Negation with reflexive verbs

Andrea N.B2Kwiziq community member

Negation with reflexive verbs

Nous ne nous sommes pas levés tôt.       Ils ne se sont pas brossé les dents .

Are these sentences correct?  Should the past participle still agree with the noun? Could you provide more examples please. Thanks in advance.


Asked 4 years ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi Andrea, 

Yes, those sentences are correct. The rules of agreement of past participles are the same on the whole as with ordinary verbs.

Maybe take a look at the following Kwiziq lesson on the agreement of past participles in the case of reflexive verbs. They are affirmative cases but I am sure you can turn the examples into negative statements.

https://progress.lawlessfrench.com/revision/grammar/conjugate-reflexive-verbs-in-the-passe-compose-conversational-past

Bonne Continuation!

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Yes, the two sentences are correct.

Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

If I can extend from the original question, and with respect to the answers given, I think the question may be why it is «Ils ne se sont pas brossé les dents» and not «Ils ne se sont pas brossés les dents» as it is Ils (sont), plural?

Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

And now reading below, I note that it has literally been more than a year that this question has been being raised, and the correct answer is not in the lesson. Indeed the lesson dogmatically states that there is always agreement, whereas a number of responders have apparently found information on other sites that do mention an exception for a direct object. After all this time, it is extremely disappointing that nothing has been done to respond to this recurring query.

Negation with reflexive verbs

Nous ne nous sommes pas levés tôt.       Ils ne se sont pas brossé les dents .

Are these sentences correct?  Should the past participle still agree with the noun? Could you provide more examples please. Thanks in advance.


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