A1 Past Tense 15 min read Medium

Matching Reflexive Verbs in the Past (Accord avec sujet)

In the past, reflexive verbs use être and the action word must match the subject's gender and number.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

When using reflexive verbs in the past, the past participle usually agrees with the reflexive pronoun if it acts as a direct object.

  • If the reflexive pronoun is the direct object, match the participle: Elle s'est lavée (f).
  • If there is a direct object after the verb, no agreement: Elle s'est lavé les mains.
  • The auxiliary verb is always 'être' for reflexive verbs in the past tense.
Subject + Reflexive Pronoun + être + Past Participle (+ agreement)

Overview

In French, when a subject performs an action on itself, you use a special category of verbs known as reflexive verbs (verbes pronominaux). You can spot them by the reflexive pronoun—me, te, se, nous, vous—that accompanies the verb. When you use these verbs in the past tense, specifically the passé composé, you must follow a critical rule: the past participle must agree in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) with the subject.

This isn't an arbitrary rule; it's a cornerstone of French grammar tied to the auxiliary verb être (to be). All reflexive verbs, without exception, use être to form their past tenses. For example, a man would say Je me suis habillé (I got dressed), but a woman must say Je me suis habillée.

The extra -e on the end is not optional; it's essential for grammatical correctness. This guide will provide a complete reference for mastering this fundamental concept, moving from the basic mechanics to real-world application.

Conjugation Table

Subject Pronoun Reflexive Pronoun Auxiliary être Past Participle & Agreement Complete Example Sentence English
:--- :--- :--- :--- :--- :---
Je (m.) me (m') suis amusé Je me suis amusé. I had fun. (male speaker)
Je (f.) me (m') suis amusée Je me suis amusée. I had fun. (female speaker)
Tu (m.) te (t') es amusé Tu t'es amusé. You had fun. (to a male)
Tu (f.) te (t') es amusée Tu t'es amusée. You had fun. (to a female)
Il se (s') est amusé Il s'est amusé. He had fun.
Elle se (s') est amusée Elle s'est amusée. She had fun.
On se (s') est amusé(e)(s) On s'est bien amusé(s). We had a lot of fun.
Nous (m. or mixed) nous sommes amusés Nous nous sommes amusés. We had fun. (group of men or mixed)
Nous (f.) nous sommes amusées Nous nous sommes amusées. We had fun. (group of women)
Vous (singular, m.) vous êtes amusé Vous vous êtes amusé. You had fun. (formal, to a man)
Vous (singular, f.) vous êtes lavée Vous vous êtes lavée. You got washed. (formal, to a woman)
Vous (plural, m./mixed) vous êtes amusés Vous vous êtes amusés. You (all) had fun. (to men/mixed group)
Vous (plural, f.) vous êtes amusées Vous vous êtes amusées. You (all) had fun. (to a group of women)
Ils se (s') sont amusés Ils se sont amusés. They had fun. (group of men or mixed)
Elles se (s') sont lavées Elles se sont lavées. They got washed. (group of women)

How This Grammar Works

To understand the agreement rule, you need to understand the two auxiliary verbs used to form the passé composé: avoir (to have) and être (to be). Most verbs use avoir. For example, J'ai mangé (I ate).
With avoir, the past participle mangé never changes to agree with the subject Je.
A special group of about 15 verbs (often related to motion or state change, like aller, venir, partir), plus all reflexive verbs, use être. The linguistic principle is this: when être is the auxiliary, the past participle functions like an adjective that describes the subject's state after the action is complete. Just as you must make an adjective agree—Il est grand (He is tall) versus Elle est grande (She is tall)—you must make the past participle agree.
With a reflexive verb, the subject and the object are the same entity. In Elle se lave (She washes herself), Elle is the one doing the washing, and se (herself) is the one being washed. When you put this in the past, Elle s'est lavée, the participle lavée (washed) describes the final state of Elle.
It answers the question, "What is her condition after the action?" She is washed. The participle is directly linked to the subject, so it must carry the subject's gender and number.
This is why the reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, etc.) is so important. It confirms that the action is self-contained, reinforcing the direct link between the subject and the participle's description. The entire structure is designed to show that the subject has undergone a change of state performed by itself.
For example, in Ils se sont assis (They sat down), the participle assis (seated) describes the plural masculine subject Ils.

Formation Pattern

1
The formula for constructing the passé composé with a reflexive verb is consistent and has four key parts. You must follow them in this exact order.
2
The Formula: Subject + Reflexive Pronoun + Conjugated être + Agreed Past Participle
3
Let's break this down step-by-step:
4
Start with your subject. (Je, tu, elle, nous, etc.)
5
Add the correct reflexive pronoun. It must match the subject. (me, te, se, nous, vous, se)
6
Add the present tense conjugation of être. This must also match the subject. (suis, es, est, sommes, êtes, sont)
7
Add the past participle and make it agree. This is the crucial final step.
8
| Step 1: Subject | Step 2: Reflexive Pronoun | Step 3: être Conjugation | Step 4: Past Participle + Agreement Rule | Resulting Sentence |
9
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
10
| Elle | se (s') | est | préparé + e -> préparée | Elle s'est préparée. (She got ready.) |
11
| Nous (m. pl) | nous | sommes | perdu + s -> perdus | Nous nous sommes perdus. (We got lost.) |
12
| Mes sœurs (f. pl) | se (s') | sont | couché + es -> couchées | Mes sœurs se sont couchées. (My sisters went to bed.) |
13
| Tu (m. sing) | te (t') | es | rasé + (nothing) -> rasé | Tu t'es rasé ce matin. (You shaved this morning.) |
14
Past Participle Agreement Rules:
15
Masculine Singular: No change. (e.g., levé)
16
Feminine Singular: Add -e. (e.g., levée)
17
Masculine Plural: Add -s. (e.g., levés)
18
Feminine Plural: Add -es. (e.g., levées)
19
Remember that the reflexive pronoun me, te, and se become m', t', and s' before a vowel sound, which is always the case with the auxiliary être (es, est). For example, you write tu t'es not tu te es.

When To Use It

You use this structure whenever you're narrating a past action that a subject did to itself. Reflexive verbs in French cover a wide range of common, everyday actions. For a beginner, it's helpful to think of them in categories.
  1. 1Daily Routines & Personal Care: These are the most common reflexive verbs you'll encounter first. They describe things you do to your own body.
  • se lever (to get up): Je me suis levé à 8h. (I got up at 8 o'clock.)
  • s'habiller (to get dressed): Elle s'est habillée rapidement. (She got dressed quickly.)
  • se coucher (to go to bed): Ils se sont couchés tard. (They went to bed late.)
  1. 1Feelings & Change of State: Many verbs describing internal feelings or a change in one's state are reflexive.
  • s'ennuyer (to get bored): Nous nous sommes ennuyées pendant la conférence. (We [a group of women] got bored during the conference.)
  • s'énerver (to get angry): Il s'est énervé pour rien. (He got angry for no reason.)
  • se sentir (to feel): Hier, je me suis sentie un peu malade. (Yesterday, I [a woman] felt a little sick.)
  1. 1Reciprocal Actions ("Each Other"): Reflexive pronouns can also mean "each other." The agreement rule still applies because the action remains within the group of subjects.
  • se parler (to talk to each other): Elles se sont parlé pendant des heures. (They talked to each other for hours.) Note: This is technically an exception you'll learn later, but many speakers still make it agree.
  • s'aimer (to love each other): Ils se sont aimés toute leur vie. (They loved each other their whole lives.)
  • se voir (to see each other): On s'est vus la semaine dernière. (We saw each other last week.)
If the verb in the dictionary has se or s' before it, you know it's reflexive and must follow this passé composé pattern with être and agreement.

Common Mistakes

Learners consistently make a few predictable errors with this structure. Being aware of them is the first step to avoiding them.
  • Mistake 1: Forgetting the agreement entirely. This is the most frequent error. Coming from English, or being used to the avoir pattern, students often forget to add the -e, -s, or -es.
  • Incorrect: *Ma mère s'est couché à 22h.
  • Correct: Ma mère s'est couchée à 22h. (The subject Ma mère is feminine singular, so the participle needs -e.)
  • Mistake 2: Using avoir as the auxiliary. Because avoir is used for most verbs, learners sometimes incorrectly apply it to reflexive verbs.
  • Incorrect: *Je m'ai réveillé.
  • Correct: Je me suis réveillé. (Rule: All reflexive verbs use être in the passé composé. No exceptions.)
  • Mistake 3: Incorrect agreement for nous, vous, and on. Students often fail to consider the actual members of the group.
  • Incorrect: *Nous (Julie et moi) nous sommes allés au parc. (Spoken by a woman, Marie, about herself and another woman, Julie.)
  • Correct: Nous nous sommes allées au parc. (The nous refers to two women, so the participle must be feminine plural.)
  • Mistake 4 (The Advanced Exception): Agreement with a Direct Object. This is a B1-level rule, but it's the source of much confusion. If the reflexive verb is followed by a direct object, the participle does not agree with the subject. The reflexive pronoun is considered an indirect object in this case.
  • Standard Case: Elle s'est lavée. (She washed herself. se is the direct object.)
  • Exception Case: Elle s'est lavé les mains. (She washed her hands. les mains is the direct object, so lavé does not agree with Elle.)
For now, as a beginner, focus on the main rule of agreement. But know that this important exception exists and explains why you'll sometimes see sentences that seem to break the rule.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

Understanding what this rule isn't is as important as understanding what it is. Let's contrast it with the two other main patterns in the passé composé.
Pattern 1: Reflexive with être vs. Standard Verb with avoir
This is the most fundamental contrast. The auxiliary verb determines the entire agreement pattern.
| Feature | Reflexive Verbs with être | Standard Verbs with avoir |
|:---|:---|:---|
| Auxiliary | être | avoir |
| Agreement | Past participle agrees with the subject. | Past participle does not agree with the subject. |
| Example (f. sing.) | Elle s'est réveillée. | Elle a commencé. (NOT *commencée) |
| Example (m. pl.) | Ils se sont assis. | Ils ont fini. (NOT *finis) |
Pattern 2: Reflexive with être vs. "House of être" Verbs
The agreement rule is actually not unique to reflexives. It applies to all verbs that use être as their auxiliary. This includes a small group of non-reflexive verbs, often called the "DR & MRS VANDERTRAMP" or "House of être" verbs (aller, venir, partir, rester, etc.).
The key difference is the absence of the reflexive pronoun.
| Feature | Reflexive Verb (se lever) | "House of être" Verb (aller) |
|:---|:---|:---|
| Shared Trait | Both use être and their participles agree with the subject. |
| Key Difference | Contains a reflexive pronoun (se). Action is on the subject. | No reflexive pronoun. Action is just performed by the subject. |
| Example (f. sing.) | Elle s'est levée. (She got herself up.) | Elle est allée. (She went.) |
| Example (f. pl.) | Elles se sont promenées. (They took a walk.) | Elles sont parties. (They left.) |
This shows the agreement rule is a feature of être, not just reflexives. Reflexives are simply the largest and most consistent group of verbs that use être.

Real Conversations

Textbook examples are useful, but seeing the grammar in authentic, modern contexts helps solidify it. Here's how you'll see this pattern used by native speakers.

1. In a Text Message Chain:

- Person A: Tu viens à la soirée ce soir ? (Are you coming to the party tonight?)

- Person B: Oui, mais un peu en retard. Je me suis réveillé de ma sieste il y a 5 minutes ! (Yeah, but a bit late. I woke up from my nap 5 minutes ago!) - A male speaker uses réveillé.

2. On a Social Media Post (e.g., Instagram):

- (Caption under a photo of three girlfriends laughing)

- Week-end parfait entre copines. On s'est tellement amusées ! ❤️ (Perfect weekend with the girls. We had so much fun! ❤️) - amusées is feminine plural because On refers to the group of women.

3. In a Casual Work Email:

- Salut Marc, juste pour te dire que Sophie et moi, nous nous sommes occupées du dossier client ce matin. Tout est en ordre. (Hi Marc, just to let you know that Sophie and I took care of the client file this morning. Everything is in order.) - Spoken by a woman, so occupées (f. pl.) is used for Sophie et moi.

4. In Spoken Conversation:

- « Alors, comment s'est passée ta journée ? » (So, how was your day?)

- « Bof, pas terrible. Je me suis disputé avec mon chef. » (Meh, not great. I argued with my boss.) - disputé (m. sing.) because je is a male speaker arguing with someone else. se disputer avec = to argue with.

Notice the natural use of on for nous and how context (the speaker, the people they are with) dictates the agreement.

Progressive Practice

1

Test your understanding with these exercises. Start simple and build up.

2

Part 1: Simple Agreement

3

Complete the sentence with the correct past participle form.

4

Hier, ma femme s'est ______ (coucher) très tard.

5

Les garçons se sont ______ (perdre) dans la forêt.

6

Nous (un homme et une femme) nous sommes ______ (rencontrer) à l'université.

7

Tu t'es ______ (habiller) très vite ce matin ! (speaking to a female friend)

8

Elles se sont ______ (asseoir) au premier rang.

Part 2: Full Sentence Construction

Build a full sentence in the passé composé from the given elements.

9

je (f.) / se réveiller / à 9h

10

vous (plural, f.) / se préparer / pour la fête

11

on (meaning 'we', a group of men) / s'amuser / au match

12

mon frère / ne / pas / se raser / ce matin (Pay attention to the negative ne...pas)

13

tu (m.) / se sentir / mieux / aujourd'hui ? (Make it a question)

Part 3: Error Correction

Find the mistake in each sentence and rewrite it correctly.

14

*La directrice s'est énervé contre l'employé.

15

*Mes copines et moi, nous nous sommes bien amusé.

16

*Vous (formal, to a woman) vous êtes trompé de numéro.

17

*Ils se sont lavé les mains. (This one is tricky! Think about the exception rule.)

---

Answer Key

Part 1: 1. couchée, 2. perdus, 3. rencontrés, 4. habillée, 5. assises

Part 2: 1. Je me suis réveillée à 9h. 2. Vous vous êtes préparées pour la fête. 3. On s'est amusés au match. 4. Mon frère ne s'est pas rasé ce matin. 5. Tu t'es senti mieux aujourd'hui ?

Part 3: 1. La directrice s'est énervée... (directrice is feminine). 2. ...nous nous sommes bien amusées. (copines + moi (f) is a feminine plural group). 3. ...vous êtes trompée de numéro. (vous is formal singular feminine). 4. No error. Ils se sont lavé les mains. is correct because les mains is a direct object, so the participle lavé does not agree.

Quick FAQ

  • Q: Why do reflexive verbs always use être?
  • A: Linguistically, it's because the action reflects back onto the subject, emphasizing a change in the subject's state rather than an action performed on an external object. The auxiliary être is used in French to describe states of being, so it's the natural fit for these self-contained actions.
  • Q: So the agreement is always required in the passé composé?
  • A: For an A1-A2 learner, the working rule is yes. You should always make it agree. The only major exception, which you will study at the B1 level, is when the reflexive pronoun is not the direct object of the verb (e.g., Elle s'est lavé les mains). For now, focus on mastering the primary agreement rule.
  • Q: How can I tell the difference between Elles se sont vues and Elles ont vu?
  • A: This shows the power of the reflexive structure. Elles se sont vues means "They saw each other" (a reciprocal action). Elles ont vu is incomplete and means "They saw..." (something else, like Elles ont vu un film). The presence of se and être changes the meaning entirely from a standard action to a reflexive/reciprocal one.
  • Q: How do I know if a verb is reflexive if I'm not sure?
  • A: In its dictionary form (the infinitive), the verb will be listed with se or s' in front of it. For example, the dictionary entry will be se lever, not just lever. If you see that se, you know it's a reflexive verb and must follow all the rules described here.

Conjugation of 'Se laver' (to wash oneself)

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

Common Contractions

Infinitive Past Form
S'habiller
S'est habillé(e)
Se lever
S'est levé(e)

Meanings

This rule governs how the past participle changes to match the gender and number of the subject when using reflexive verbs in the passé composé.

1

Direct Object Reflexive

The action is done to oneself, requiring agreement.

“Je me suis trompé.”

“Elle s'est reposée.”

2

Indirect Object Reflexive

The action is done to a body part or object, no agreement.

“Elle s'est lavé les mains.”

“Il s'est cassé la jambe.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Matching Reflexive Verbs in the Past (Accord avec sujet)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Sub + Ref + être + PP
Elle s'est lavée.
Negative
Sub + ne + Ref + être + pas + PP
Elle ne s'est pas lavée.
Question
Ref + être + Sub + PP?
S'est-elle lavée?
Indirect
Sub + Ref + être + PP + DO
Elle s'est lavé les mains.
Plural
Sub + Ref + être + PP + s
Ils se sont lavés.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Elle s'est lavée.

Elle s'est lavée. (Daily hygiene)

Neutral
Elle s'est lavée.

Elle s'est lavée. (Daily hygiene)

Informal
Elle s'est lavée.

Elle s'est lavée. (Daily hygiene)

Slang
Elle s'est douchée.

Elle s'est douchée. (Daily hygiene)

Reflexive Agreement Logic

Agreement?

Direct Object

  • Yes Add e/s

Indirect Object

  • No No change
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Examples by Level

1

Je me suis lavé.

I washed myself.

2

Elle s'est reposée.

She rested.

3

Nous nous sommes amusés.

We had fun.

4

Ils se sont levés.

They got up.

1

Elle s'est lavé les mains.

She washed her hands.

2

Il s'est cassé le bras.

He broke his arm.

3

Elles se sont habillées.

They got dressed.

4

Nous nous sommes trompés.

We made a mistake.

1

Elle s'est acheté une robe.

She bought herself a dress.

2

Ils se sont parlé pendant des heures.

They talked to each other for hours.

3

Elle s'est souvenue de tout.

She remembered everything.

4

Nous nous sommes perdus en ville.

We got lost in town.

1

Les fleurs qu'elle s'est offertes sont belles.

The flowers she bought herself are beautiful.

2

Ils se sont succédé sans interruption.

They followed one another without interruption.

3

Elle s'est vu refuser l'entrée.

She was refused entry.

4

Nous nous sommes fait confiance.

We trusted each other.

1

Les erreurs qu'ils se sont laissées commettre sont graves.

The mistakes they let each other make are serious.

2

Elle s'est rendu compte de son erreur.

She realized her mistake.

3

Ils se sont plu immédiatement.

They liked each other immediately.

4

Ces règles se sont imposées d'elles-mêmes.

These rules imposed themselves.

1

Elle s'est fait justice elle-même.

She took justice into her own hands.

2

Ils se sont plu à imaginer le futur.

They enjoyed imagining the future.

3

Les contraintes qu'elle s'est imposées sont strictes.

The constraints she imposed on herself are strict.

4

Ils se sont vus décerner un prix.

They were awarded a prize.

Easily Confused

Matching Reflexive Verbs in the Past (Accord avec sujet) vs Passé Composé with 'avoir'

Learners use 'avoir' for reflexive verbs.

Matching Reflexive Verbs in the Past (Accord avec sujet) vs Agreement with Direct Object

Adding agreement when a direct object follows.

Matching Reflexive Verbs in the Past (Accord avec sujet) vs Transitive vs Reflexive

Mixing up 'se laver' and 'laver'.

Common Mistakes

✗

Elle s'est lavé.

✓

Elle s'est lavée.

Missing feminine agreement.
✗

Elle a se lavé.

✓

Elle s'est lavée.

Incorrect auxiliary.
✗

Ils se sont lavé.

✓

Ils se sont lavés.

Missing plural agreement.
✗

Elle s'est lavée les mains.

✓

Elle s'est lavé les mains.

Incorrect agreement with direct object.
✗

Elle s'est reposé.

✓

Elle s'est reposée.

Agreement needed.
✗

Nous nous sommes amusé.

✓

Nous nous sommes amusés.

Plural agreement needed.
✗

Elle s'est habillée les enfants.

✓

Elle a habillé les enfants.

Confusing reflexive with transitive.
✗

Elle s'est souvenue de lui.

✓

Elle s'est souvenue de lui.

Correct, but often confused with 'avoir'.
✗

Ils se sont plu.

✓

Ils se sont plu.

Correct, but 'plu' is invariant.
✗

Elle s'est vu donner un cadeau.

✓

Elle s'est vu donner un cadeau.

Complex agreement.
✗

Les fleurs qu'elle s'est offerts.

✓

Les fleurs qu'elle s'est offertes.

Agreement with preceding DO.
✗

Ils se sont succédés.

✓

Ils se sont succédé.

Invariable verb.
✗

Elle s'est fait justice.

✓

Elle s'est fait justice.

Invariable.

Sentence Patterns

Je me suis ___ ce matin.

Elle s'est ___ les mains.

Nous nous sommes ___ hier soir.

Les erreurs qu'elle s'est ___ sont graves.

Real World Usage

Social Media very common

Je me suis bien amusé à la fête!

Texting constant

T'es-tu réveillé?

Job Interview common

Je me suis préparé pour ce poste.

Travel common

Je me suis perdu dans le métro.

Food Delivery App occasional

Je me suis commandé une pizza.

Diary common

Aujourd'hui, je me suis senti triste.

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💡

Check for DO

Always check if a direct object follows the verb. If yes, no agreement!
⚠️

Auxiliary Check

Never use 'avoir' with reflexive verbs in the past.
🎯

Feminine Agreement

If you are female, always add an 'e' to the participle.
💬

Daily Use

Use these verbs to talk about your day; it makes you sound native.

Smart Tips

Check if it's followed by a body part.

Elle s'est lavée les mains. → Elle s'est lavé les mains.

Always add an 'e' if it's a simple reflexive verb.

Elle s'est levé. → Elle s'est levée.

Add an 's' if the reflexive pronoun is the direct object.

Ils se sont amusé. → Ils se sont amusés.

Remember it's always 's'est souvenue' for a woman.

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

Pronunciation

Nous nous sommes_amusés

Liaison

The 's' in 'sommes' or 'êtes' often links to the next word if it starts with a vowel.

Question

S'est-elle lavée? ↑

Rising intonation for yes/no questions.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Mirror, Mirror on the wall, if the object is me, add the letter to the call!

Visual Association

Imagine a mirror. When you look at yourself, you see your gender. If you are a girl, you see an 'e' floating in the mirror. If there are many of you, you see an 's'.

Rhyme

If the 'se' is the one who gets the action, add an 'e' for feminine satisfaction.

Story

Marie looked in the mirror. She saw herself (Elle s'est vue). She washed her face (Elle s'est lavé le visage). She felt happy (Elle s'est sentie heureuse).

Word Web

se laverse leverse couchers'amuserse tromperse reposer

Challenge

Write 3 sentences about your morning routine using reflexive verbs and check your agreements.

Cultural Notes

Reflexive verbs are used heavily to describe daily life and social status.

Usage is similar, but slang versions like 's'éclater' are very common.

Standard French rules apply, but formal register is often preferred.

Reflexive verbs in French derive from Latin deponent verbs and the use of the reflexive pronoun 'se'.

Conversation Starters

“

Qu'est-ce que tu as fait ce matin?

“

Comment vous êtes-vous rencontrés?

“

T'es-tu déjà trompé dans ton travail?

“

Quelles décisions t'es-tu imposées cette année?

Journal Prompts

Describe your morning routine in 5 sentences.
Tell a story about a time you got lost.
Reflect on a mistake you made recently.
Discuss a personal goal you set for yourself.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the correct form.

Elle ___ (se laver) les mains.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: s'est lavé
Direct object follows.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Elle s'est habillée.
Feminine agreement.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Ils se sont lavé.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ils se sont lavés.
Plural agreement.
Make it negative. Sentence Transformation

Elle s'est reposée.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Elle ne s'est pas reposée.
Negative structure.
Match the verb to the past form. Match Pairs

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

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: S'est levé
Reflexive past form.
Conjugate for 'Nous'. Conjugation Drill

Se tromper

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nous nous sommes trompés
Plural agreement.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

elle / se / coucher / hier

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Elle s'est couchée hier.
Correct order and agreement.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

Les fleurs qu'elle ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: s'est offertes
Agreement with preceding DO.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the correct form.

Elle ___ (se laver) les mains.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: s'est lavé
Direct object follows.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Elle s'est habillée.
Feminine agreement.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Ils se sont lavé.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ils se sont lavés.
Plural agreement.
Make it negative. Sentence Transformation

Elle s'est reposée.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Elle ne s'est pas reposée.
Negative structure.
Match the verb to the past form. Match Pairs

Se lever

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: S'est levé
Reflexive past form.
Conjugate for 'Nous'. Conjugation Drill

Se tromper

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nous nous sommes trompés
Plural agreement.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

elle / se / coucher / hier

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Elle s'est couchée hier.
Correct order and agreement.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

Les fleurs qu'elle ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: s'est offertes
Agreement with preceding DO.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Put the words in the correct order. Sentence Reorder

sommes / Nous / bien / nous / amusés

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nous nous sommes bien amusés
Translate to French. Translation

She got dressed.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Elle s'est habillée.
Match the subject to the correct verb form. Match Pairs

Match the following:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je (f) | me suis couchée
Pick the correct reflexive pronoun. Multiple Choice

Vous ___ êtes dépêchés.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vous
Fill in the auxiliary verb. Fill in the Blank

Ils se ___ promenés dans le parc.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: sont
Fix the sentence: 'Marc s'est lavée.' Error Correction

Marc s'est lavée.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Marc s'est lavé.
Complete the agreement. Fill in the Blank

Mes sœurs se sont arrêté___ devant le magasin.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: es
Translate to French. Translation

I (masc.) remembered.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je me suis souvenu.
Order the negative sentence. Sentence Reorder

pas / suis / Je / me / levée / ne

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je ne me suis pas levée
Which one uses 'être'? Multiple Choice

Which sentence needs 'être'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I washed myself.

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

All reflexive verbs in the past use 'être' as the auxiliary verb.

Add an 'e' if the subject is feminine and the reflexive pronoun is the direct object.

If a direct object follows the verb, the participle does not agree with the subject.

No, 'se laver' is reflexive (to wash oneself), while 'laver' is transitive (to wash something).

Place 'ne' and 'pas' around the reflexive pronoun and the auxiliary: 'Elle ne s'est pas lavée'.

Most do, but some are invariant like 'se plaire' or 'se succéder'.

Yes, it is essential for describing your professional experience.

The agreement rules depend on the syntactic role of the pronoun, which can be tricky.

Scaffolded Practice

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2

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4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

lavarse

Spanish uses 'haber' as the auxiliary.

German moderate

sich waschen

German uses 'haben' or 'sein' depending on the verb.

Japanese low

jibun de

No verb conjugation for gender/number.

Arabic partial

Form V/VI verbs

No auxiliary verb system like French.

Chinese low

ziji

No verb agreement at all.

English low

myself

No agreement on the verb.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Past Tense Agreement for Reflexive Verbs (s'être lavé/lavée)
Next
No Agreement: Pronominal Verbs with Objects After

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