In Italian we have a group of verbs called reflexive verbs.
What does reflexive mean? A reflexive verb expresses an action that reflects on the subject. In terms of grammar, the direct object corresponds to the subject: these verbs are formed with reflexive pronouns that depends on the subject (mi – ti – si – ci – vi – si).
Similarly to regular verbs, reflexives are split in the three groups: -are, -ere, -ire.
In order to make the infinitive of a reflexive verb we need to take off the last letter of the infinitive form and to add the reflexive pronoun “si”:
lavare –> lavarsi
vestire –> vestirsi
Let’s see the present tense of reflexive verbs!
| Svegliarsi | |
| Io | Mi sveglio |
| Tu | Ti svegli |
| Lui/lei | Si sveglia |
| Noi | Ci svegliamo |
| Voi | Vi svegliate |
| Loro | Si svegliano |
| Mettersi | |
| Io | Mi metto |
| Tu | Ti metti |
| Lui/lei | Si mette |
| Noi | Ci mettiamo |
| Voi | Vi mettete |
| Loro | Si mettono |
| Vestirsi | |
| Io | Mi vesto |
| Tu | Ti vesti |
| Lui/lei | Si veste |
| Noi | Ci vestiamo |
| Voi | Vi vestite |
| Loro | Si vestono |
Normally we put the reflexive pronoun before the verb, made exception for two cases:
- when we use verbs followed by the Infinitive form of the reflexive verb and when we use: Vado a lavarmi le mani –> I’m going to wash my hands
- when we use the Imperative tense: Lavati le mani! –> Wash your hands!
When we use modal verbs, the reflexive pronoun can be put in two different positions:
Devo alzarmi / Mi devo alzare –> I have to get up
Some more examples!
| Italian | English |
| Anna si sveglia sempre alle 7. | Anna always wakes up at 7am. |
| A lavoro mi annoio molto. | At work I get very bored. |
| Non arrabbiarti, sai che Luca è sempre in ritardo! | Don’t get angry, you know that Luca is always late! |
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