miketuan

[zinc merlin]

Please be patient

Our volunteers look into many questions every day; sometimes it takes them a little while to answer.

Pro tip: you can rename the thread title with `.tr <thread name>`

Make it descriptive, including relevant context, but also to the point. This way you improve your chances of getting a more relevant and specific answer.

[pale grove]

That reflexive makes it transitive

Before I start, I should probably explain that transitivity means different things to English and French grammar. In English grammar, being transitive means having a direct object whereas in French grammar it just means having an object, be it direct or indirect. I assume you're using the English definition so I'll continue with that

With that out of the way, « se sentir » is transitive because the reflexive is a direct object

Transitive verbs will make agreement and it's clear when we use the passé composé in the third person :
« Il s'est senti content / Elle s'est senti__e__ content__e__ / Ils se sont sentis contents / Elles se sont senti__es__ content__es__ »
Notice also the adjective changing to agree with the subject

[dark bane]

does that mean every reflexive verb form is transitive?

[pale grove]

No

For example, « se parler » because the original verb is « parler à qqn »

Elle s'est parlé (no agreement)

There's a list here, those are intransitive
https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/agreement-with-pronominal-verbs/

[dark bane]

reading this article, I can totally understand the agreement with Pronominal Verbs, but I still don't get it why they are intransitive as you said. Earlier u also mentioned that being transitive in French grammar just means having an object, be it direct or indirect. This makes me think that all pronominal verbs are transitive because they all have the reflexive "se"

In « Elle s'est parlé », I actually see the subject as an indirect object

[pale grove]

That's why I made that disclaimer above

Because when you asked about « sentir » being transitive only with 'to feel', that's wrong under French grammar

[pale grove]

Also, « se » can either represent a direct or indirect object, hence the confusion

Elle s'est parlé => Indirect object, so agreement
Elle s'est adressée au maire => Direct object, agreement

[pale grove]

The reflexive is indirect, yes

Under French grammar, that would be classified as indirect transitive
Under English grammar, that would be classified as intransitive

[dark bane]

Yeah I meant to confirm that all reflexive verb forms are transitive (indirect or direct) in French grammar, I did not communicate it clearly.