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When using a reflexive verb and an indirect object pronoun in French, would the reflexive object or indirect object come first?

For example, I identify with them:

Je me leur identifie

or:

Je leur me identifie

?

3 Answers 3

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je m'identifie à eux

is correct, as Fabrice stated. It needs a preposition, which none of your two examples gave.

À is used in this case NOT avec.

You shouldn't say:

Je m'indentifie avec eux.

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  • Yes I am aware there are accents needed, but not aware of how to use them on PC, I am used to Mac. Someone please fix it thank you. Commented Nov 5, 2015 at 11:57
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    The accent is fixed.
    – Chop
    Commented Nov 5, 2015 at 13:16
  • Based on the hits that I get with Google (4060 for "Je m'identifie à eux" & just 9 for “Je m'identifie avec eux"), you are clearly correct (to my satisfaction) that “avec” would be wrong in this case (+1 for that important observation). My “Le Robert-Micro,” however, gives an example of an actor identifying with his character using “avec” (Acteur qui s’identifie avec son personage); so (if you don’t mind taking the time to answer) are there any particular reasons to explain why “avec” would be wrong in this case that distinguish it from the example given by “Le Robert”? Thanks!
    – Papa Poule
    Commented Nov 5, 2015 at 15:43
  • @PapaPoule You could make it a full-fledged question after checking there is no duplicate. It's interesting and there is an answer to that, which is close to your first observation and enables your Robert's stance on it at the same time. Thanks!
    – user3177
    Commented Nov 6, 2015 at 4:20
  • Sorry to be late in responding. @PapaPoule I agree that you should ask a new question, but I imagine it's for the same reason "L'homme AUX pieds nus". French ;'avec' is usually physical rather than in this case identify. Commented Nov 6, 2015 at 12:04
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French translation: je m'identifie à eux. I don't think there is any other possible.

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It depends. It's not a matter of relative vs indirect, but the actual pronouns themselves.

Whether reflexive or indirect, me, te, se, nous, and vous always go first. Lui and leur always go last.

Edited: learn something new every day. The word order above is correct, but you can't say je me leur ..., it always changes to je me ... à eux.

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    whaaat ? not French ! Commented Nov 3, 2015 at 23:01

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