s'endort (he falls asleep)
S'APPELER (stem-changing): double L in je/tu/il/ils forms: je m'appelle (my name is), tu t'appelles (your name is), il s'appelle (his name is), nous nous appelons (we are called), vous vous appelez (you are called), ils s'appellent (they are called)
DAILY ROUTINE VERBS: se réveiller (to wake up), se lever (to get up), se brosser les dents (to brush one's teeth), s'habiller (to get dressed), se coucher (to go to bed), se reposer (to rest)
NEGATION: ne...pas wraps around the reflexive pronoun AND the verb together: Je ne me lève pas tôt. (I don't get up early.). Il ne se rase pas. (He doesn't shave.)
Common mistake: putting the reflexive pronoun after the verb: 'Je lève me' is impossible. It must always precede the verb: Je me lève (I get up)
- Je me réveille à six heures. — I wake up at six o'clock.
- Elle s'habille vite. — She gets dressed quickly.
- Nous nous couchons tard le vendredi. — We go to bed late on Fridays.
- Tu ne te lèves pas tôt le weekend ? — You don't get up early at the weekend?