When it comes to learning French, one of the biggest hurdles for non-native speakers is mastering the complex grammar rules, including the agreement of pronominal verbs. However, even for native speakers, this can be a tricky area, as many people are unsure of when to use the correct gender and number agreement with pronominal verbs.
Pronominal verbs are those verbs that are accompanied by a reflexive pronoun, such as “se laver” (to wash oneself) or “s`asseoir” (to sit oneself down). In French, it is important to ensure that the reflexive pronoun agrees with the subject of the verb in both gender and number, as this can affect the meaning of the sentence.
But what happens when the pronominal verb is used in an unusual or non-standard way? This is where the concept of “lawless” French agreement with pronominal verbs comes in. Essentially, when a pronominal verb is used in a way that is not typical or expected, the gender and number agreement rules may be ignored or changed.
For example, consider the sentence “Je me suis fait mal.” This translates to “I hurt myself.” In standard French grammar, the reflexive pronoun “me” should agree in gender and number with the subject “je,” which is masculine singular. Therefore, the sentence should technically read “Je me suis fait mal” or “Je suis fait mal” (without the reflexive pronoun).
However, many French speakers will use the phrase “Je me suis fait mal” even if the subject is feminine or plural, as the use of the reflexive pronoun is more important for conveying the meaning of the sentence. In this case, the agreement rules can be ignored, leading to “lawless” French.
Another example of this is the phrase “Elle se prend pour qui?” This translates to “Who does she think she is?” In this sentence, the reflexive pronoun “se” should agree with the subject “elle,” which is feminine singular. However, some French speakers may use “Elle se prend pour qui?” even if the subject is masculine or plural, as the focus is on the meaning of the sentence rather than the agreement rules.
While this may seem confusing for non-native speakers, it is important to remember that the use of “lawless” French agreement with pronominal verbs is mainly a colloquial or informal practice. In formal writing or speech, it is always best to follow the standard agreement rules.
In conclusion, understanding the rules of agreement with pronominal verbs is a crucial aspect of mastering French grammar. However, it is also important to recognize that in some cases, the rules may be ignored or changed for the sake of conveying the intended meaning of the sentence. As a professional, it`s important to be aware of these nuances when creating French language content for a global audience.