Answers: Addicted to Wages
Five sentences all using the reflexive. How would you translate them in English ?
1. Le congrès s’est tenu le mois dernier.
The congress was held last month.
2. C'est une addiction qui se paye cash.
It's an addiction that is paid in cash.
1 and 2 are examples of the reflexive used to indicate the passive voice.
3. "C'est un problème pour nous" s’inquiète la chercheuse.
"It's a problem for us", states the researcher worriedly.
4. "C'est une honte" s'indigne-t-elle.
"It's shameful", she says indignantly.
2 and 3 show the reflexive used to show how a person is speaking/thinking.
5. L'homme se verse lui-même un salaire chaque mois.
The man pays himself a salary each month.
5 is the normal reflexive - to oneself.