Reflexive verbs
Mi chiamo, mi sveglio, mi piace? How reflexives work and when they aren't really reflexive.
The basic pattern
Reflexive verbs end in -si in the infinitive (lavarsi, alzarsi). Conjugate the verb and put the matching pronoun before it: mi, ti, si, ci, vi, si.
- Mi alzo alle sette.I get up at seven.
- Ci vediamo domani!See you tomorrow! (We'll see each other)
- Come ti chiami?What's your name?
Always essere in the past
All reflexive verbs use essere in compound tenses, and the participle agrees with the subject: Maria si è svegliata tardi.
Body parts and clothing
Italian uses a reflexive + definite article where English uses a possessive: mi lavo le mani (I wash my hands), si mette il cappotto (he puts on his coat).
Pronoun position with infinitives
With an infinitive, the pronoun can attach to the end: devo alzarmi or mi devo alzare. Both are correct.
Common mistakes
Waking up is reflexive and takes essere.
For body parts, Italian normally uses the reflexive and the article (a possessive only for emphasis).
Test yourself
0 / 4 answered1. Ieri Anna ___ alzata tardi.
2. Mi lavo ___ denti.
3. Devo ___ presto.
4. Come ___ chiamate?