LESSON XII

Use of reflexive verbs. — Irregular verbs dormir, endormir, s'endor mir, mentir, sentir, consentir

46. Use of reflexive verbs. — The reflexive construction, by the very fact that it occurs more often in French than in English, offers difficulties that can be overcome only by long acquaintance with the language. However, the following observations show the main differences that exist.

a. Any French transitive verb may be used reflexively. Observe carefully that transitive verbs are conjugated with avoir, and that reflexive verbs are conjugated with être.1

J'ai lavé la table. / washed the table.

H s'est lavé. He washed himself.

Elle a écrit des lettres. She wrote some letters.

Ils se sont écrit. They wrote to themselves.2

b. The French generally employ a reflexive verb to translate those verbs which are reflexive in English.

se couper, to cut oneself s'habiller, to dress {oneself)

se fatiguer, to tire oneself se laver, to wash {oneself)

se frapper, to strike oneself se parler, to speak to oneself

c. In French the reflexive verb is often used to translate the English passive, especially when the agent is not specified.3

Cela se dit partout. That is said everywhere.

Ce livre se vend aujourd'hui. That book is sold to-day.

1 For agreement of past participle with avoir, see Section 35 ; for agreement of past participle with être, see Sections 36, 37.

2 The reflexive verb often has reciprocal force, especially in the plural. Hence, the above sentence may be translated, They wrote to each other. Ambiguity in such cases is generally avoided by using some form of l'un l'autre (l'un à l'autre), l'une l'autre (l'une à l'autre), etc.

3 This is the so-called reflexive substitute for the English passive. This passive may also be expressed by means of the indefinite pronoun on with an active verb : On dit cela partout ; On vend ce livre cher.

d. The form of the reflexive verb is often employed to express action of the agent on parts of the body, where in English the possessive adjective is used.

Elle se lave la figure. She is washing her face.1

Il se brosse les dents. He is brushing his teeth.

Je me suis coupé le doigt. / cut my finger.

e. There is a relatively large number of verbs which are used reflexively in French, without any etymological relation to the English equivalent verb being evident. The difference in this class of verbs is a fundamental one and can be learned only by perseverance and close observation whenever examples are encountered.

se dépêcher, to hurry s'écrier, to exclaim

se douter de (quelque chose), se mourir, to waste away, pine

to suspect {something) 2

47. Irregular verbs. — Study the irregular verbs dormir, to sleep; endormir , to put to sleep ; s' endormir , to fall asleep ; mentir, to lie; sentir, to feel, smell; consentir, to consent.

EXERCISE

(a) 1. Mary was dressing herself when the carriage arrived at the house. 2. He remembers me very well because he used to live here. 3. That old tree is wasting away. 4. I cut my face when I was shaving this morning. 5. When he does not sleep he suffers a great deal. 6. Come with me when he brings the bread. 7. She felt the cold all last winter. 8. How unfortunate I am ! she exclaimed.3 9. The money was found in

1 But She washes her handkerchief (not a part of her body), Elle lave son mouchoir.

2 To suspect somebody, mistrust somebody, is douter de quelqu'un, or soupçonner quelqu'un.

3 How ! is either Comme! or Que! How? is usually Comment? The order of words after exclamatory Comme or Que is as follows : subject, verb, adjective.

Comme il est grand! How tall he is I

that man's pocket. 10. Mary used to sing a great deal when she lived in this city.

(b) 11. John struck his finger with the hammer. 12. Why does he lie so much ? Everybody knows him. 13. I do without my dinner from time to time. 14. I was so tired that I fell asleep in my armchair. 15. He bought a bottle of red ink for his little brother. 16. She tired herself when she walked to the station. 17. He had washed his ears, but his neck was still dirty. 18. She had so many that she sold three to me. 19. When he comes in, I immediately put him to sleep. 20. He suspected something when he saw me.

(c) 21. My mother fell and broke her leg yesterday afternoon. 22. The children spoke to each other when the teacher went out of the room. 23. She consented as soon as he spoke to her about it. 24. Did he sleep well when he lived in the country? 25. There was too much salt in the soup. 26. The music quickly put the child to sleep. 27. I suspected it when I saw him. 28. He felt the package in his pocket. 29. Let us cover the fire and close the door. 30. Sometimes when I go to the country I sleep in the hay.

(d) 31. The little girl was cutting her hair when her mother went upstairs. 32. I shall hold it as soon as you arrive at your street. 33. My mother will never consent to it ; she does not like him at all. 34. Offer him the book that you bought this morning. 35. He always lied to the teacher at school.