For reflexive verbs, the reflexive pronoun indicates that the subject of the verb is performing the action on him/her/itself, rather than on someone or something else. The majority of reflexive verbs have to do with one’s body, clothing, relationships, or one’s state of mind.
Par exemple…
Elle se regarde et se sourit.
She’s looking at herself and smiling at herself.
Je me couche à minuit.
I go to bed at midnight.
Tu t’habilles trop lentement.
You’re dressing too slowly.
Most common French reflexive verbs
s’adjoindre
to take on, appoint
s’adresser à
to address, speak to
s’approcher de
to approach
s’arrêter
to stop oneself
s’asseoir
to sit down
se baigner
to bathe, swim
se brosser (les cheveux, les dents)
to brush (one’s hair, one’s teeth)
se casser (la jambe, le bras)
to break (one’s leg, one’s arm)
se coiffer
to fix one’s hair
se coucher
to go to bed
se couper
to cut oneself, to cut (something) for oneself
se dépêcher
to hurry
se déshabiller
to get undressed
se disperser
to disperse, break up (a meeting, group)
se doucher
to take a shower
s’effrayer
to be frightened
s’éloigner
to move (oneself) away
s’endormir
to fall asleep
s’énerver
to get annoyed
s’enrhumer
to catch a cold
se fâcher
to get angry
se faire (un café, un sandwich…)
to make (a coffee, sandwich…) for oneself
se fatiguer
to get tired
se fier
to trust
s’habiller
to get dressed
s’habituer à
to get used to
s’imaginer
to imagine
s’informer
to ask, find out; to inform oneself
s’inquiéter
to worry
s’inscrire
to enroll, register
s’intéresser à
to be interested in
se laver (les mains, la figure)
to wash oneself (one’s hands, one’s face)
se lever
to get up
se maquiller
to put on makeup
se marier (avec)
to get married (to)
se moucher
to blow one’s nose
se noyer
to drown
se nuire
to harm oneself
se peigner
to comb one’s hair
se précipiter
to rush, quicken; to hurl oneself, jump
se promener
to take a walk
se raser
to shave
se rassembler
to gather, assemble (as a group)
se refroidir
to cool down, get cold
se regarder
to look at oneself
se relaxer
to relax
se reposer
to rest
se réserver
to keep for oneself
se réveiller
to wake up
se soûler
to get drunk
se sourire
to smile at/to oneself
se suffire
to be self-sufficient
se suicider
to commit suicide
se taire
to be quiet
Note that many of these verbs can also be reciprocal.
All of the above verbs require a reflexive pronoun when they indicate that the subject is doing something to itself. But they can also be used non-reflexively, indicating that the action of the verb is directed at someone or something else.
Reflexive verbs are just one type of pronominal verb. See the main lesson on pronominal verbs for details on using reflexive verbs in different tenses and moods.
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2 Responses
lkl2 November 2014 / 6:05
It doesn’t mean “to approach oneself,” but rather “to approach someone/something else.” It’s reflexive because the subject is the one doing the moving, as opposed to the non-reflexive approcher, which means “to put/move something else nearer.”
French lesson plan
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It doesn’t mean “to approach oneself,” but rather “to approach someone/something else.” It’s reflexive because the subject is the one doing the moving, as opposed to the non-reflexive approcher, which means “to put/move something else nearer.”
In s’approcher de, how does one approach oneself?