Getting Things Done to You (se faire + infinitif)
se faire + infinitive to describe things that happen to you, and never change the spelling of fait.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'se faire' + infinitive when you don't perform an action yourself, but have it done to you by someone else.
- Use 'se faire' + infinitive for passive experiences: 'Je me suis fait couper les cheveux' (I got my hair cut).
- The past participle 'fait' never agrees with the subject in this structure.
- Place object pronouns before 'se faire': 'Je me les suis fait voler' (I got them stolen from me).
Overview
The construction se faire + infinitive is a cornerstone of modern spoken French, serving as a dynamic and common way to express that the subject has an action done to or for them. It functions as a versatile alternative to the more formal passive voice (être + past participle), shifting the focus from the person performing the action (the agent) to the person experiencing its result (the recipient). You use it when you get a professional service, like se faire couper les cheveux (to get one's hair cut), but also when you experience an unexpected or negative event, like se faire voler son portefeuille (to have one's wallet stolen).
At its core, this structure is a type of pronominal causative. The term sounds academic, but the idea is simple: the subject of the sentence isn't performing the main action (the infinitive) but is causing or allowing it to happen to themselves. This construction is essential for fluency because it reflects how native speakers naturally describe everyday situations where the agent is either unknown, unimportant, or intentionally omitted.
Mastering it will make your French sound significantly more authentic and less like a textbook.
How This Grammar Works
se faire + infinitive operates by merging two concepts: the causative faire (to make/have something done) and the reflexive pronoun (se, me, te, etc.). The reflexive pronoun is the key; it signals that the subject of the sentence is also the recipient of the action described by the infinitive. In a sentence like Je me fais aider, the structure implies I cause someone to help me.Je, is the logical object of aider.- 1Commissioned Actions (Services): This is when the subject actively arranges for something to be done to them. The action is wanted and initiated by the subject. It’s the grammar of delegation and services. For example,
Elle se fait construire une piscine(She is having a pool built). She isn't building it herself, but she is the instigator and recipient of the final product.
- 1Submissive or Accidental Actions (Events): This is when the subject undergoes an action, often without their consent or control. These events are typically neutral or negative and happen to the subject. For instance,
Le cycliste s'est fait renverser par une voiture(The cyclist was knocked over by a car). The cyclist did not ask for this; they were the victim of the event. Another example isIl s'est fait réprimander par son chef(He got told off by his boss).
Je me suis fait couper les cheveux. This is not just a stylistic choice; it reflects a different way of framing events, centered on the person affected rather than the person acting.Word Order Rules
faire, and the infinitive—form a tight unit that cannot be easily separated. The placement of negatives and object pronouns follows strict rules.ne...pas wraps around the pronoun-verb block.reflexive pronoun + faire (conjugated) + Infinitive. | Tu te fais remarquer. (You are getting noticed.) |ne + reflexive pronoun + faire (conjugated) + pas + Infinitive. | Tu ne te fais pas remarquer. (You are not getting noticed.) |Passé Composé)être. The negative particles wrap around the pronoun and the auxiliary être.reflexive pronoun + être (conjugated) + fait + Infinitive. | Elle s'est fait livrer le repas. (She had the meal delivered.) |ne + reflexive pronoun + être (conjugated) + pas + fait + Infinitive. | Elle ne s'est pas fait livrer le repas. (She did not have the meal delivered.) |le, la, les), that pronoun is placed before the infinitive.Je me fais expliquer la leçon.→Je me la fais expliquer.(I'm having it explained to me.)Il s'est fait voler son vélo.→Il se l'est fait voler.(He had it stolen from him.)
Formation Pattern
faire, followed by the main action verb in its infinitive form. The key is to correctly conjugate faire and select the matching pronoun.
je, tu, il, nous, etc.).
me, te, se, nous, vous, se).
faire according to the desired tense and subject.
couper, voler, respecter).
fait is invariable in this construction.
me fais | me suis fait | me ferai | me faisais |
te fais | t'es fait | te feras | te faisais |
se fait | s'est fait | se fera | se faisait |
nous faisons | nous sommes fait | nous ferons | nous faisions |
vous faites | vous êtes fait | vous ferez | vous faisiez |
se font | se sont fait | se feront | se faisaient |
imparfait, you follow the pattern: Nous (subject) + nous (pronoun) + faisions (faire in imparfait) + livrer les courses. The result: Nous nous faisions livrer les courses.
When To Use It
- To Describe Professional Services: This is the most frequent and straightforward use. It applies anytime you pay for or arrange a service to be performed on you or your belongings.
Je vais me faire faire un costume sur mesure.(I'm going to have a custom suit made.)Elle doit se faire réparer son ordinateur.(She has to get her computer repaired.)
- To Narrate Involuntary or Unexpected Events: It is the default structure for describing things that happen to you, particularly accidents, misfortunes, or unpleasant surprises.
Attention, tu vas te faire écraser !(Watch out, you're going to get run over!)Nous nous sommes fait surprendre par l'orage.(We were caught by the storm.)Il s'est fait renvoyer de son travail.(He got fired from his job.)
- For Social Interactions and Reputation: This construction is key for describing how one is perceived or treated by others, and for actions related to building social connections.
C'est difficile de se faire des amis dans une nouvelle ville.(It's hard to make friends in a new city.)Elle a réussi à se faire respecter.(She succeeded in earning respect.)Avec ce comportement, il va se faire détester de tous.(With that behavior, he's going to make everyone hate him.)
- In a Wide Range of Idiomatic Expressions: Many common phrases are built with
se faireand have a fixed meaning. se faire du souci: to worry (Ne te fais pas de souci.- Don't worry.)se faire avoir: to be tricked, scammed, or had (Je me suis encore fait avoir.- I got tricked again.)se faire une raison: to come to terms with something (Il a dû se faire une raison.- He had to accept it.)se faire une idée: to form an opinion (Laisse-moi me faire ma propre idée.- Let me form my own opinion.)
Common Mistakes
se faire + infinitive construction. Awareness of these pitfalls is the first step to avoiding them.- 1The Past Participle Agreement Error: This is by far the most common mistake. In the
passé composé(or other compound tenses), the past participlefaitis always invariable. It never agrees with the subject or a direct object. You might be tempted to writeElle s'est faite...because the subject is feminine, but this is incorrect.
- Incorrect:
Elle s'est faite gronder. - Correct:
Elle s'est fait gronder.(She got scolded.) - Incorrect:
Elles se sont faites tatouer. - Correct:
Elles se sont fait tatouer.(They got tattooed.)
faire + infinitive, faire acts as a semi-auxiliary verb and forms a single causative block with the infinitive. The direct object of the s'être fait group is the entire action that follows (gronder, tatouer), not the reflexive pronoun se. Because the direct object comes after the participle fait, there is no agreement.- 1Omitting the Reflexive Pronoun: Forgetting the pronoun (
me,te,se...) completely changes the meaning of the sentence, making the subject the one who performs the action rather than receives it.
Je me fais couper les cheveux.(I am getting my hair cut. — I am the client.)Je fais couper les cheveux.(I am cutting hair. — I am the hairdresser.)
- 1Using the Wrong Auxiliary Verb: All pronominal verbs in French, including
se faire, form their compound tenses with the auxiliaryêtre, notavoir.
- Incorrect:
Je m'ai fait mal. - Correct:
Je me suis fait mal.(I hurt myself.)
Contrast With Similar Patterns
se faire involves distinguishing it from other related structures. The nuance is often subtle but important for a B2 level.se faire + Infinitive | Subject has something done to/for them. Can be intentional (service) or unintentional (event). The most common and versatile option. | Il s'est fait voler. (He was robbed.) |être + P.P.) | More formal, literary, and administrative. Often used when the agent is specified with par. Focuses on the event itself. | Le voleur a été arrêté par la police. (The thief was arrested by the police.) |se laisser + Infinitive | Implies permission, non-resistance, or allowing an action to happen. The subject lets it be done. | Il s'est laissé convaincre. (He let himself be convinced.) |se voir + Infinitive | More formal/literary. Indicates the subject finds themselves in a situation, as if witnessing it. Often used for official decisions or awards being granted. | Il s'est vu refuser l'entrée. (He was refused entry, literally 'saw himself refused'.) |on + Active Verb | A very common, informal alternative to both the passive and se faire, especially for negative events. It creates an active sentence with an indefinite subject. | On m'a volé mon portefeuille. (Someone stole my wallet.) |Se faire vs. Se laisser: The key difference is agency. Je me suis fait convaincre is neutral—it simply means "I was convinced." However, Je me suis laissé convaincre implies that you were perhaps hesitant but ultimately yielded and allowed it to happen.Se faire vs. On: In many cases, se faire and on are interchangeable in casual speech. Je me suis fait voler and On m'a volé both mean "I was robbed." The se faire version puts the focus on you as the recipient of the action, while the on version frames it as an action performed by an anonymous 'someone'.Real Conversations
Scenario 1
Speaker A
Salut ! T'as changé de tête, non ? (Hey! You look different, no?)Speaker B
Oui, je me suis fait couper les cheveux hier. Tu aimes bien ? (Yeah, I got my hair cut yesterday. Do you like it?)Scenario 2
Speaker A
Pourquoi tu boudes ? (Why are you sulking?)Speaker B
Je me suis encore fait avoir sur Vinted. L'article est une contrefaçon. (I got scammed again on Vinted. The item is a fake.)Speaker A
Ah, la poisse ! Tu vas te faire rembourser ? (Ah, what bad luck! Are you going to get a refund?)Scenario 3
Speaker A
Le nouveau manager est super directif, non ? (The new manager is really bossy, isn't he?)Speaker B
Clairement. Mais il faut avouer qu'il sait se faire respecter. (Definitely. But you have to admit he knows how to command respect.)Scenario 4
Speaker A
Ma fille part en voyage seule pour la première fois. (My daughter is going on a trip alone for the first time.)Speaker B
Je comprends que tu te fasses du souci, mais tout va bien se passer. (I understand that you're worried, but everything will be fine.)Quick FAQ
se faire always have a passive meaning?Not strictly. It is a "causative pronominal" structure. This means the subject experiences the result of the action, which is functionally similar to a passive. However, because you can actively se faire faire quelque chose (have something done), you are not always a passive victim; you can be an active commissioner of the action.
Yes, you can add the agent using the preposition par, just like in the formal passive voice. For example, Elle s'est fait coiffer par un coiffeur célèbre. (She had her hair done by a famous hairdresser.) However, this is less common. The main advantage of the se faire structure is to avoid mentioning the agent. If the agent is important, an active sentence is often more natural (Un coiffeur célèbre l'a coiffée).
fait is invariable?Certainly. In the se faire + infinitive construction, fait is part of a causative verbal phrase. It is not functioning like a normal past participle that agrees with a preceding direct object. The true object of the action is the infinitive phrase that follows it (e.g., the act of voler in s'est fait voler). Since this object comes after, no agreement occurs. Just memorize the rule: fait + infinitive = invariable fait.
se faire + adjectif and se faire + infinitif?Yes, a big one. Se faire can be followed by an adjective, but it becomes a different kind of verb, meaning "to become." For example, Il se fait vieux (He's getting old) or L'idée se fait claire (The idea is becoming clear). This is a standard pronominal verb use, not the causative construction discussed here.
Conjugation of 'se faire' (Present Tense)
| Subject | Reflexive | Verb | Infinitive |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Je
|
me
|
fais
|
infinitif
|
|
Tu
|
te
|
fais
|
infinitif
|
|
Il/Elle
|
se
|
fait
|
infinitif
|
|
Nous
|
nous
|
faisons
|
infinitif
|
|
Vous
|
vous
|
faites
|
infinitif
|
|
Ils/Elles
|
se
|
font
|
infinitif
|
Meanings
This structure indicates that the subject is the recipient of an action, often implying a lack of control or a service received.
Passive experience
Something happens to the subject, often negative.
“Il s'est fait renvoyer.”
“Elle s'est fait insulter.”
Service received
The subject pays or arranges for a professional to perform a task.
“Je me suis fait couper les cheveux.”
“Elle s'est fait poser des ongles.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
S + se faire + inf
|
Je me fais couper les cheveux
|
|
Negative
|
S + ne + se faire + pas + inf
|
Je ne me fais pas couper les cheveux
|
|
Question
|
Se faire + S + inf
|
Te fais-tu couper les cheveux ?
|
|
Passé Composé
|
S + se + être + fait + inf
|
Je me suis fait couper les cheveux
|
|
Pronoun Object
|
S + pron + se faire + inf
|
Je me les suis fait voler
|
|
Future
|
S + se fera + inf
|
Il se fera opérer demain
|
Formality Spectrum
Je me suis fait couper les cheveux. (Hair salon)
Je me suis fait couper les cheveux. (Hair salon)
Je me suis fait une coupe. (Hair salon)
Je me suis fait rafraîchir la tignasse. (Hair salon)
The Causative Universe
Services
- couper les cheveux get hair cut
Negative
- voler get stolen
Social
- inviter get invited
Examples by Level
Je me fais couper les cheveux.
I am getting my hair cut.
Il se fait mal.
He is getting hurt.
Elle se fait aider.
She is getting help.
Nous nous faisons plaisir.
We are treating ourselves.
Je me suis fait voler mon sac.
I got my bag stolen.
Il s'est fait punir.
He got punished.
Elle s'est fait remarquer.
She got noticed.
Nous nous sommes fait attendre.
We kept people waiting.
Je me suis fait poser des implants.
I got implants put in.
Il s'est fait licencier hier.
He got fired yesterday.
Elle s'est fait refaire le nez.
She got a nose job.
Ils se sont fait arrêter par la police.
They got stopped by the police.
Je me les suis fait voler dans le métro.
I got them stolen in the subway.
Il s'est fait passer pour un expert.
He passed himself off as an expert.
Elle s'est fait construire une maison.
She had a house built for her.
Nous nous sommes fait avoir par le vendeur.
We got ripped off by the seller.
Il s'est fait prier pour venir.
He had to be begged to come.
Elle s'est fait une raison.
She came to terms with it.
Ils se sont fait justice eux-mêmes.
They took justice into their own hands.
Je me suis fait une entorse.
I sprained my ankle.
Il s'est fait l'avocat du diable.
He played devil's advocate.
Elle s'est fait une place au soleil.
She made a name for herself.
Ils se sont fait la malle.
They escaped/ran away.
Je me suis fait une frayeur.
I gave myself a scare.
Easily Confused
Learners mix up 'Je fais réparer ma voiture' and 'Je me fais réparer ma voiture'.
Learners use 'être' + past participle for everything.
Thinking all reflexive verbs use 'se faire'.
Common Mistakes
Je me suis faite couper les cheveux.
Je me suis fait couper les cheveux.
J'ai été coupé les cheveux.
Je me suis fait couper les cheveux.
Je fais couper mes cheveux.
Je me fais couper les cheveux.
Je me fais couper les miens cheveux.
Je me fais couper les cheveux.
Il s'est fait volé son sac.
Il s'est fait voler son sac.
Elle s'est fait punie.
Elle s'est fait punir.
Nous nous sommes fait attendus.
Nous nous sommes fait attendre.
Je me les suis faits voler.
Je me les suis fait voler.
Il s'est fait le licencier.
Il s'est fait licencier.
Elle s'est fait construire une maison par lui.
Elle s'est fait construire une maison.
Ils se sont fait justice eux-mêmes.
Ils se sont fait justice eux-mêmes.
Il s'est fait l'avocat du diable.
Il s'est fait l'avocat du diable.
Sentence Patterns
Je me suis fait ___ mon ___.
Il s'est fait ___ par ___.
Elle se fait ___ chaque ___.
Nous nous sommes fait ___ dans le ___.
Real World Usage
Je me suis fait faire une coupe.
Je me suis fait voler mon sac.
Je me suis fait hacker mon compte.
Je me suis fait licencier suite à une restructuration.
Je me suis fait livrer une pizza.
Je me suis fait arrêter à la douane.
Invariance
Passive vs Causative
Pronoun placement
Natural flow
Smart Tips
Use 'se faire' + infinitive.
Remember: 'fait' is always 'fait'.
Put it before 'se faire'.
Use 'se faire' for negative experiences.
Pronunciation
Liaison
Ensure liaison between 'fait' and vowel-starting infinitives.
Falling intonation
Je me suis fait vol-er. ↘
Statement of fact.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Se Faire' as 'Self-Made' but backwards: you aren't making it, you're letting it happen to you.
Visual Association
Imagine a person sitting in a chair while a barber cuts their hair. The person is passive, the barber is active. The person is 'se faisant couper les cheveux'.
Rhyme
Si l'action n'est pas de toi, mais arrive à toi, 'se faire' est le choix.
Story
Pierre went to the salon. He sat down. He didn't cut his own hair. He let the barber do it. He 's'est fait couper les cheveux'.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 3 sentences about things you had done to you this week (e.g., haircut, oil change, haircut).
Cultural Notes
Used frequently to express mild annoyance or service.
Similar usage, often with more informal vocabulary.
Standard usage, very common in daily speech.
Derived from the Latin 'facere' (to do/make) combined with the reflexive pronoun.
Conversation Starters
Qu'est-ce que tu t'es fait faire récemment ?
T'es-tu déjà fait voler quelque chose ?
Est-ce que tu te fais souvent couper les cheveux ?
Connais-tu quelqu'un qui s'est fait licencier ?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
Je me suis ___ couper les cheveux.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Elle s'est faite punir.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
I got my car repaired.
Answer starts with: Je ...
Nous ___ couper les cheveux.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Use: se faire / licencier / hier.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesJe me suis ___ couper les cheveux.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Elle s'est faite punir.
voler / suis / me / fait / je / mon sac / .
I got my car repaired.
Nous ___ couper les cheveux.
Match: 'Je me suis fait avoir'.
Use: se faire / licencier / hier.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesI am getting my car repaired.
Ils ___ engueuler par leur mère.
Match the pairs:
Tu vas ___ faire mal !
Elles se sont faites photographier.
Reorder:
Select the correct sentence:
We had sushi delivered.
Je ___ suis fait mal.
Reorder:
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
It is a grammatical rule that in this causative structure, the past participle 'fait' is considered invariable.
No, only when you are the recipient of an action.
It is used in all registers, from formal to slang.
Then don't use 'se faire'. Use the verb directly.
Place 'ne' and 'pas' around 'se faire'. 'Je ne me suis pas fait voler'.
Yes, it works with all tenses (future, imparfait, etc.).
No, it is a causative structure that implies a service or experience.
They go before 'se faire'.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Hacerse + infinitivo
Agreement rules differ slightly.
Sich lassen + infinitiv
German uses 'lassen', French uses 'faire'.
To get + past participle
French uses an infinitive, English uses a past participle.
Passive causative (-serareru)
Japanese is agglutinative, French is periphrastic.
Passive voice (Form V/VII)
Arabic uses root modification.
Bei (被) construction
Chinese does not use a causative verb like 'faire'.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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