français · A2 · grammar · 4 minutes
Pronominal verb word order
Keep the reflexive pronoun tied to its verb in statements, negatives, and infinitive phrases.
Understand the choice
Daily routines make pronominal structure visible: se réveiller, se lever, s’habiller, se coucher. The first pronoun is the subject; the smaller one before the verb links the action back to that subject.
Core rule: A pronominal verb changes se to a subject-matching pronoun placed before the conjugated verb or immediately before its infinitive.
Notice it in context
Le soir, nous nous couchons tôt pour nous reposer.
In the evening, we go to bed early in order to rest.
Nous nous couchons is conjugated; after pour, nous reposer keeps the reflexive pronoun with the infinitive.
Elle ne se maquille pas le week-end.
She does not put on makeup at the weekend.
Ne…pas surrounds se maquille as one verbal unit.
Je vais me dépêcher.
I am going to hurry.
Me belongs directly before the infinitive dépêcher, not before vais.
What to remember
- Some pronominal verbs are reciprocal in the plural: nous nous téléphonons means we call each other.
- Dictionary forms use se even before a vowel in the infinitive label: s’habiller shows elision.
Common trap: Do not attach the reflexive pronoun to the first verb automatically. In je vais me lever, me belongs to lever.