Oggi facciamo un ripasso
di grammatica
su di verbi riflessivi
Today let’s have a grammar review of reflexive verbs.
Siete tutti bravi student,
quindi perché no!?
You are all good students, so why not!
Diamo un’occhiata ai verbi riflessivi e ai pronomi riflessivi. Per questa lezione di grammatica uso il libro scritto da Edoardo Lebano. Continuo in inglese. Alla fine della spiegazione ci sono alcuni esercizi per controllare la conoscenza della lezione e la tua abilità linguistica.
Let’s take a look at the reflexive verbs and reflexive pronouns. For this grammar lesson, use the book written by Edoardo Lebano. I will continue in English. At the end of the explanation there are several exercises for you to test your understanding of the lesson and your language skills.
Seite pronti! Ok. Andiamo!
When the action of a verb falls back on the subject, the verb in question is called reflexive. A reflexive verb is, therefore, a transitive verb whose subject and object are identical.
Although many verbs that are reflexive in English are also reflexive in Italian, not all the same verbs are reflexive in both languages. In Italian dictionaries their infinitives endings are: -arsi, -ersi, and -irsi.
The -si in each ending means oneself.
Many transitive verbs can be used reflexively. When this occurs, the final e of the simple infinitive is dropped before adding – si. The reflexive form of these verbs often acquires a different meaning.
Chiamare – to call (as to call on the phone)
Chiamarsi – to be named (to be called something) Mi chiamo la studentessa matta
Domandare – to ask
Domandarsi – to wonder
Fermare – to stop
Fermarsi – to stop onself
Guardare – to look, watch
Guardarsi – to look at oneself
Lavare – to wash someone, or something
Lavarsi – to wash oneself
Svegliare – to wake someone
Svegliarsi – to wake ourself up
Mettere – to place or put something
Mettersi – to put on or wear something
And then there are verbs that require the
reflexive -si to make sense. Here are just a few:
Addormentarsi – to fall asleep
Annoiarsi – to get board
Divertirsi – to amuse oneself
Conjugation of Reflexive Verbs/Reflexive Pronouns
Reflexive verbs are conjugated like any other verbs ending in -are, -ere, and -ire
In forming the PASSATO PROSSIMO (and other compound tenses) the auxiliary verb ESSERE must be used. The past participle must agree in gender and number with the subject
In the conjugation of a reflexive verb, the forms of the verb must be used with the reflexive pronouns listed below:
mi = myself
ti = yourself (familiar)
si = himself, herself, itself, yourself (form sign)
ci = ourselves
vi = yourselves
si = themselves
Examples:
Alzarsi
Mi alzo
Ti alzi
Si alza
Ci alziamo
Vi alzate
Si alzamo
Mettersi
Mi metto
Ti metti
Si mette
Ci mettiamo
Vi mettete
Si mettono
Vestirsi
Mi vesto
Ti vesti
Si veste
Ci vestiamo
Vi vestite
Si vestono
Esercizi / Exercises:
Give the present, the future, and the passato prossimo of the following reflexive. Verbs, with the subjects indicated in parenthesis.
Alzarsi (tu, lei, voi)
Pettinarsi (Maria, noi, loro)
Sentirsi (noi, voi, loro)
Vestirsi (io, Massimo, le ragazze)
Accorgersi (noi, Lei, voi)
Addormentarsi (la bambina, io, loro)
Complete the following:
Cinzia adesso (is resting) _________ perché è molto stanca.
Domani (I will wear) ____________ il vestito rosso.
Quando Rita (woke up) _____________, ha telefonato a sua madre.
Se loro potranno, (they will stop) __________ a casa nostra.
D’inverno (I get up) _________________ tardi perché fa freddo.
Se loro non vanno al cinema, a casa (they get bored) ___________.
Tutte le volte che andimao allo stadio, (we have a good time) ______________.
Ieri mia moglie (wore) ____________-un nuovo paio di scarpe.
La signora Betti ha avuto un figlio. Il bambino (is named) ____________ Franco.
Lei è sempre davanti allo specchio; (she combs her hair) ____________ tre volte al giorno.
Translate the following:
Tomorrow morning I want to wake up at six thirty-five.
Mario must get ready to go out.
He is looking at himself in front of the mirror.
I wonder why she is not coming to the movies with us. Yesterday his wife realized that Paolo can never relax.
