Can you please give more explanation and examples of how the reflexive participle agrees in number and gender?

Paul B.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Can you please give more explanation and examples of how the reflexive participle agrees in number and gender?

For example: Nous nous sommes brosse(s) les dents/les cheveux
Asked 6 years ago
Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Hi Paul,

You will find an excellent explanation of all possible cases along with examples here:

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

Greetings, -- Chris.

Paul B.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
I suggest that Kwiziq leave out tests on this topic at this stage of the course. 
Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Why?

-- Chris

P.S.: See my reply to your later post.

Jan W.B1Kwiziq community member

Cecile and Chris, Your posts on this topic were excellent. Thank you so much. 

In addition, I want to say that I agree with the person below who said this type of sentence (with reflexive verbs where the past participle does not agree with the subject) should be left out of lessons at earlier levels, for instance Lower Intermediate, which is my level. Why? Because we already have a heavy load of things to remember and understand. The brain only holds so much new information at one time. Leave it until later. As a career teacher, I believe there is a principle of providing an appropriate level of difficulty for each student's current achievement level.

Then again, if it is thought appropriate to include it, PUT IT IN THE LESSON. Don't just throw it in during a test when we have never seen it before.

And last, if you are going to toss it into a test, at least let us know right away, that yes, the test answer given is correct. It's not so much that I needed an explanation right now. I needed someone to say, Yes, the answer we gave is correct. No, it is not an error. 

But, thank you for the clear answer you two gave.

Rob L.C1Kwiziq community member
Bravo Jan! 

Can you please give more explanation and examples of how the reflexive participle agrees in number and gender?

For example: Nous nous sommes brosse(s) les dents/les cheveux

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