Voted Best Answer
Oct 26, 2014 - 08:53 PM
To answer your question, let’s talk English grammar because the sentence structures are actually the same as Italian, but with a few important exceptions that should be noted.
As you know, a verb is reflexive when the subject of the sentence, and the object of the action are one in the same. In other words, reflexive verbs indicate that the action is being performed by, and acting on, the subject of the sentence. In English, the difference between reflexive and non-reflexive usage is not obvious because we frequently drop the reflexive pronoun. This makes it difficult to tell them apart.
Reflexive pronouns in English add the suffix —self. They are:
myself, yourself, himself, herself, ourselves, themselves.
“I wash every morning,” is reflexive because it’s understood that “I wash (myself) every morning.” (note that the reflexive pronoun “myself” comes after the verb)
In Italian, you cannot omit the reflexive pronoun.
“(Io) Mi lavo ogni mattina” includes the reflexive pronoun. (note that the reflexive pronoun “mi” is before the verb.)
—BUT, (here it comes . . .) you CAN omit the personal pronoun “Io”—
That fact, makes it impossible to omit the reflexive. You cannot say “(Io) lavo ogni mattina” because in Italian (unlike English) it is not understood what you are washing.
It should be noted that the verb “to wash” does not have to be reflexive in English or Italian.
“I wash the dishes,” is not reflexive because the action of washing is happening to the dishes, not to “I.”
“(Io) lavo i piatti,” is not reflexive in Italian either.
So the differences between English and Italian are:
1. In English you can omit the reflexive, in Italian you cannot.
2. In English the reflexive is usually after the verb, in Italian it’s before the conjugated form or attached to the infinitive.
3. In English you cannot omit the personal pronoun, in Italian you usually do.
Now, to address your question about Ricordare:
I can’t think of an example where the verb “to remember” is not reflexive. The way I see it, the only person who can remember, is the person doing the remembering. So, you should never simply say “Io ricordo.” You must always say, “Mi ricordo, or Io mi ricordo.” (Ti ricordi, Si ricorda, etc.)
Some verbs are always reflexive: to sit down (sedersi), to try on (provarsi), to get dressed (vestirsi), etc.
I hope that wasn’t too confusing. Good Luck! : )
As you know, a verb is reflexive when the subject of the sentence, and the object of the action are one in the same. In other words, reflexive verbs indicate that the action is being performed by, and acting on, the subject of the sentence. In English, the difference between reflexive and non-reflexive usage is not obvious because we frequently drop the reflexive pronoun. This makes it difficult to tell them apart.
Reflexive pronouns in English add the suffix —self. They are:
myself, yourself, himself, herself, ourselves, themselves.
“I wash every morning,” is reflexive because it’s understood that “I wash (myself) every morning.” (note that the reflexive pronoun “myself” comes after the verb)
In Italian, you cannot omit the reflexive pronoun.
“(Io) Mi lavo ogni mattina” includes the reflexive pronoun. (note that the reflexive pronoun “mi” is before the verb.)
—BUT, (here it comes . . .) you CAN omit the personal pronoun “Io”—
That fact, makes it impossible to omit the reflexive. You cannot say “(Io) lavo ogni mattina” because in Italian (unlike English) it is not understood what you are washing.
It should be noted that the verb “to wash” does not have to be reflexive in English or Italian.
“I wash the dishes,” is not reflexive because the action of washing is happening to the dishes, not to “I.”
“(Io) lavo i piatti,” is not reflexive in Italian either.
So the differences between English and Italian are:
1. In English you can omit the reflexive, in Italian you cannot.
2. In English the reflexive is usually after the verb, in Italian it’s before the conjugated form or attached to the infinitive.
3. In English you cannot omit the personal pronoun, in Italian you usually do.
Now, to address your question about Ricordare:
I can’t think of an example where the verb “to remember” is not reflexive. The way I see it, the only person who can remember, is the person doing the remembering. So, you should never simply say “Io ricordo.” You must always say, “Mi ricordo, or Io mi ricordo.” (Ti ricordi, Si ricorda, etc.)
Some verbs are always reflexive: to sit down (sedersi), to try on (provarsi), to get dressed (vestirsi), etc.
I hope that wasn’t too confusing. Good Luck! : )