Impersonal si: Italian grammar lesson 117

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Si impersonale:  Explained

How do you use the impersonal si?

All Italian learners have come across sentences such as “Non si lavora la domenica (One does not work on Sundays).

These sentences do not have a specific subject and are therefore called impersonal.

In Italian, there are different ways of constructing an impersonal sentence. One of the most common ones is the use of the impersonal si.

Some very common impersonal forms are:

  • Si dice
    It is said…
  • Si sa
    It is known…
  • Si pensa
    It is thought…

how to use impersonal si

Si impersonale: When to use

Unlike the reflexive si, which refers to a particular subject, this impersonal construction is used to talk in a generalized manner about events or situations that do not have a specific subject.

The use of the impersonal si can substitute generalized subjects like:

  • La gente (people):

In Francia si parla francese = In Francia la gente parla francese. (In France people speak French).

  • Tutti (everyone):

D’estate si va in vacanza = D’estate tutti vanno in vacanza. (In the summer everyone goes on holiday).

  • Nessuno (no one):

Non si lavora la domenica = Nessuno lavora la domenica (No one works on Sundays).

You can use this construction if you want to avoid mentioning the specific subject of an action or event.

si italian meaning

Si impersonale & si passivante: Rules

This impersonal construction is formed by using the word si followed by a verb.

If the verb is intransitive, which means it does not have a direct object, si will always be followed by the verb conjugated in the third person singular (i.e. the same as lui, lei).

If the verb is transitive, which means it does have a direct object, the verb that follows si will be conjugated either in the third person singular (lui, lei) or the third person plural (loro) according to the number of the object.

In this case, we can speak of si passivante, as the particle si is now making the construction of the sentence passive as well as impersonal.

Have a look at the following examples, in which mangiare is used both as an intransitive and as a transitive verb.

SI IMPERSONALE

In questo ristorante si mangia bene.

In this restaurant, one eats well.

In this example, mangiare is an intransitive verb and is used in the third person singular (si mangia).

SI PASSIVANTE

In asia si mangiano alcuni tipi d’insetti.

In Asia, people eat some kinds of insects

In this example, mangiare is a transitive verb and it is conjugated in the third person plural (si mangiano) according to its object (alcuni tipi d’insetti).

Both sentences are impersonal, the only difference is that the first does not have a subject at all, while the second one has a grammatical subject (alcuni tipi d’insetti) which has been made passive by the use of si.

Practice with Quizlet

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Si impersonale: what you need to remember

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Some sentences in Italian don’t have a specific subject, so they are called impersonal.

In Italian, there are different ways to create an impersonal sentence. One of the most popular is the use of the impersonal si.

So, how do you use it?

Unlike the reflexive si, which refers to a certain subject, this impersonal construction is used when talking about events or situations that don’t have a specific subject. In other words, it’s great for talking in a more general sense.

Plus, it can be used to replace generic subjects.

We hope this helps you understand how to use the impersonal si better!

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FAQs on Impersonal si: Italian grammar lesson 117

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4 Responses

  1. Dalla camera dell’albergo si vede il mare.
    You can see the sea from the hotel room.

    Would it also be correct while remaining impersonal to say:

    Dalla camera dell’albergo si possa vedere il mare.

    1. Ciao @donaldbell09@gmail.com!

      The impersonal construction is used when talking about events or situations that don’t have a specific subject. In other words, it’s great for talking more broadly. And it can be used to replace generic subjects.

      The sentence you wrote is not correct because when using the subjunctive you must use che: Sogno che dalla camera dell’albergo si possa vedere il mare.

      If you have any other doubts or questions please let us know.

  2. In the corresponding Grammar section it is cited:

    Bisogna fare silenzio al cinema durante il film.

    I noticed Lesson 117 goes into Impersonal Verbs and common impersonal forms like:
    Si dice – It is said
    Si sa – It is known
    Si pense – It is thought.

    So I just wondered if Bisogna fare silenzio could otherwise be in the Impersonal “Si bisogna fare silenzio” as in “One needs to be quiet” ?

    1. Ciao Donald!

      In Italian is incorrect to say “si bisogna" because even if it is an impersonal verb (only conjugated with the third person singular) it has only two main uses: bisogna + infinitive and bisogna che + subjunctive. At this link, you can learn more about bisogna.

      If you need to say “One needs to be quiet" you can say Bisogna stare zitti.

      Please let me know if I’ve answered your doubt or if it’s still not clear.

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