Agreement with reflexive past tense

Level 2

In the passé composé, reflexive verbs always use être. However, the past participle only agrees if there is a preceding direct object (usually the reflexive pronoun, but sometimes a relative pronoun like 'que').

How It Works

To become proficient in reflexive verb agreement, follow these steps:

1. Identify the Auxiliary: Always use être.
2. Find the Preceding Direct Object (COD): Agreement occurs only if the direct object is placed before the verb.

  • Reflexive pronoun as COD: In Elle s'est lavée, 'se' (herself) is the COD and comes before the verb, so we add -e.
  • Relative pronoun as COD: In Les mains qu'elle s'est lavées, the COD is 'que' (referring to 'mains'), which precedes the verb, triggering agreement.
  • COD after the verb: In Elle s'est lavé les mains, 'les mains' is the COD but it follows the verb, so there is no agreement.
  • Indirect Verbs: If the verb is inherently indirect (e.g., se parler, se sourire, se ressembler, se succéder, se nuire, se mentir, se téléphoner), the pronoun is an indirect object and there is no agreement: Elles se sont parlé.

3. Special Cases:

  • Essentially Pronominal: Verbs that only exist in reflexive form (like se souvenir) usually agree with the subject. Exceptions: se rire, se plaire, se complaire, se déplaire, and s'entrenuire never agree.
  • S'arroger: This verb follows the COD rule rather than subject agreement (e.g., Elle s'est arrogé des droits).

Examples (4)

  1. Elles se sont levées à huit heures.

    They got up at eight o'clock.

    Word by Word: They themselves are raised at eight hours.

    The reflexive pronoun 'se' is the direct object (they raised themselves). Since it precedes the verb, the participle 'levées' agrees with the feminine plural subject.

  2. Elle s'est lavé les mains.

    She washed her hands.

    Word by Word: She herself is washed the hands.

    Here, 'les mains' is the direct object. Since it follows the verb, there is no agreement on 'lavé', even though the subject is feminine.

  3. Nous nous sommes parlé hier.

    We spoke to each other yesterday.

    Word by Word: We ourselves are spoken yesterday.

    The verb 'parler' is indirect (parler à quelqu'un). Therefore, the reflexive pronoun 'nous' is an indirect object, and no agreement is needed.

  4. Les mains qu'elle s'est lavées.

    The hands that she washed.

    Word by Word: The hands that she herself is washed.

    In this relative clause, the direct object 'les mains' precedes the verb. Therefore, 'lavées' agrees with 'mains' (feminine plural).

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'avoir' as the auxiliary for reflexive verbs.

    Je m'ai habillé ce matin.
    Je me suis habillé ce matin.

    All reflexive (pronominal) verbs must use 'être' in compound tenses, never 'avoir'.

  • Agreeing the participle in the expression 'se rendre compte'.

    Elle s'est rendue compte de son erreur.
    Elle s'est rendu compte de son erreur.

    In the expression 'se rendre compte', 'compte' is the direct object and it follows the verb, so the participle 'rendu' remains invariable.

  • Agreeing with the subject when a body part follows the verb.

    Elle s'est brossée les dents.
    Elle s'est brossé les dents.

    Because 'les dents' is the direct object and it comes after the verb, the past participle remains invariable.

How It Connects

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Agreement with reflexive past tenseLevel 2

Learn This First

To learn agreement with reflexive verbs in the passé composé, you first need to be comfortable with the basic passé composé structure using 'être'. You also need to understand how reflexive pronouns work in the present tense and the general rule for past participle agreement when 'être' is the auxiliary.