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Today we study a group of
verbs called “verbi riflessivi” (reflexive verbs).
We already know the reflexive verb “chiamarsi” which is
one of the first verbs the students learn in a Italian course. This
verb, in fact, is used to introduce ourselves or to ask someone’s
name. The expressions: “io mi chiamo ...”, “tu ti chiami ...”
can be translated literally with “I call myself ...”, “you call
yourself ...”.
But when a verb can be
defined reflexive? The answer is easy: a verb is reflexive when
the action carried out by the subject has an effect on the same
subject. To better understand let’s see some examples.
- Io mi lavo sempre con l’acqua fredda. (I always wash myself with cold water)
- Giovanna si alza alle 7.00 ogni mattina. (Giovanna gets up at 7 am every morning)
Sometimes the action can
affect only a part of the subject like in the following examples.
- Si lavano le mani con un sapone idratante. (They wash their hands with a moisturizing soap)
- Mi asciugo i capelli con il fon. (I dry my hair with the hairdryer)
You can understand that a
verb is reflexive by the ending "si" attached to the
infinitive (chiamarsi, lavarsi, alzarsi).
The present tense of the
reflexive verbs can be formed by dropping the infinitive ending
–ARSI, –ERSI, –IRSI and adding for each
subject pronoun the same final endings we use to form the present
tense of regular verbs. The only difference is that we need to
remember to put the following reflexive pronouns before the
verb:
MI = myself
TI = yourself
SI = himself, herself
CI = ourselves
VI = yourselves
SI = themselves
ALZARSI
|
METTERSI
|
VESTIRSI
|
|
io
|
MI
ALZO
|
MI
METTO
|
MI
VESTO
|
tu
|
TI ALZI
|
TI METTI
|
TI VESTI
|
lui /
lei
|
SI
ALZA
|
SI
METTE
|
SI
VESTE
|
noi
|
CI
ALZIAMO
|
CI
METTIAMO
|
CI
VESTIAMO
|
voi
|
VI
ALZATE
|
VI
METTETE
|
VI
VESTITE
|
loro
|
SI
ALZANO
|
SI
METTONO
|
SI
VESTONO
|
- A che ora vi svegliate di solito? (What time do you usually wake up?)
- Oggi mi metto la giacca rossa con i pantaloni di seta. (Today I put on the red jacket with the silk trousers)
In Italian many verbs used
to express emotions are reflexive. Here is a list of the most common:
ANNOIARSI = to get bored
ARRABBIARSI = to get
angry
DEPRIMERSI = to get
depressed
DIVERTIRSI = to have fun
INNERVOSIRSI = to get
nervous
LAMENTARSI = to complain
PREOCCUPARSI = to worry
SPAVENTARSI = to be
frightened
SENTIRSI TRISTE / FELICE =
to feel sad / happy
- Mi spavento quando vedo un cane. (I get scared when I see a dog)
- Ci sentiamo un po’ tristi perché dobbiamo partire. (We feel a little sad because we must leave)
- Non mi rilasso durante il fine settimana. Ho sempre tante cose da fare. (I don’t relax during the weekend. I have always many things to do)