Si'impersonal and passivante

In Italian, impersonal sentences have an unspecified subject and are used to refer to people in general. In English, this idea is frequently expressed with one, people, you, and they.

In Italian, use the pronoun si with the third person singular form of the verb to express an impersonal meaning. Note: a number of English translation are possible. Si va spesso in quel paese in estate People often go to that town in summer. One often goes to that town in summer. They/You often go to that town in summer. Senza piscina non si nuota tanto. Without a pool, people don’t swim much. Without a pool, one doesn’t swim much. Without a pool, they/you don’t swim much.

The impersonal construction is commonly used to request or give information, instructions, and permission. Come si scrive “tavola”.  How do you spell “tavola”. Come si dice “cane” in inglese.  How do you say “cane” in English? Come si fa a scendere le scale? Si deve girare a destra.  How can one go downstairs? One must turn right. Si potrà entrare nel centro commerciale a mezzogiorno.  People will be able to enter the mall at noon.

When a reflexive verb is used impersonally, use the pronoun combination ci si to avoid repeating the pronoun si. Ci si divertiva in quella discoteca.  People used to have fun in that nightclub. Qui non ci si perderebbe mai.  Here one would never get lost. In spoken Italian, the si construction is sometimes used to mean noi. Dove si va domani?  Where are we going tomorrow? Stasera non si esce?  Aren’t we going out tonight.

Si impersonal Si is used with the third-person plural form when followed by a plural noun. Ex: Si usano le spezie per cucinare bene. You use spices to cook well. Si preparano gli spaghetti all’amatriciana con la cipolla. Spaghetti all’amatriciana is prepared with onion. (One prepares spaghetti….)

Si passivante –Passive Voice When the verb used in an impersonal si construction has an expressed subject, it is called the si passivante and is equivalent to the passive voice. Compare the following: Compro le riviste al chiosco.  I buy the magazines at the kiosk. Le riviste si comprano al chiosco.  The magazines are bought at the kiosk.

English translations of the passive si construction can also resemble the impersonal si. Si costruiranno presto i ponti.  They will construct the bridges soon. (The bridges will be constructed soon.) Si vede ancora quella statua?  Can one still see that statue? (Can that statue still be seen?)

If the si passivante is followed by a plural subject, use the third person plural form of the verb. Use the third person singular form with singular subjects. Là si vendono delle belle scarpe.  Some nice shoes are sold there. (They sell some nice shoes there.) A Firenze si vedranno molti turisti.  Many tourists will be seen in Florence. (You will see many tourists in Florence.) Si restaurava la chiesa più piccola.  The smallest church was being restored. (They were restoring the smallest church.) Si mangia il gelato ogni giorno in estate. Ice cream is eaten every day in the summer.  (People eat ice cream every day in the summer.)

Si impersonal In compound tenses, the si impersonale is conjugated with essere. The pasta participle agrees in gender and number with the object. Si sono mangiati troppi tortellini ieri. They ate too many tortellini yesterday. Si è preparata una buona cena per gli amici. We prepared a nice dinner for friends. Si è mangiato bene in quella trattoria. One ate well in that restaurant.

Si impersonale An adjective that follows the verb essere in the si impersonale is in the masculine form. The verb is singular. Quando si è ricchi, non si è sempre contenti. When people are rich, they aren’t always happy. Quando si è liberi, si è felici. When one is free, one is happy.

Si impersonale Object pronouns precede si. Marco è contento. Lo si vede dalla faccia. Marco is happy. You can see it from his face. Ma è Taylor Swift. La si riconosce subito. But it’s Taylor Swift. One recognizes her immediately. The only exception is ne, which follows si. Se ne parla sempre. One is always talking about it. Secondo me, dei gelati buoni non se ne mangiano mai troppi. If you ask me, one can never eat too much good ice cream.

Note that in such uses si is often attached to the verb to save space: In Italy, si constructions are often seen on signs, posted notices, and advertisements. Note that in such uses si is often attached to the verb to save space: Vendesi’ Affittasi

PROVALO! Choose for the following questions if it uses the si impersonal or the si passive voice form. Non (si rivela / si rivelano) mai i segreti degli altri! In questo negozio (si parla / si parlano) italiano. (Si legge / Si leggono) le istruzioni prima di iniziare il progetto. A teatro non (si risponde /si rispondono) al cellulare.

Si impersonale 5. In vacanza (ci si alza / si alza) dopo le dieci. 6. La sera (si deve accendere / si devono accendere) le luci. 7. Il fine settimana (ci si rilassa / gli si rilassano) senza lezioni. 8. Dopo molte ore al computer (si legge / si leggono) con più fatica.