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8.5. Les verbes pronominaux avec deux verbes

Pronominal Verbs with Infinitives

8.5.1. The Main Idea

When a pronominal verb is used after another verb, the reflexive pronoun still changes to match the subject.

se coucher	to go to bed
Je veux me coucher.	I want to go to bed.
Tu dois te coucher.	You have to go to bed.
Il va se coucher.	He is going to bed.
Nous allons nous coucher.	We are going to bed.

The first verb is conjugated.

The pronominal verb stays in the infinitive.

8.5.2. Reflexive Pronouns Review

me / m’	myself
te / t’	yourself, informal
se / s’	himself / herself / itself
nous	ourselves
vous	yourself / yourselves
se / s’	themselves

8.5.3. With Vouloir

Je veux me reposer.	I want to rest.
Tu veux te coucher ?	Do you want to go to bed?
Il veut se doucher.	He wants to shower.
Elle veut s’habiller.	She wants to get dressed.
Nous voulons nous amuser.	We want to have fun.
Vous voulez vous reposer ?	Do you want to rest? formal or plural

8.5.4. With Devoir

Je dois me lever tôt.	I have to get up early.
Tu dois te coucher tôt.	You have to go to bed early.
Il doit se laver.	He has to wash himself.
Elle doit se reposer.	She has to rest.
Nous devons nous habiller.	We have to get dressed.
Vous devez vous réveiller à sept heures.	You have to wake up at seven.

8.5.5. With Aller

Je vais me doucher.	I am going to shower.
Tu vas te reposer ?	Are you going to rest?
Il va se coucher.	He is going to bed.
Elle va s’habiller.	She is going to get dressed.
Nous allons nous amuser.	We are going to have fun.
Vous allez vous lever tôt ?	Are you going to get up early?

8.5.6. With Préférer

Je préfère me lever tard.	I prefer to get up late.
Tu préfères te coucher tôt ?	Do you prefer to go to bed early?
Il préfère se reposer le soir.	He prefers to rest in the evening.
Elle préfère s’habiller en jean.	She prefers to dress in jeans.
Nous préférons nous amuser le week-end.	We prefer to have fun on the weekend.
Vous préférez vous réveiller tôt ?	Do you prefer to wake up early?

8.5.7. Negative Sentences

Place ne… pas around the first conjugated verb. The reflexive pronoun stays before the infinitive.

Je ne veux pas me lever tôt.	I do not want to get up early.
Tu ne dois pas te coucher tard.	You must not go to bed late.
Il ne va pas se reposer.	He is not going to rest.
Elle ne préfère pas s’habiller en robe.	She does not prefer to dress in a dress.
Nous ne voulons pas nous coucher maintenant.	We do not want to go to bed now.

8.5.8. Core Patterns

conjugated verb + reflexive pronoun + infinitive	Je veux me coucher.
vouloir + reflexive pronoun + infinitive	Je veux me reposer.
devoir + reflexive pronoun + infinitive	Tu dois te coucher.
aller + reflexive pronoun + infinitive	Il va se lever.
préférer + reflexive pronoun + infinitive	Nous préférons nous amuser.
ne + conjugated verb + pas + reflexive pronoun + infinitive	Je ne veux pas me lever.

8.5.9. Practice

I want to rest. |

You have to go to bed early. informal |

He is going to shower. |

She wants to get dressed. |

We are going to have fun. |

Do you prefer to wake up early? formal |

I do not want to get up early. |

He is not going to rest. |

8.5.10. Answers

I want to rest.	Je veux me reposer.
You have to go to bed early. informal	Tu dois te coucher tôt.
He is going to shower.	Il va se doucher.
She wants to get dressed.	Elle veut s’habiller.
We are going to have fun.	Nous allons nous amuser.
Do you prefer to wake up early? formal	Vous préférez vous réveiller tôt ?
I do not want to get up early.	Je ne veux pas me lever tôt.
He is not going to rest.	Il ne va pas se reposer.

8.5.11. Short Dialogue

A : Tu dois te coucher tôt ce soir ?	A: Do you have to go to bed early tonight?
B : Oui, je dois me coucher tôt. Je veux me lever tôt demain.	B: Yes, I have to go to bed early. I want to get up early tomorrow.
A : Tu vas te reposer maintenant ?	A: Are you going to rest now?
B : Oui, je vais me reposer un peu.	B: Yes, I am going to rest a little.

8.5.12. Checkpoint

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to use pronominal verbs after verbs like vouloir, devoir, aller, and préférer, and make the reflexive pronoun agree with the subject even when the pronominal verb stays in the infinitive.

8.5.13. Try It Out

Try saying this in French:

I want to rest.

I have to go to bed early.

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Possible answer:

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