9A.1 Si impersonale and passivante

Punto di partenza
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.
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In Italian, use the pronoun si with the third-person
singular form of the verb to express an impersonal
meaning. Note that a number of English translations
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.
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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.
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The impersonal construction is commonly used
to request or give information, instructions,
and permission.
Come si scrive «striscia»?
How do you spell “striscia”?
Come si dice «pedone»
in inglese?
How do you say “pedone”
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.
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When a reflexive verb is used impersonally, use the
pronoun combination ci si to avoid repeating the
pronoun si.
Ci si divertiva in quel
locale notturno.
People used to have fun in
that nightclub.
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Qui non ci si perderebbe
mai.
Here one would never get lost.
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In spoken Italian, the si construction is sometimes used
to mean noi.
Dove si va domani?
Where are we going tomorrow?
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Stasera non si esce?
Aren’t we going out tonight?
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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.
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Le riviste si comprano al chiosco.
The magazines are bought at
the kiosk.
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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.)
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Si vede ancora quella statua?
Can one still see that statue?
(Can that statue still be seen?)
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If the si passivante is followed by a plural subject, use
the third-person plural form of the verb. Use the thirdperson 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 turists 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.)
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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, as seen in the
first two photos below.
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Scegli l’opzione corretta per completare le seguenti
frasi usando il si impersonale e il si passivante.
1. Non (si rivela / si rivelano) mai i segreti degli altri!
2. In questo negozio (si parla / si parlano) italiano.
3. (Si legge / Si leggono) le istruzioni prima di iniziare il progetto.
4. A teatro non (si risponde / si rispondono) al cellulare.
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.
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