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15.7.1.1 With reflexive verbes there is a difference with direct and indirect objects

Reflexive verbs are verbs that have their subject also as object.

He dries himself.

Now, one should also know that they can have their subject as direct or as indirect objects.

Example

direct object: I saw myself in the mirror.

indirect object: I told myself that I do not have to put up with this.

Now, we have already heard before that with a direct object the paricipe passé is inflected according to gender and number of the noun. This also applies to the reflexive verbs. If the reflected object is a direct object, the participe passé has to be inflected.

Example
	Je me suis regardé(e) dans un miroir.	I have seen myself in the mirror.
	Tu t' es regardé(e) dans un miroir.	You have seen yourself in the mirror.
	Elle s' est regardée dans un miroir.	She has seen herself in the mirror.
	Nous nous sommes regardé(e)s dans un miroir.	We have seen ourselves in the mirror.
	Vous vous êtes regardé(e)s dans un miroir.	You have seen yourselves in the mirror.
	Elles se sont regardées dans un miroir.	They (females) have seen themselves in the mirror.

However, there is no inflection with indirect objects.*

Example
	Je me suis dit.	I have told myself.
	Tu t' es dit.	You have told yourself.
	Il / Elle s' est dit.	He / She has told herself.
	Nous nous sommes dit.	We have told ourselves.
	Vous vous êtes dit.	You have told yourselves.
	Ils / Elles se sont dit.	They have told themselves.

* It is to be mentioned that there are only few reflexive verbs with an indirect object. This and the fact that in spoken language the difference is not heard/spoken makes things much more easier. Only in written language the difference will be of importance.



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