Reflexive Pronouns
R
mi guardo allo specchio |
I look at myself in the mirror |
ti guardi allo specchio |
you look at yourself in the mirror |
si guarda allo specchio |
s/he looks at her/himself in the mirror |
ci guardiamo allo specchio |
we look at ourselves in the mirror |
vi guardate allo specchio |
you look at yourselves in the mirror |
si guardano allo specchio |
they look at themselves in the mirror |
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Alzàtosi, si féce la barba. |
Once he got up, he shaved. |
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Domani dobbiamo alzarci presto. |
Tomorrow we'll have to get up early. |
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Si è tagliato rasàndosi. |
He cut himself while shaving. |
Siéditi! |
Sit down! |
Reflexive pronouns are used with many verbs, changing their meaning in the following way:
- Truly reflexive (the action's object is the same as the subject).
- Reciprocal (with plural forms).
- Idiomatic (no real reflexive or reciprocal meaning). Sometimes the reflexive
pronoun changes the meaning radically.
Some verbs are used exclusively with reflexive pronouns. Their meaning is often idiomatic. For a partial list of such verbs, see Verbs Used Mainly in the Reflexive Form.
Examples:
With reflexive pronoun |
English Equivalent |
Without reflexive pronoun |
English equivalent |
Mi lavo |
I wash myself |
Lavo i piatti |
I wash the dishes |
Ci conosciamo |
We know each other |
Conosciamo sua sorella |
We know her sister |
Vi sentite male |
You don't feel well |
Sentite un rumore |
You hear a noise |
Si è svegliato alle otto |
He woke up at eight |
Ha svegliato tutti |
He woke everybody up |
Comportati bene! |
Behave yourself! |
Cosa comporta? |
What does it involve? |
Mi sono imbattuto in Gino |
I ran into Gino |
[not used] |
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Si vergognano |
They are ashamed |
[not used] |
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Verbs combined with reflexive pronouns require the auxiliary "essere"
in the past tense; therefore the past participle must always agree with the
subject. Compare the use of similar verbs with and without reflexive pronouns.
With reflexive pronoun |
English Equivalent |
Without reflexive pronoun |
English equivalent |
Ti sei pettinato |
You combed your hair | Hai pettinato la bambina |
You combed the girl's hair |
Carla si è lavata i capelli |
Carla washed her hair | Ha lavato la macchina |
She washed her car |
Si sono conosciuti a Roma |
They met in Rome | Hanno conosciuto Carlo a Roma |
They met Carlo in Rome |
With potere (can), dovere (must, have to), volere (want), the choice of the
auxiliary depends on the position of the pronoun:
- when the pronoun precedes the modal verb, "essere" is used;
- when the pronoun follows the infinitive of the main verb, "avere" is
used.
Pronoun before modal verb | Pronoun after infinitive of main verb | Englih equivalent |
Maria si è dovuta alzare | Maria ha dovuto alzarsi | Maria had to get up |
Ti sei voluta alzare | Hai voluto alzarti | You wanted to get up |
Carla si è potuta riposare | Carla ha potuto riposarsi | Carla has been able to rest |
Verb forms requiring a reflexive pronoun can be constructed without one if combined with a causative verb (fare, lasciare, etc.).
With causative verb |
English Equivalent |
Without causative verb |
English equivalent |
Ho fatto pentire Gianni di avérmi trattato male | I made Gianni sorry to mistreat me | Gianni si è pentito di avermi trattato male | Gianni was sorry for misteating me |
Hanno fatto accòrgere Dario dell'errore | They made Dario aware of his mistake | Dario si è accòrto dell'errore | Dario realized his mistake |
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