B2 Past Tense 15 min read Hard

Advanced Pronominal Agreement: To Agree or Not? (Accord du participe passé)

Past participles only agree with the preceding direct object, even when using 'être' with pronominal verbs.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Pronominal verbs with 'être' usually agree with the subject, unless the reflexive pronoun is an indirect object.

  • Default: Agreement with the subject. Example: Elle s'est lavée.
  • Exception: No agreement if the reflexive pronoun is an indirect object. Example: Elle s'est lavé les mains.
  • Exception: No agreement if there is a direct object following the verb. Example: Ils se sont acheté des cadeaux.
Subject + (se/s') + être + Participe Passé (+ agreement?)

Overview

At the B2 level, you have likely mastered the core rule of the passé composé: verbs using avoir agree with a preceding direct object, and verbs using être agree with the subject. Pronominal verbs (verbs with se, me, te, etc.) complicate this by always taking être as their auxiliary. This creates a common point of confusion.

You see Elle s'est levée (agreement) but then encounter Elle s'est lavé les mains (no agreement) and Elles se sont téléphoné (no agreement). This is not an exception; it is a more sophisticated application of the standard agreement rules.

The logic hinges on the function of the reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nous, vous). This pronoun can be either a direct object (COD) or an indirect object (COI). The past participle of a pronominal verb behaves as if it were conjugated with avoir: it agrees with the direct object, but only when that direct object comes before the verb. Understanding this principle is the key to resolving the apparent contradiction.

It unifies the logic of pronominal verbs with the universal French agreement system, marking a significant step toward advanced fluency.

Conjugation Table

Subject Passé Composé Translation
:--- :--- :---
je (m.) je me suis lavé I washed myself
je (f.) je me suis lavée I washed myself
tu (m.) tu t'es lavé You washed yourself
tu (f.) tu t'es lavée You washed yourself
il il s'est lavé He washed himself
elle elle s'est lavée She washed herself
nous (m.) nous nous sommes lavés We washed ourselves
nous (f.) nous nous sommes lavées We washed ourselves
vous (pl. m.) vous vous êtes lavés You washed yourselves
vous (pl. f.) vous vous êtes lavées You washed yourselves
ils ils se sont lavés They washed themselves
elles elles se sont lavées They washed themselves
Subject Passé Composé Translation
:--- :--- :---
je je me suis parlé I talked to myself
tu tu t'es parlé You talked to yourself
il/elle/on il/elle/on s'est parlé He/she/we talked to himself/herself/ourselves
nous nous nous sommes parlé We talked to each other
vous vous vous êtes parlé You talked to each other
ils/elles ils/elles se sont parlé They talked to each other

How This Grammar Works

The entire system of pronominal agreement rests on a single pillar of French grammar: the past participle agrees with the preceding direct object (COD). The use of être with pronominal verbs is a grammatical requirement, but for agreement, you must analyze the sentence as if the auxiliary were avoir. The key is to correctly identify the function of the reflexive pronoun.
First, what is a Direct Object (COD)? It is the noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb directly, without a preposition. It answers the question qui ? (who?) or quoi ? (what?) after the verb.
In the sentence Elle s'est lavée, ask: 'Elle a lavé qui ?' (Who did she wash?). The answer is s', which stands for elle-même (herself). Because the COD (s') comes before the verb, the participle lavée agrees with it.
An Indirect Object (COI), by contrast, answers the question à qui ? (to whom?), à quoi ? (to what?), de qui ? (from/about whom?), or de quoi ? (from/about what?). In Elle s'est lavé les mains, the verb is se laver. Let's analyze:
  • 'Elle a lavé quoi ?' (What did she wash?) -> les mains. This is the COD.
  • 'Elle a lavé les mains à qui ?' (To whom did she wash the hands?) -> à s', which stands for à elle-même (to herself). The reflexive pronoun s' is the COI.
Since the COD (les mains) comes after the verb, the past participle lavé does not agree. It follows the same logic as Elle a lavé les mains. The rule remains consistent. The être auxiliary is a 'false friend' in this context, suggesting subject agreement where none is required.
This core principle also explains reciprocal actions. In Nous nous sommes vus (We saw each other), nous is the direct object of voir. The nous comes before the verb, so vus agrees.
In Nous nous sommes téléphoné (We telephoned each other), the underlying structure is téléphoner à quelqu'un. The nous is an indirect object, so téléphoné does not agree.

Formation Pattern

1
To determine whether to make the participle agree, follow this four-step mental checklist every time. This analytical process is essential for accuracy at the B2 level.
2
1. Is the verb essentially pronominal?
3
Some verbs only exist in a pronominal form (e.g., s'évanouir - to faint, s'enfuir - to flee, se méfier de - to mistrust). For the vast majority of these, the past participle always agrees with the subject. Think of them as having a fused se that acts like a direct object by convention.
4
Example: Elle s'est évanouie. (évanouir doesn't exist alone).
5
Example: Ils se sont souvenus de la promesse. (se souvenir de is essentially pronominal, so it agrees with ils despite the de). This is a major exception to the COI rule.
6
2. If not, what is the function of the reflexive pronoun?
7
Ask the questions 'who?' or 'what?' to find the COD. If the reflexive pronoun (me, te, se...) is the answer, it is the COD. The participle must agree with it.
8
Example: Elle s'est préparée pour la fête. (She prepared whom? -> s'. Agreement.)
9
3. Is there a different COD in the sentence?
10
Look for another noun or pronoun that answers 'who?' or 'what?'. If you find one, the reflexive pronoun is automatically a COI ('to/for oneself').
11
If this COD comes after the verb, the participle is invariable (masculine singular).
12
Example: Elle s'est préparé un café. (She prepared what? -> un café. This is the COD. s' is the COI. The COD comes after the verb, so préparé is invariable.)
13
4. Does the COD come before the verb?
14
This is the final and most advanced step. A COD can appear before the verb, usually as que, l', la, or les. In this specific case, the participle agrees with that preceding COD, not the subject.
15
Example: Le café qu'elle s'est préparé était fort. (The COD que, referring to le café, precedes the verb. préparé agrees with que (masc. sing.).)
16
Example: Les fleurs qu'ils se sont offertes étaient magnifiques. (The COD que, referring to les fleurs, precedes the verb. The participle offertes agrees with que (fem. pl.).)

When To Use It

This grammar point is not an obscure academic rule; it is woven into the fabric of everyday spoken and written French. You will encounter and need to use it constantly.
Describing Daily Routines: This is the most common context. The presence of a body part or object after the verb signals that the reflexive pronoun is a COI, thus blocking agreement. Compare:
  • À 7h, je me suis levée, puis je me suis douchée. (At 7am, I got up, then I showered. se lever and se doucher used reflexively as COD -> agreement.)
  • Ensuite, je me suis brossé les dents et je me suis fait un café. (Then, I brushed my teeth and made myself a coffee. COD les dents and un café follow the verb -> no agreement.)
Reciprocal Actions in Social Life: When talking about interactions, the verb's transitivity is key. Did you do something to each other or for each other?
  • Texting a friend: On s'est vus hier à la fac, non ? (We saw each other at uni yesterday, right? se voir is direct -> vus agrees with on treated as nous.)
  • Recounting a conversation: Elles se sont dit la vérité. (They told each other the truth. dire qqch à qqn. la vérité is the COD, se is the COI -> dit is invariable.)
Professional and Formal Writing: Correct agreement is a strong indicator of proficiency in professional emails. Mistakes here are very noticeable.
  • Nous nous sommes permis de vous contacter... (se permettre qqch. The pronoun se is a COI. No agreement.)
  • Les documents que nous nous sommes transmis sont en pièce jointe. (transmettre qqch. The COD que (documents) precedes the verb, so transmis agrees with it.)

Common Mistakes

Mastery requires avoiding several common traps. Recognizing these patterns is as important as knowing the rule itself.
  1. 1Systematic Over-Agreement: The most frequent error is to see être and automatically make the participle agree with the subject. This reflex, learned for verbs like aller and partir, must be unlearned for pronominal verbs. Always perform the COD/COI check.
  1. 1Forgetting the 'Invariant COI' Verbs: A group of common verbs are structurally indirect, meaning their reflexive pronoun is always a COI. Their participles are therefore always invariable. Memorize the most frequent ones: se parler, se téléphoner, s'écrire, se mentir, se plaire / se déplaire, se sourire, se ressembler, se nuire.
  • Incorrect: Elles se sont plues.
  • Correct: Elles se sont plu. (The verb is plaire à qqn - to be pleasing to someone.)
  1. 1Ignoring the COD After the Verb: Learners often focus on the subject and the verb, missing the object that follows. You must scan the entire clause. Elle s'est coupée (She cut herself) is correct because s' is the COD. But in Elle s'est coupé le doigt (She cut her finger), the COD is le doigt, which comes after, so agreement is blocked.
  1. 1The se rendre compte Trap: This idiomatic expression is a classic pitfall. compte is a noun that functions as the COD of rendre. Because this COD is part of the fixed expression and follows the verb, the past participle rendu is always invariable.
  • Correct: Elle s'est rendu compte de son erreur.
  • Correct: Ils se sont rendu compte du problème.
  1. 1Verbs Followed by an Infinitive: When a pronominal verb is followed by an infinitive (laisser faire, voir faire, entendre faire), the participle is generally invariable. The reflexive pronoun is considered the subject of the infinitive, not the object of the main verb.
  • Elle s'est laissé convaincre. (She let herself be convinced.) -> laissé is invariable.
  • Ils se sont fait voler leurs passeports. (They had their passports stolen.) -> fait is invariable.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

Situating this rule against other agreement patterns clarifies the underlying logic of the French language.
Pronominal Agreement vs. Standard avoir Agreement
The logic is identical. The only difference is the auxiliary. Both rules depend entirely on the position of the direct object (COD) relative to the verb.
| Pattern Type | COD Precedes Verb (Agreement) | COD Follows Verb (No Agreement) |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Avoir | Les lettres que j'ai écrites. | J'ai écrit les lettres. |
| Pronominal | Les lettres qu'elles se sont écrites. | Elles se sont écrit des lettres. |
| Pronominal | Elle s'est lavée. (s' is COD) | Elle s'est lavé le visage. |
Pronominal Agreement vs. Standard être Agreement (Maison d'être)
This is where the confusion often begins. Verbs of movement and state (aller, partir, naître, mourir, tomber, etc.) are intransitive. This means they cannot have a direct object.
Since there is no COD to agree with, the rule defaults to the simplest option: agreement with the subject. Pronominal verbs, being transitive or used transitively, introduce an object and thus engage the more complex COD-based rule.
| Verb Type | Grammatical Feature | Agreement Rule |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| être verbs (e.g., aller) | Intransitive (No COD possible) | Always agrees with the subject. Elles sont allées. |
| Pronominal verbs (e.g., se laver) | Transitive (COD/COI is present) | Agrees with preceding COD only. Elles se sont lavées. OR Elles se sont lavé les mains. |

Real Conversations

Here is how this grammar appears in natural, modern contexts.

S

Snippet 1

Text exchange between friends

- Léa: Salut! On s'est croisées tout à l'heure près du métro, je crois?

(Hi! We ran into each other earlier near the metro, I think? -> se croiser is direct, so croisées agrees with on representing two women.)*

- Chloé: Oui! J'allais t'écrire. On s'est à peine dit bonjour.

(Yes! I was going to write to you. We barely said hello to each other. -> se dire bonjour is indirect (dire à qqn), so dit is invariable.)*

- Léa: Haha oui. Les histoires que tu m'as racontées l'autre fois m'ont fait rire.

(Haha yes. The stories you told me the other time made me laugh. -> raconter qqch à qqn. que (stories) is the preceding COD, so racontées agrees.)*

S

Snippet 2

Slack message in an office

- Manager: @équipe, nous nous sommes fixé un nouvel objectif pour ce trimestre.

(Team, we have set ourselves a new objective for this quarter. -> se fixer qqch. un nouvel objectif is the COD after the verb. fixé is invariable.)*

- Colleague: Très clair. Les tâches que nous nous sommes réparties la semaine dernière sont presque terminées.

(Very clear. The tasks we divided amongst ourselves last week are almost finished. -> se répartir qqch. que (tâches) is the preceding COD, so réparties agrees.)*

Progressive Practice

1

Test your understanding by filling in the blanks. The answers build from simple to complex.

2

Level 1: Reflexive COD vs. COI

3

Hier, elle s'est ___ (coucher) tard.

4

Ce matin, elle s'est ___ (laver) les cheveux.

Level 2: Reciprocal Actions

5

Pendant des années, ils se sont ___ (écrire) tous les jours.

6

Quand ils se sont ___ (revoir) enfin, ils étaient très émus.

Level 3: Preceding COD

7

C'est la plus belle robe qu'elle s'est jamais ___ (acheter).

8

Les objectifs que nous nous sommes ___ (fixer) sont ambitieux.

Level 4: Invariants and Tricky Cases

9

Elles se sont ___ (sourire) sans dire un mot.

10

L'oratrice s'est ___ (racler) la gorge avant de parler.

11

Elle s'est ___ (rendre) compte de son oubli trop tard.

12

Ils se sont ___ (souvenir) de leurs vacances avec nostalgie.

Answers: 1.couchée, 2.lavé, 3.écrit, 4.revus, 5.achetée, 6.fixés, 7.souri, 8.raclé, 9.rendu, 10.souvenus

Quick FAQ

Q: What is the rule for verbs like se faire, se laisser + infinitive?

When a pronominal verb is followed by an infinitive, its past participle is almost always invariable. The reflexive pronoun is not the direct object of the main verb but is logically connected to the infinitive. For instance, in Elle s'est fait mal (She hurt herself), the thing 'made' is the abstract action of 'being hurt', making fait invariable. Elle s'est laissé tomber (She let herself fall) follows the same logic.

Q: So any verb followed by de or à is a COI and never agrees?

Mostly, yes. Verbs that are structurally indirect (e.g., se parler de, se nuire à) render the reflexive pronoun a COI, blocking agreement. However, the major exception is essentially pronominal verbs like se souvenir de, se méfier de, or s'apercevoir de. By convention, these almost always agree with the subject. Elles se sont aperçues de l'erreur.

Q: Can I get a definitive list of verbs that don't agree?

Rather than a list, learn the pattern. The key verbs are those that answer à qui ?. These include se parler, se téléphoner, s'écrire, se plaire, se déplaire, se sourire, se ressembler, se mentir, se nuire, se succéder, se suffire. If you can put à before the object in the non-pronominal form, its reflexive pronoun will be a COI.

Q: Does this complex rule apply to other compound tenses?

Yes, this logic is universal for all compound tenses in French (plus-que-parfait, futur antérieur, conditionnel passé). The agreement rule depends on the auxiliary and participle, not the tense itself. Elles s'étaient téléphoné and Quand ils se seront lavé les mains follow the exact same rules.

Q: How important is this really? Can I ignore it in conversation?

You will likely be understood if you make mistakes, but incorrect agreement with pronominal verbs is a hallmark of an intermediate learner. For native speakers, it is instantly noticeable. Mastering this rule is non-negotiable for passing B2-level exams (like the DELF) and for being perceived as a proficient, professional speaker of French.

Passé Composé of Pronominal Verbs

Subject Reflexive Pronoun Auxiliary (être) Participle
Je
me suis
lavé(e)
Tu
t'es
lavé(e)
Il/Elle
s'est
lavé(e)
Nous
nous sommes
lavés(es)
Vous
vous êtes
lavés(es)
Ils/Elles
se sont
lavés(es)

Meanings

This rule dictates whether the past participle of a pronominal verb must change its ending to match the gender and number of the subject or object.

1

Reflexive agreement

Agreement with the subject when the pronoun is the direct object.

“Elle s'est blessée.”

“Ils se sont perdus.”

2

Indirect object exception

No agreement when the pronoun functions as an indirect object.

“Elle s'est lavé les mains.”

“Ils se sont parlé.”

3

Essential pronominal verbs

Verbs that only exist in pronominal form always agree with the subject.

“Elle s'est souvenue de tout.”

“Ils se sont absentés.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Advanced Pronominal Agreement: To Agree or Not? (Accord du participe passé)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
S + se + être + PP
Elle s'est lavée.
Negative
S + ne + se + être + pas + PP
Elle ne s'est pas lavée.
Question
S' + être + S + PP?
S'est-elle lavée?
Indirect
S + se + être + PP + COI
Elle s'est lavé les mains.
Essential
S + se + être + PP
Elle s'est souvenue.
Reciprocal
S + se + être + PP
Ils se sont vus.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Ils se sont rencontrés.

Ils se sont rencontrés. (Social)

Neutral
Ils se sont rencontrés.

Ils se sont rencontrés. (Social)

Informal
Ils se sont vus.

Ils se sont vus. (Social)

Slang
Ils se sont captés.

Ils se sont captés. (Social)

Agreement Decision Tree

1

Is the verb essentially pronominal?

YES
Agree with subject
NO
Check object
2

Is 'se' a direct object?

YES
Agree with subject
NO
No agreement
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Examples by Level

1

Elle s'est lavée.

She washed herself.

2

Il s'est habillé.

He got dressed.

3

Ils se sont levés.

They got up.

4

Elle s'est reposée.

She rested.

1

Elle s'est lavé les mains.

She washed her hands.

2

Ils se sont parlé.

They talked to each other.

3

Nous nous sommes vus.

We saw each other.

4

Elle s'est acheté une robe.

She bought herself a dress.

1

Elles se sont souvenues de la fête.

They remembered the party.

2

Ils se sont écrit des lettres.

They wrote letters to each other.

3

Elle s'est absentée du bureau.

She was absent from the office.

4

Ils se sont rencontrés hier.

They met yesterday.

1

Les erreurs qu'ils se sont reprochées.

The mistakes they blamed each other for.

2

Elle s'est rendu compte de son erreur.

She realized her mistake.

3

Ils se sont succédé à la présidence.

They succeeded each other as president.

4

Elles se sont plu immédiatement.

They liked each other immediately.

1

Les promesses qu'ils se sont faites.

The promises they made to each other.

2

Elle s'est arrogé tous les droits.

She arrogated all rights to herself.

3

Ils se sont nui mutuellement.

They harmed each other mutually.

4

Elles se sont ri de la situation.

They laughed at the situation.

1

Ces décisions, ils se les sont imposées.

These decisions, they imposed them on themselves.

2

Elle s'est complu dans son malheur.

She wallowed in her misery.

3

Ils se sont départis de leurs biens.

They divested themselves of their assets.

4

Elles se sont entremises pour résoudre le conflit.

They intervened to resolve the conflict.

Easily Confused

Advanced Pronominal Agreement: To Agree or Not? (Accord du participe passé) vs Reflexive vs. Passive

Learners confuse reflexive 'se' with passive 'se'.

Advanced Pronominal Agreement: To Agree or Not? (Accord du participe passé) vs Direct vs. Indirect

Confusing the role of 'se'.

Advanced Pronominal Agreement: To Agree or Not? (Accord du participe passé) vs Essential vs. Occasional

Forgetting essential pronominal verbs.

Common Mistakes

✗

Elle s'est lavé.

✓

Elle s'est lavée.

Missing agreement with subject.
✗

Ils se sont lavé.

✓

Ils se sont lavés.

Missing plural agreement.
✗

Elle a se lavée.

✓

Elle s'est lavée.

Wrong auxiliary.
✗

Elle s'est lavée les mains.

✓

Elle s'est lavé les mains.

Over-agreeing when object follows.
✗

Ils se sont parlés.

✓

Ils se sont parlé.

Agreeing with indirect object.
✗

Elle s'est souvenu.

✓

Elle s'est souvenue.

Essential pronominal verbs must agree.
✗

Nous nous sommes écrit des lettres.

✓

Nous nous sommes écrit des lettres.

Correct, but learners often add 's'.
✗

Elles se sont dit des secrets.

✓

Elles se sont dit des secrets.

Correct, but learners often add 'es'.
✗

Ils se sont succédés.

✓

Ils se sont succédé.

Indirect object 'succéder à'.
✗

Elle s'est plu.

✓

Elle s'est plu.

Correct, but learners often add 'e'.
✗

Les fleurs qu'ils se sont offertes.

✓

Les fleurs qu'ils se sont offertes.

Correct, but learners struggle with complex objects.
✗

Ils se sont arrogés des droits.

✓

Ils se sont arrogé des droits.

Direct object follows.
✗

Elles se sont ri.

✓

Elles se sont ri.

Invariable participle.
✗

Ils se sont nui.

✓

Ils se sont nui.

Invariable participle.

Sentence Patterns

Elle s'est ___ les mains.

Ils se sont ___ hier.

Elle s'est ___ de tout.

Les erreurs qu'ils se sont ___.

Real World Usage

Social Media constant

On s'est bien amusés !

Job Interview common

Je me suis occupé de ce projet.

Texting constant

On s'est vus ?

Travel common

Nous nous sommes perdus.

Food Delivery occasional

Je me suis fait livrer.

Academic Writing common

Ils se sont succédé.

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💡

Check the object

Always look for a direct object after the verb. If it exists, no agreement!
⚠️

Essential pronominal

Some verbs are always pronominal. They always agree!
🎯

The 'lui' test

If you can replace 'se' with 'lui' (indirect), do not agree.
💬

Spoken vs Written

In casual speech, agreement is often skipped. In writing, it is mandatory.

Smart Tips

Check for a direct object after the verb.

Ils se sont parlés. → Ils se sont parlé.

Ask: 'Is this verb always pronominal?'

Elle s'est souvenu. → Elle s'est souvenue.

Always double-check your agreements.

Elles se sont dit des choses. → Elles se sont dit des choses.

Use the 'lui' test.

Ils se sont vus. → Ils se sont vus.

Pronunciation

s'est-absentée [sɛtapsɑ̃te]

Liaison

Ensure liaison between 's'est' and vowel-starting verbs.

Question

S'est-elle lavée? ↑

Rising intonation for yes/no questions.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Remember: If the 'se' is the direct object, agree! If there's another object, don't you dare!

Visual Association

Imagine a mirror. If you are washing yourself (direct), you see your reflection (agreement). If you are washing your hands (indirect), the 'hands' block the reflection (no agreement).

Rhyme

If 'se' is the object, the ending is clear, but if there's a noun, the ending stays here.

Story

Marie looked in the mirror and washed herself (Elle s'est lavée). Then she grabbed a towel and washed her hands (Elle s'est lavé les mains). Finally, she remembered her keys (Elle s'est souvenue de ses clés).

Word Web

se laverse souvenirse parlerse rencontrerse voirse dire

Challenge

Write 5 sentences using pronominal verbs in the past, alternating between reflexive and indirect objects.

Cultural Notes

Strict adherence to agreement is expected in formal writing.

Spoken usage often simplifies agreement.

Formal French is highly valued in administrative contexts.

Derived from Latin reflexive pronouns and the auxiliary 'être' indicating state.

Conversation Starters

“

Qu'est-ce que vous vous êtes dit hier ?

“

Vous êtes-vous souvenu de votre premier voyage ?

“

Comment vous êtes-vous rencontrés ?

“

Qu'est-ce que vous vous êtes offert pour Noël ?

Journal Prompts

Décrivez votre routine matinale.
Racontez une dispute avec un ami.
Parlez d'un souvenir d'enfance.
Analysez une décision importante.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the correct participle.

Elle s'est ___ (laver).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: lavée
Agreement with subject.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ils se sont parlé.
Indirect object.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Elle s'est souvenu de tout.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Elle s'est souvenue.
Essential pronominal.
Change to negative. Sentence Transformation

Elle s'est lavée.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Elle ne s'est pas lavée.
Negative structure.
Match the verb to its agreement. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: all of the above
Rule summary.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

Ils / se / rencontrer / hier.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ils se sont rencontrés hier.
Standard agreement.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

Elle s'est ___ les mains.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: lavé
Direct object follows.
Fill in the blank.

Elles se sont ___ (absenter).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: absentées
Essential pronominal.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the correct participle.

Elle s'est ___ (laver).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: lavée
Agreement with subject.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ils se sont parlé.
Indirect object.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Elle s'est souvenu de tout.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Elle s'est souvenue.
Essential pronominal.
Change to negative. Sentence Transformation

Elle s'est lavée.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Elle ne s'est pas lavée.
Negative structure.
Match the verb to its agreement. Match Pairs

Match:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: all of the above
Rule summary.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

Ils / se / rencontrer / hier.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ils se sont rencontrés hier.
Standard agreement.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

Elle s'est ___ les mains.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: lavé
Direct object follows.
Fill in the blank.

Elles se sont ___ (absenter).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: absentées
Essential pronominal.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Fill in the blank Fill in the Blank

Elle s'est ____ (souvenir) de mon anniversaire.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: souvenue
Fix the mistake Error Correction

Elles se sont téléphonées.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Elles se sont téléphoné.
Reorder the words Sentence Reorder

se / mains / est / Elle / lavé / les

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Elle s'est lavé les mains.
Translate to French Translation

They (fem.) liked each other.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Elles se sont plu.
Choose the correct one Multiple Choice

Which one shows agreement with a preceding COD?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Les fleurs qu'il s'est achetées.
Match the verb with its agreement type Match Pairs

Match the verbs

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: se souvenir | Always agrees
Fill in the blank Fill in the Blank

Ma sœur s'est ____ (couper) le doigt.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: coupé
Pick the correct sentence Multiple Choice

Talking about two girls:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Elles se sont vues.
Fill in the blank Fill in the Blank

Ils se sont ____ (succéder) à ce poste.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: succédé
Correct the agreement Error Correction

La robe qu'elle s'est acheté.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: La robe qu'elle s'est achetée.

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

It depends on whether the reflexive pronoun is a direct or indirect object.

A verb that only exists in the pronominal form, like 'se souvenir'.

Often not, but in writing, it is required.

If you can replace 'se' with 'le/la'.

They follow the same rules as reflexive verbs.

Yes, because you talk *to* someone.

It's an idiomatic expression that behaves like an essential pronominal verb.

Yes, but they are rare and usually involve specific idiomatic structures.

Scaffolded Practice

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4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

Verbos reflexivos

French requires participle agreement; Spanish does not.

German moderate

Reflexive Verben

German does not have past participle agreement.

Japanese low

Reflexive structures

Japanese lacks grammatical gender and number.

Arabic partial

Form V/VI

Arabic agreement is built into the verb root.

Chinese low

Reflexive pronouns

Chinese has no verb conjugation.

English moderate

Reflexive pronouns

English has no participle agreement.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
The 'Fancy Ghost' Ne: Formal Expletive Ne (Ne explétif)
Next
French Past Participle Agreement with 'avoir' (Preceding COD)

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