REFLEXIVE VERBS: HERE'S YOUR WAY TO FINALLY UNDERSTAND THEM

"Reflexive", reflection, get it?

In this article you are going to finally find a way to understand a special category of reflexive verbs: the ones that aren't really reflexive. You heard it right. I'm talking about verbs such as 'arrabbiarsi', 'sposarsi', 'innervosirsi', etc.

You were always taught these verbs were reflexive. Well, guess what. You were taught wrong, unless when you're saying 'io mi arrabbio' you're saying that you are angering yourself. In fact, I do anger myself quite often, but that's not the point. Let's go on to 'innervosirsi'. Are you really making yourself nervous or annoyed? All right, yes, it happens. Then how about 'sposarsi'? You're surely not going to marry yourself, are you? You'd like to, wouldn't you, you naughty one? Anyway, you're not going to.

Bottom line, these verbs aren't reflexive because the action does not actually reflect upon the doer as with verbs like 'lavarsi' or 'fermarsi'. They sure use the structure of reflexive verbs though. Or, let's say they borrow it for a different purpose.

Let me give you a more exhaustive list of common verbs of this type before we discuss them any further.

The best thing you can do is memorize them and their meaning. Together with 'arrabbiarsi', 'innervosirsi', and 'sposarsi' there's only twelve, and they're common basic reflexive verbs.

Here's how they work. If you look at the definitions in Italian and English, I described most verbs using the words 'diventare' or 'get / become' followed by an adjective. Remember, adjectives always describe a state. In fact, these verbs utilize the reflexive structure to indicate a transition from one state to another. Therefore, when you say "Io mi stanco facilmente" you are describing how easily you go from a state where you're not tired to a state of tiredness. When you say "Domani mi sposo con Federico", you're actually breaking it to your parents that tomorrow you're going to transition from the state of being not married to that of being married--and your parents are not going to give you their blessings.

I know what you're thinking. Now your next questions is, "So, if I can say 'diventare stanco' or 'diventare arrabbiato' why would I use a reflexive verb instead?"

Well, for one thing because that's what we do in Italian, and that should be a good enough reason for you to just do the same. If you need a rule of thumb however, here's one: If there's an available reflexive verb for the concept you need, use it. Otherwise, use 'diventare' and an adjective.

Be careful though, in Italian we don't use 'diventare' with a past participle ('arrabbiato', 'stancato', 'interessato', etc.). Only use it with adjectives that do not stem from the past participle form of a verb.

At this point you should be ready for a little exercise. So shove away pen and paper and focus on doing this aloud. If you want to learn to speak, you've got to speak.

PRACTICE

In each sentence, replace the part that is underlined with a reflexive verb that makes sense from the ones listed below. If you don't know a verb, skip that sentence and do the others first, then go by exclusion and your intuition.

INNAMORARSI, AMMALARSI, ARRABBIARSI, ROMPERSI, CONGELARSI, ACCENDERSI, BAGNARSI, STANCARSI, INNERVOSIRSI, SPAVENTARSI, SCALDARSI, STUFARSI, UBRIACARSI, OFFENDERSI, ANNOIARSI, ADDORMENTARSI.

E.g.

Original sentence: Stamattina mi è caduto il giornale in una pozzanghera e si è tutto impregnato d'acqua.

Your sentence: Stamattina mi è caduto il giornale in una pozzanghera e si è tutto bagnato.

NOTE: for this exercise, you need to use the presente indicativo or passato prossimo tenses.

If you have any doubts or questions, reach out to me in the contact form or write a comment. I'll be happy to assist.

And this is The JP Method for Italian!