Se définir is a french second group verb. So it follow the regular conjugation pattern of the second group like:
finir. Follow this link to see all the endings of the conjugation of the second group verbs :
conjugation rules and endings for the second group verbs.
Se définir is conjugated the same way that verbs that end in :
-ir.
The prototypical verb for the second conjugation is
finir. The conjugation is, marked by the vowel
i and the infix
-iss- in the indicative present and imperfect.
The verb
se définir is the reflexive form of verb
définir. In grammar, a reflexive verb is, loosely, a verb whose direct object is the same as its subject, for example, "I wash myself". More generally, a reflexive verb has the same semantic agent and patient (typically represented syntactically by the subject and the direct object) are the same. For example, the English verb to perjure is reflexive, since one can only perjure oneself. In a wider sense, the term refers to any verb form whose grammatical object is a reflexive pronoun, regardless of semantics; such verbs are also referred to as pronominal verbs, especially in grammars of the Romance languages. A reflexive verb is always conjugated with a reflexive pronoun. Here is the list of the french reflexive pronouns:
« me »,
« te »,
« se »,
« nous »,
« vous »,
« se ».
Se définir is conjugated in interro-negative form. The interro-negative form being obtained by inversion of the subject, the placement of the negative adverb follow the same rules as in negative form, giving the following rules:
- in interro-negative form, the adverb
« ne » is always placed first if the subject is a pronoun.
- in simple tenses, the adverbs (
« ne ...pas »,
« ne...plus »,
« ne...jamais », etc...) surround the verb
se définir and the inverted subject pronoun.
- in compound tenses or in passive voice, the negative adverbs surround the auxiliary and the inverted subject pronoun.
- With a reflexive verb, in simple tenses, the negative adverbs surround the reflexive pronoun, the verb, and the inverted subject pronoun.
- With a reflexive verb, in compound tenses, the negative adverbs surround the reflexive pronoun, the auxiliary, and the inverted subject pronoun.
For sound reasons, like in interrogative form, an euphonious
« t » is added to the pronoun of the third person:
« il »,
« elle »,
« on »,
« ils »,
« elles » except when the verb ends with
« t » or
« d »:
« ne se définira-t-il pas ? »,
« ne se sera-t-il pas défini ? ».
Finally, the interrogative form does not exist in subjunctive and imperative.
