Verbs
Reflexive verbs
In Italian, verbs such as 'get up', 'sit down', 'stand up' and combinations with 'get' ('get cold/hot/dressed') are usually reflexive (meaning to do something to oneself).
How do you form the reflexive?
The main points to note when forming reflexive verbs are as follows:
- The verb takes a reflexive form when the subject acts on itself, therefore subject and object are the same.
- The reflexive form can be made only with transitive verbs (verbs which take an object).
- In the reflexive form the verb is always used with the personal pronouns: 'mi', 'ti', 'si', 'ci', 'vi'. The personal pronouns are usually placed before the verb.
Examples of reflexive verbs
The simple present tense of the verb 'lavarsi' ('to wash oneself'/'to get washed') is as follows.
| Pronouns + Verb | English translation |
| io mi lavo | I get washed |
| tu ti lavi | You (singular, informal) get washed |
| lui/lei/esso/essa si lava | He/she/it or you (singular, formal) get/s washed |
| noi ci laviamo | We get washed |
| voi vi lavate | You (plural) get washed |
| loro/essi/esse si lavano | They get washed |
Other commonly used reflexive verbs include:
- alzarsi (to get up/stand up)
- sedersi (to sit down)
- vestirsi (to dress oneself/get dressed)
When does the pronoun come after the reflexive verb?
The personal pronouns are placed after the verb with:
the infinitive:
'(io) devo lavarmi' - 'I must wash myself / I must get washed'
the present continuous form:
'(io) sto lavandomi' - 'I’m washing myself / I’m getting washed'
imperative verbs:
'laviamoci!' - 'let’s wash ourselves! / let’s get washed!'
'lavati!' - 'wash yourself! / get washed!'
(See imperative verbs for more information on this verb form).