REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS and REFLEXIVE VERBS and how to use them:

Rules:

1. Like all pronouns, the reflexive pronouns stand before the verb or the auxiliary verb in compound tenses. e.g.:

   Mio fratello si chiama Giancarlo = My brother is called Giancarlo.

   L'uomo si è ucciso = the man killed himself.

2. Reflexive verbs use essere as the auxiliary verb as in the last example above. e.g.:

   I bambini si erano vestiti = The children had got dressed

   A che ora ti alzerai, Luisa? = What time will you be getting up, Luisa?

3. Reflexive pronouns are added to the end of the infinitive, gerundio and imperative to form one word. e.g.:

   Ero così stanco che non ho potuto alzarmi = I was so tired that I couldn't get up.

   Maria è in bagno,e sta lavandosi i capelli = Maria is in the bathroom, she's washing her hair.

English has very few real reflexive verbs, like to enjoy oneself, to hurt oneself, to kill oneself, but they are very common in Italian, often where English uses another verbal phrase. It is useful to know the commonest reflexive verbs; here are a few to learn as items of vocabulary, along with their meaning.

Relfexive verbs behave like ordinary verbs except that you have to put a reflexive pronoun in front. Make sure you know what type of verb you are dealing with; e.g. divertirsi is conjugated as divertire with a reflexive pronoun in front; similarly annoiarsi is annoiare with a reflexive pronoun. If you would like to see the whole present tense of a reflexive verb look at the table below, where divertirsi (to enjoy oneself) has been laid out for you:

N.B. Higher candidates: make sure you know and can use the following reflexive verbs:

1. mettersi a ... = to start to ...
2. accorgersi di ... = to be aware of; to realise
3. andarsene ...= to go away; leave [= s'en aller in French]

Now try some exercises to see if you have grasped the idea.

Exercise 1. Translate into English.

1. Ogni mattina mia madre si alza alle sette.
2. Ieri mi sono svegliato molto presto.
3. La festa era orrenda; mi sono annoiato molto.
4. Prima di vestirti, Franco, devi lavarti la faccia.
5. Gina si era già lavata i denti.
6. Se tu prendi la macchina, papà si arrabbierà.
7. Avevo paura di sbagliarmi.
8. Luigi si annoia perché non c'è niente da fare.
9. Ci siamo divertiti alla festa.
10. Il treno, avvicinandosi alla stazione, si è fermato all'improvviso.

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Exercise 2. Complete the following passage by transforming the infinitive verbs into the correct form of the present tense.

Signor Tommasini is describing his daily routine before he leaves home in the morning.

Di solito la mattina [svegliarsi] alle sette. [alzarsi] poco dopo e [farsi] la doccia. Poi [radersi] e [spruzzarsi] con il dopobarba. Infine [vestirsi] e vado in cucina dove [prepararsi] un cappuccino. Dopo la colazione [lavarsi] i denti, [guardarsi] allo specchio, [mettersi] la giacca ed esco di casa.

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Exercise 3. Try to describe your daily routine; translate the following sentences, then modify them to suit your own situation.

1. I wake up at 7.30.
2. I get up a little later.
3. I get dressed in a hurry.
4. I make myself breakfast.
5. Then I brush my teeth.
6. I look at myself in the mirror and comb my hair.
7. Before leaving the house, I put on a coat.

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Exercise 4. Re-write exercise 3 in the perfect tense.

1. I woke up at 7.30.
2. I got up a little later.
   etc.

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