To conjugate a reflexive verb in the past tense (passato prossimo) we need:
1. a subject
The subjects in Italian are:
io = I
tu = you (informal)
lui = he
lei = she
Lei = you (formal)
noi = we
voi = you (plural)
loro = they
Loro = You (plural and formal)
2. a matching reflexive pronoun (each subject has its own matching pronoun)
The subjects with their matching pronouns are
io – mi
tu – ti
lui – si
lei – si
Lei – si
noi – ci
voi – vi
loro – si
Loro – si
3. a form of the verb “essere”
Essere
Io sono = I am
Tu sei = you (informal) are
Lui/Lei è = he/she is
Noi siamo = we are
Loro sono = they are
4. the past participle of the verb
Here is how to form a past particple
To form a past partciple, start from the infinitve form of the verb. Infinitives end in either “are” “ere” or “ire”
If the infinitive ends in “are” then you cut off the “are” and add the letters “ato” parlare —> parl —> parlato = spoken
If the infinitive ends in “ere” then you cut off the “ere” and add the letters “uto” vedere —> ved —> veduto = seen
If the infinitive ends in “ire” then you cut off the “ire” and add the letters “ito” finire —> fin —> finito = finished
__________________________________________________ ______________
Let’s say we wanted to translate this sentence: They woke up. The verb to wake up in Italian is svegliarsi
1. Find your subject. The subject is They or Loro in Italian. (see
above chart)
2. Match the subejct with its special reflexive pronoun…Loro always matches
with si (see above chart)
3. Now we must find the proper form of “essere” to match the subject Loro…the “Loro” form of essere is sono (see above chart)
4. now get your past particple: svegilarsi —> svegli —> svegliato
5. remember though that when using “essere” in the past tense we must
make the past particple agree in number and gender with the subejct.
Since my subject (Loro) is masculine and plural, I must change svegliato
to svegliati
6. Now put the 4 bold words together:
Loro si sono svegliati. = They woke up
Note: if the subject is masculine and singular then the past particple ends in “o”. (svegliato) If the subject is feminine and singular then the past participle ends in “a” (svegliata) If the subject is masculine and plural then the past particple ends in “i’ (svegliati) If the subject is feminine and plural then the past participle ends in “e” (svegliate.)
Now here are some common reflexive verbs in Italian:
Addormentarsi
To fall asleep or go to sleep
Alzarsi
To get up
Annoiarsi
To be bored
Asciugarsi
To dry off
Chiamarsi
To be called / named
Divertirsi
To enjoy oneself
Farsi la barba
To shave oneself (beard)
Farsi il bagno
To bathe oneself (take a bath)
Fermarsi
To stop
Lavarsi
To wash oneself
Leggere il giornale
To read the paper
Mettersi
To put on clothing
Mettersi a [+ inf]
To begin / start
Pettinarsi
To comb one’s own hair
Preoccuparsi (di)
To worry (about)
Preparasi per [+ inf]
To prepare oneself for
Salutarsi
To greet each other (reciprocal reflexive)
Sentirsi
To feel
Svegliarsi
To wake up
Truccarsi
To put on makeup
Vestirsi
To get dressed
Article by Giacomo DePasquale
