Je me suis servi d'un ordinateur pour gagner du temps.

Sentence Discussions French
#1

se servir de
verbe pronominal + préposition
se servir de quelque chose = to use something
© Larousse 2014

#2

I was thinking, would this sentence change (→servie) if the speaker was feminine, but I believe it wouldn’t, since me is dative, not accusative. Is this correct?

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#3

According to Larousse, se servir de = verbe pronominal + préposition. Thank you for asking this, because I was not aware of this. If someone has a better answer, please correct me.

I found these statements on Lawless French (links below) that apply to this sentence:

Characteristics of reflexive pronouns

  1. Are required with pronominal verbs
  2. Are only used with pronominal verbs
  3. Must agree with the subject
  4. May be direct or indirect objects

and:

  1. Agreement (with the past participle of the pronomial verb) is only required when the reflexive pronoun is a direct object.
  2. When a preposition precedes a noun, that noun is indirect and the reflexive pronoun is direct.

So “se servir de“ would require agreement since a preposition would always precede the noun

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

#4

There seems to be a contradiction between the rule and your interpretation of it. :thinking: Could it be that I was wrong, unless servir is verb number 21?

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#6

You are right, the reflexive pronoun is direct and then requires agreement. I will correct the above post.

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#7

I think I got it mixed up with a sentence like "Elle s’est servi du vin’’. Sorry about the confusion.

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#8

In your sentence (Elle s’est servi du vin) does the same rule apply? Because there is a preposition in front of the noun?

Should it be “Elle s’est servie du vin“

#9

I don’t think it applies to the partitive. I could have used “Elle s’est servi un verre de vin” instead.

#10

good point. I will look into it a little.

Lawless lists 20 reflexive verbs that the reflexive pronoun is always an indirect object (of course)

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