Verbi particolari: riflessivi e reciproci

Verbi riflessivi (= reflexive verbs) are used to express actions that a person performs to or for himself/herself. In Italian a reflexive verb is always accompanied by a reflexive pronoun.

Pronomi Riflessivi

• The reflexive pronouns are identical to the object pronouns in the 1st and 2nd person, singular and plural forms. That only leaves one new form, si, which is used for both 3rd person singular (himself/herself) and 3rd person plural (themselves).
• The infinitive form of a reflexive verb is formed by dropping the final -e and adding the reflexive pronoun –si: for example, lavare → lavarsi (= to wash oneself).
• Reflexive verbs are conjugated just like non-reflexive verbs, according to their -are, -ere, or -ire endings. The verb is conjugated according to the subject and the reflexive pronoun matches the subject in person (1st, 2nd, or 3rd) and in number (singular or plural).

Verbi riflessivi: indicativo presente

The present tense of a reflexive verb is formed by adding the reflexive pronouns mi, ti, si, ci, vi, si in front of the corresponding forms of the verb.

Verbi riflessivi: indicativo passato prossimo

The passato prossimo of reflexive verbs is formed as follows:

As always with essere, the past participle agrees in gender and number with the subject.

• For placement, reflexive pronouns  follow the same rules as object pronouns
  • Before a conjugated verb, but attached to the end of the verb if the verb is not conjugated.

Mi alzo tardi.
I get up late.

Preferisco alzarmi tardi.
I prefer to get up late.

• • With a form of dovere, potere, volere, attached to the infinitive or before the verb phrase.

Mi devo alzare presto.
I have to get up early.

Devo alzarmi presto.
I have to get up early.

• • When the reflexive pronoun precedes dovere, potere, volere in a tense that requires the auxiliary, essere is used and the past participle agrees in gender and number with the subject; when the pronoun is attached to the infinitive, avere is used and there is no agreement.

Mi sono dovuta alzare.
Ho dovuto alzarmi.
I had to get up.

Non si sono voluti alzare.
Non hanno voluto alzarsi.
They refused to get up.

Uso dei verbi riflessivi

There are more reflexive verbs in Italian than in English. Here are some common reflexive verbs:

addormentarsi     to fall asleep

alzarsi                     to get up

divertirsi                to enjoy oneself, to have a good time

innamorarsi          to fall in love

lamentarsi (di)     to complain (about)

laurearsi                to graduate (from a university)

riposarsi                to rest

sentirsi                  to feel

svegliarsi              to wake up

• In English, the reflexive construction is used when the subject and the object of a verb are the same. Verbs that are reflexive in English are also reflexive in Italian: for example, to enjoy oneself = divertirsi; to wash oneself = lavarsi. In addition, many English expressions that include the verb get, are equivalent to reflexive verbs in Italian, for example: to get angry = arrabbiarsi; to get bored = annoiarsi; to get dressed = vestirsi; to get up = alzarsi.
• Unlike English, the reflexive is used in Italian when a subject performs an action on part of his/her body or item of clothing. Note that the definite article is used instead of the possessive adjective.

Si lava i capelli ogni giorno.
She/he washes her/his hair every day.

Mi sono messa il cappello.
I put on my hat.

Verbi reciproci

Verbi reciproci (= reciprocal verbs) are verbs that express a reciprocal or mutual action.

They use the same pronouns and follow the same rules as reflexive verbs. In English reciprocal action is expressed by adding each other or one another to the verb. Since reciprocal actions involve two or more people, these verbs are used only in the plural.

Paolo e Francesca si amano.
Paolo and Francesca love each other.

Si conoscono da un anno.
They’ve known each other for a year

Si sono incontrati a una festa.
They met at a party.

Da allora si sono visti tutti i giorni.
Since then, they’ve met every day.