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Reciprocal Verbs

HigherHigher tier onlyAQA

Master Reciprocal Verbs for GCSE French with this free worksheet and full mark scheme — Higher tier exam-style practice with worked answers for AQA GCSE French (8652). Plural reflexive forms can mean each other, as in ils se regardent.

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These worksheets and mark schemes are original, written for Virtus Academy and checked against the current AQA specification. Every worksheet comes with a full mark scheme.

This is a Higher tier only topic, so there's no Foundation paper — only the Higher worksheet and mark scheme below.

Higher

WorksheetHigher · PDFMark SchemeHigher · PDF

Topic overview

Reciprocal verbs describe something two or more people do to each other, and they use the plural reflexive pronouns. This is a Higher-only topic.

Nous nous parlons means we speak to each other. Ils se voient means they see each other. Elles s'aiment means they love each other. The form is identical to a plural reflexive verb — only the meaning differs.

That identical form creates ambiguity. Ils se regardent could mean they look at themselves or they look at each other, and only context decides. To make each other explicit, French adds l'un l'autre: ils se regardent l'un l'autre. In the perfect tense reciprocals take être, like all reflexives.

Revision notes

What they mean

An action two or more people do to each other.

Nous nous parlons — we speak to each other. Ils se voient — they see each other. Elles s'écrivent — they write to each other.

The ambiguity

The form is identical to a plural reflexive.

Ils se regardent could mean they look at themselves or they look at each other. Only context distinguishes them, which is why the meaning must be read carefully.

Making it explicit

Add l'un l'autre to force the reciprocal meaning.

Ils se regardent l'un l'autre means they look at each other, unambiguously. In the perfect tense reciprocals take être, exactly like reflexives.

Key points

  • Reciprocal verbs mean each other.
  • They use the plural reflexive pronouns.
  • Nous nous parlons means we speak to each other.
  • The form matches a plural reflexive.
  • Context distinguishes the two meanings.
  • L'un l'autre makes it explicit.

Worked examples

Example 1

Translate: they see each other. [2 marks]

Working

Ils se voientuse the plural reflexive pronoun se
The reciprocal meaning each other comes from context, as the form matches a reflexiveexplain the ambiguity

Example 2

Explain why ils se regardent is ambiguous. [2 marks]

Working

It could mean they look at themselves, as a reflexivegive the first meaning
or they look at each other, as a reciprocalgive the second meaning

Example 3

Translate: we write to each other. [2 marks]

Working

Nous nous écrivonsuse the plural reflexive pronoun nous
The doubled nous is correct: subject then reciprocal pronounexplain the repetition

Common mistakes

  • Using a singular pronoun.

    Reciprocals need at least two people, so the pronoun is plural.

  • Assuming the form shows the meaning.

    Reflexive and reciprocal forms are identical.

  • Using avoir in the perfect tense.

    Reciprocals take être.

  • Translating l'un l'autre literally.

    It simply means each other.

Exam tips

  • Use the plural reflexive pronouns.
  • Read context to distinguish the two meanings.
  • Add l'un l'autre when clarity matters.
  • Remember this is a Higher-only topic.

Key terms

Reciprocal verb
A verb meaning to do something to each other.
L'un l'autre
A phrase making the reciprocal meaning explicit.
Ambiguity
Reflexive and reciprocal sharing one form.
Plural reflexive pronoun
Nous, vous or se.

Related topics

Written and reviewed against the current AQA specification. Spotted an error? Let us know.