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Pronominal verbs for changes of state

In English, many verbs do double duty. You can say "I close the door" and "The door closes". The verb is exactly the same, whether a person does the action or the object changes on its own. In French, this is rarely the case. An inanimate object cannot usually perform an action like closing or improving.

Instead, French uses a pronominal verb, meaning it adds a reflexive pronoun. To a French speaker, the door "closes itself" and the situation "improves itself". This construction is extremely common when describing a change of state that happens without a specific person causing it.

Word list
s'arrêterA2 to come to an end Le processus s'arrête se terminerA2 to come to an end Le film se termine s'améliorerB1 to improve La situation s'améliore s'arrêterB1 to stop Le train s'arrête s'éteindreB1 to go out La lumière s'éteint se coucherB1 to set Le soleil se couche se fermerB1 to close La porte se ferme se leverB1 to rise Le soleil se lève se réchaufferB1 to warm up L'air se réchauffe se refermerB1 to close La porte se referme s'acheverB2 to come to an end La réunion s'achève s'aggraverB2 to worsen La situation s'aggrave s'animerB2 to come to life Le quartier s'anime s'éclaircirB2 to clear up Le ciel s'éclaircit s'enflammerB2 to catch fire Le bois s'enflamme s'engourdirB2 to go numb Mon bras s'engourdit se décolorerB2 to fade Le tissu se décolore se dégraderB2 to worsen La qualité se dégrade se démoderB2 to go out of fashion Ce style se démode se détériorerB2 to worsen Le bâtiment se détériore se dissiperB2 to clear up Le brouillard se dissipe se gâterB2 to spoil Le lait se gâte se périmerB2 to spoil Le produit se périme se propagerB2 to spread La maladie se propage se réaliserB2 to come true Son rêve se réalise se refroidirB2 to get cold Le café se refroidit se répandreB2 to spread La rumeur se répand s'avarierC1 to spoil La nourriture s'avarie s'écroulerC1 to collapse Le mur s'écroule s'effondrerC1 to collapse Le toit s'effondre s'enflammerC1 to become inflamed La peau s'enflamme s'évaporerC1 to evaporate L'eau s'évapore
The basic pattern

If you use a verb like fermer without a reflexive pronoun, French speakers expect a person to be doing the action. By adding the pronoun to make it se fermer, you show that the change simply happens to the subject.

La porte se ferme lentement.
(The door closes slowly.)

This same logic applies to events ending or beginning. While someone can finish a project, a film or a meeting comes to an end on its own. For this, you will use verbs like s'achever, s'arrêter, or se terminer.

Le film se termine à minuit.
(The film ends at midnight.)

You can also use s'ouvrir when a door or a shop opens, which follows the exact same rule.

Conditions and temperatures

You will frequently see this pattern when talking about situations getting better or worse. A situation can improve (s'améliorer) or deteriorate (s'aggraver, se détériorer). Similarly, food or products can spoil (se gâter, s'avarier, se périmer).

Heureusement, la situation s'améliore.
(Fortunately, the situation is improving.)
Le lait se gâte très vite en été.
(Milk spoils very quickly in summer.)

Temperature changes also rely on reflexive pronouns. Your coffee gets cold (se refroidir) and the weather gets warm (se réchauffer).

Bois ton thé avant qu'il ne se refroidisse.
(Drink your tea before it gets cold.)
Physical destruction and nature

The rule extends to dramatic physical changes and environmental shifts. Buildings collapse (s'écrouler, s'effondrer), lights go out (s'éteindre), and fires start (s'enflammer).

Le vieux toit s'effondre sous le poids de la neige.
(The old roof collapses under the weight of the snow.)
Soudain, la lumière s'éteint dans le salon.
(Suddenly, the light goes out in the living room.)

Nature and weather changes work this way too. The sky clears up (s'éclaircir) and fog dissipates (se dissiper).

Après la pluie, le ciel s'éclaircit.
(After the rain, the sky clears up.)
Watch out

Do not assume every English change of state translates to a pronominal verb. French has normal verbs that are used without an object too. For instance, ice melts (fondre), faces turn red (rougir), and prices rise (augmenter) without any reflexive pronouns. It is best to learn these pronominal verbs as distinct vocabulary items.

Also, keep in mind that phrases like se casser (to break) are often used differently. If you say you broke your arm, you use a specific construction for injuries, but that is a different grammar rule entirely.

Summary

When an inanimate object or a situation changes state on its own, French often requires a pronominal verb. Adding the reflexive pronoun shifts the meaning from an action done by a person to a natural transformation happening to the subject.