Un 8.3
Reciprocal Verbs
Reciprocal verbs involve an action being done by multiple people, to one another, rather than only to themselves.
Reciprocal Verbs – Les verbes réciproques
Reciprocal verbs function in a similar fashion to reflexive verbs, except that the action is being done by members of the same group to each other. These types of verbs also use the same reflexive pronouns, but are most commonly seen in the plural. Many of these verbs can also be used without a reciprocal pronoun, or with a reflexive meaning, which might slightly change the meaning of the verb, depending on context.
e.g.
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Nous ne nous disputons pas beaucoup. |
We don’t argue a lot. |
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Pourquoi vous détestez-vous ? |
Why do you hate each other? |
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Ils s’appellent tous les matins. |
They call each other every morning. |
It is possible to use certain expressions to clarify the fact that the action is occurring between multiple people, and not that multiple people are simply doing the action to themselves individually. The direct/indirect nature of the verb may change the expression used to show this.
e.g.
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On se regarde l’un l’autre. |
People are looking at each other. |
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Nous nous téléphonons souvent l’un à l’autre. |
We often call each other. |
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Ils s’aiment réciproquement. |
They like each other. |
Likewise, a disjunctive pronoun, combined with the word ‘même’, can clarify that the action is reflexive, rather than reciprocal.
e.g.
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Ils se regardent l’un l’autre dans le miroir. |
They’re looking at each other in the mirror. |
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Ils se regardent eux-mêmes dans le miroir. |
They’re looking at themselves in the mirror. |
