Reflexive passé composé: agreement and the body-part trap
The Passé Composé — The Reflexive Trap
Some reflexive verbs can be tricky when it comes to past participle agreement.
The key is to check if the verb has a direct object (COD) after it.
The Big Idea: Agreement Depends on the COD
- If the reflexive verb acts only on the subject, the past participle agrees in gender and number.
- If the verb is followed by a COD, the past participle does not agree — it stays in the masculine singular form.
Examples
| French | English | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Elle s’est lavée. | She washed herself. | The action is on herself → agreement with subject (feminine singular) |
| Elle s’est lavé les mains. | She washed her hands. | The direct object “les mains” comes after the verb → no agreement |
How to Decide Quickly
- Ask: What or who is being washed / acted on?
- If it’s the subject itself only, add agreement.
- If the action affects something else (COD) after the verb, no agreement.
Key Points
- Reflexive verbs usually agree with the subject.
- Exception: when a direct object (COD) comes after the verb, the past participle stays unchanged.
- Common with body parts: se laver les mains, se brosser les dents, se coiffer les cheveux.
Key Takeaways
- Always check for a direct object after the verb.
- Agreement = subject only, no COD → Elle s’est lavée
- No agreement if COD comes after → Elle s’est lavé les mains
- This is a common pitfall in French reflexive verbs.
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