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 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.)
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 is uses the si
impersonal or the si passive voice form.
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.