Learn the essential Italian reflexive verbs "svegliarsi" and "vestirsi" including their conjugation with reflexive pronouns, usage in daily routines, and examples. This lesson also explains reflexive vs. reciprocal verbs and highlights their differences from English to help learners grasp Italian reflexive structures naturally and effectively.
- Reflexive verbs end in -si in the infinitive.
- The reflexive pronoun is conjugated and goes before the verb.
| Verbo Svegliarsi (Verb To Wake Up) | Verbo Vestirsi (Verb To Get Dressed) |
|---|---|
| Io mi sveglio (I wake up) | Io mi vesto (I get dressed) |
| Tu ti svegli (You wake up) | Tu ti vesti (You get dressed) |
| Lui/lei si sveglia (He/she wakes up) | Lui/ lei si veste (He/she gets dressed) |
| Noi ci svegliamo (We wake up) | Noi ci vestiamo (We get dressed) |
| Voi vi svegliate (You wake up) | Voi vi vestite (You (plural) get dressed) |
| Loro si svegliano (They wake up) | Loro si vestono (They dress themselves) |
Exceptions!
- Some reflexive verbs can have a reciprocal meaning. Example: "Ci vediamo domani!" (See you tomorrow!).
Exercise 1: I verbi riflessivi
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
si alzano, mi vesto, ti alzi, Vi vestite, Ci svegliamo, si veste, mi sveglio, Mi pettino
1.
I bambini ... alle otto durante il weekend.
(The children get up at eight during the weekend.)
2.
Marco ... prima di uscire di casa.
(Marco gets dressed before leaving the house.)
3.
Ogni giorno (io) ... alle sette di mattina.
(Every day I wake up at seven in the morning.)
4.
(Io) ... dopo aver fatto colazione.
(I comb my hair after having breakfast.)
5.
Quando (tu) ..., fai subito colazione?
(When you get up, do you have breakfast straight away?)
6.
Dopo la doccia, (io) ... e preparo la colazione.
(After the shower, I get dressed and prepare breakfast.)
7.
(Noi) ... presto durante la settimana.
(We wake up early during the week.)
8.
(Voi) ... prima o dopo colazione?
(Do you get dressed before or after breakfast?)
Exercise 2: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. Io ___ sempre alle sette del mattino.
(I ___ always at seven in the morning.)2. Tu ___ prima di uscire di casa.
(You ___ before leaving the house.)3. Lui ___ le mani dopo aver mangiato.
(He ___ his hands after eating.)4. Noi ___ sempre al bar alle otto.
(We ___ always at the bar at eight.)5. Voi ___ dopo il lavoro.
(You ___ after work.)6. Loro ___ per la riunione della mattina.
(They ___ for the morning meeting.)
