Word Order with Pronominal Verbs

Placement of the reflexive pronoun is exactly the same as for object pronouns and adverbial pronouns: the pronoun directly precedes the verb in all tenses and moods*

   Je m'habille.   I'm getting dressed.
   Tu te reposeras.   You will rest.
   Il se levait quand...   He was getting up when...

*Except the affirmative imperative, when it follows the verb, attached by a hyphen:

   Repose-toi !   Rest!
   Habillons-nous.   Let's get dressed.


Pronominal verbs in the negative

With negation, ne precedes the reflexive pronoun:

   Je ne m'habille pas.   I'm not getting dressed.
   Tu ne te reposes jamais.   You never rest.


Pronominal verbs in the interrogative

Questions with pronominal verbs are usually asked with est-ce que and the reflexive pronoun once again stays directly in front of the verb. If you use inversion, the reflexive pronoun precedes the inverted subject-verb:

   Est-ce qu'il se rase ? Se rase-t-il ?
   Is he shaving?

   Est-ce que tu te laves les mains ? Te laves-tu les mains ?
   Are you washing your hands?


Pronominal verbs in the negative interrogative

To ask a negative question with pronominal verbs, you pretty much have to use inversion. The reflexive pronoun stays directly in front of the inverted subject-verb, and the negative structure surrounds that whole group:

   Ne se rase-t-il pas ?
   Isn't he shaving?

   Ne te laves-tu jamais les mains ?
   Don't you ever wash your hands?


For word order with pronominal verbs in more complicated structures, please see these lessons:

   Compound tenses
   Dual-verb constructions
   Double pronouns (e.g., reflexive + object)


More of this lesson
Pronominal voice, pronominal verbs, and reflexive verbs
Reciprocal verbs and idiomatic pronominal verbs
Pronominal verbs and word order with negation and questions
Pronominal verbs, compound tenses, and agreement
Pronominal verbs as infinitives or present participles
Pronominal verbs test

French grammar glossary

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