In a reflexive sentence the action of the verb reverts to the subject, as in the following examples: I wash myself. They enjoy themselves. In reflexive sentences, Italian verbs, like English verbs, are conjugated with reflexive pronouns.
Reflexive pronouns (i pronomi riflessivi) are identical in form to direct object pronouns, except for the third person form si (the third person singular and plural form).
SINGULAR | PLURAL |
mi myself | ci ourselves |
ti yourself | vi yourselves |
si himself, herself, itself, yourself (formal) | si themselves, yourselves (formal) |
Just like direct object pronouns, reflexive pronouns are placed before a conjugated verb or attached to the infinitive. If the infinitive is preceded by a form of dovere, potere, or volere, the reflexive pronoun is either attached to the infinitive (which 0drops its final –e) or placed before the conjugated verb. Note that the reflexive pronoun agrees with the subject even when attached to the infinitive.
Mi alzo. (I’m getting up.)
Voglio alzarmi. Mi voglio alzare. (I want to get up.)
Mi, ti, si, and vi may 0drop the i before another vowel or an h and replace it with an apostrophe. Ci may 0drop the i only before an i or e.
Si lava tutti i giorni. (He washes himself every day.)
Ci divertiamo molto qui. (We enjoy ourselves a lot here.)
A casa, m’annoio. (At home, I get bored.)