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Relationships: reflexive verbs

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To talk about getting on with people, French uses reflexive verbs, which have an extra small word in front.

Getting on

Je m'entends bien avec ma mère. = I get on well with my mother.
Je ne m'entends pas avec mon frère. = I don't get on with my brother.
Je me dispute avec ma sœur. = I argue with my sister.

Reflexive pronouns

Reflexive verbs need a pronoun that matches the subject.

Giving reasons

Add parce qu'il / elle est + adjective.
Je m'entends bien avec mon père parce qu'il est sympa.
Worked example

Translate: I argue with my father because he is strict.

  1. I argue with = je me dispute avec
  2. my father = mon père
  3. because he is strict = parce qu'il est strict

Answer: Je me dispute avec mon père parce qu'il est strict.

Key idea

Reflexive verbs need me, te, se, nous, vous, se. Je m'entends bien avec = I get on well with. Je me dispute avec = I argue with. Add parce qu'il est... for reasons.

The interactive lesson includes the diagrams for this topic.

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