Pourquoi ma chatte s'est-elle léchéE la patte ?

Andrea N.B2Kwiziq community member

Pourquoi ma chatte s'est-elle léchéE la patte ?

This was supposed to have been corrected ONE YEAR AGO, but the error still persists! 

Asked 4 years ago
CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Hi Andrea, 

Not sure if you mean that there should be an -e to léché? 

In fact, no -e is required because in this case  

se lécher la patte 

just as in 

se browser les dents

if the direct object 'la patte' or 'les dents' is after the verb, there is no agreement of the past participle.

So the example in the lesson is correct.

Pourqoi ma chatte s'est-elle léché la patte? 

 

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Yes, this can be a bit confusing, since you learn that you always agree the participle in reflexive clauses. However, this is not the proper way to phrase the rule. The rule is that the participle agrees with the COD if the COD precedes the participle.

Ils se sont levés tôt hier.
Nous nous sommes rejoints devant le cinéma.
Elle s'est brossé les dents.
Ma chatte s'est léché la patte.

Notice how in the first two sentences the COD is identical with the reflexive pronoun and appears before the participle. Therefore, the participle is made to agree in these two cases.

In the last to example, the COD is different from the reflexive pronoun and occurs after the participle -- hence, no agreement.

J. L.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

I think I am ok posting this link Andrea because it is from the LAWLESS site which is 'affiliated' with KWIZIQ;

It provides the definitive guide to recognize when NOT to agree the past participle with the reflexive pronoun. Essentially if the reflexive pronoun is NOT the direct object of the verb then there is NO AGREEMENT. The tricky part is recognizing that bit of grammar and this link provides absolute guidance.

 

https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/agreement-with-pronominal-verbs/

Pourquoi ma chatte s'est-elle léchéE la patte ?

This was supposed to have been corrected ONE YEAR AGO, but the error still persists! 

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