French reflexive verbs should generally be considered to work like compound words. (reread the page on Compound Words to get the general concept)
For example, Il se sent malade is broken down as:
- il [subject]
- se sent [verb]
- malade [object]
rather than:
- il [subject]
- se [first part of the "se sentir" verb]
- sent [second part of the "se sentir" verb]
- malade [object]
So "se sent" should always go together.
Having "se" on it's own doesn't seem very helpful to the EN student.
Compare with the structure of sentences with non-reflexive verbs.
For example: Je vais au marché.
- je
- vais
- au marché
- je
- suis
- espagnole
This rule to keep the reflexive parts of verbs together applies to all reflexive verb forms.
Other examples:
- les coqs chantent dès que le soleil se lève where "se lève" is kept together
- Où se trouvent les toilettes ? where "se trouvent" is kept together
- Pour résoudre ce casse-tête, il faut beaucoup se creuser la tête. where "se creuser" is kept together