The si impersonale meaning impersonal si in Italian is used to make generalizations, or to form a sentence where the doer is not specified. It is formed with the pronoun si and a verb in the third person singular, as in:
In this post, we’ll unravel all the secrets of the si impersonale for you, how to use it, how to form it, and why it’s different from the passive. Keep reading!
How to use the impersonal ‘si’?
The impersonal si is the Italian equivalent of “one,” the generic “you” or “we,” “they,” or “people” (in general). It is used to express actions performed by an unknown or unspecified agent. More specifically:
To express general and impersonal information:
Nel week-end si dorme più del solito.Translation: On the week-end people sleep more than usual.To talk about rules:
Non si può entrare prima delle 5.Translation: You cannot enter before 5.To ask for, and give, directions:
- Come si arriva alla stazione?Translation: How does one get to the station?
- Si gira a sinistra e poi a destra.Translation: You turn left and then right.
To find out how to say things properly:
Cosa si dice prima di iniziare a mangiare?Translation: What do you say before starting to eat?
How to form the impersonal ‘si’?
The impersonal si is always followed by a verb in the third-person singular (lui / lei).
The verb following the si impersonale can be an intransitive verb or a transitive verb with no direct object.
- In treno si arriva velocemente.Translation: By train one arrives quickly.
- In questo ristorante si mangia bene.Translation: In this restaurant people eat well.
When the si construction is used with reflexive verbs (e.g. svegliarsi meaning to wake up there’s a little twist: to avoid the double si, the phrase ci si is used.
In settimana ci si deve svegliare prima.Translation: During the week one needs to wake up earlier.When the si impersonale is used in compound tenses, it always takes essere as its helping verb.
In settimana ci si deve svegliare prima.Translation: During the week one needs to wake up earlier.Compare these sentences in the passato prossimo:
Durante il lockdown abbiamo letto molto.Translation: During the lockdown we read a lot.Durante il lockdown si è letto molto.Translation: During the lockdown people read a lot.Notice that the past participle is singular, like the verb!
In the first, “regular” sentence, letto (past participle of leggere meaning to read) takes avere, while in the second sentence, with the impersonal si, it takes essere + masculine, singular past participle.
If a verb normally takes as a helping verb (e.g. andare meaning to go), the passato prossimo is formed with essere + masculine, plural past participle, as in:
What is the difference between the impersonal ‘si’ and passive ‘si’?
Does the si impersonale look similar to the si passivante to you? Well, you’re in good company: the distinction is pretty technical and complex even for native speakers! To put it simply: both the impersonal si and the passive si "hide" the agent and instead place emphasis on the action or on who receives it. However, the passive si requires an explicit subject, while the impersonal si does not.
Or, with more technical words: the passive si is used with transitive verbs — verbs that take a direct object. The impersonal si is used with both intransitive verbs (the ones that do not take a direct object) and also transitive verbs that are when NOT followed by a noun phrase.
| Si expression | Used with... | Example |
|---|---|---|
Passive si | transitive verbs only | La Vigilia si mangia il pesce, mentre a Natale si mangiano i tortellini. Translation: On Christmas Eve, fish is eaten, while at Christmas, tortellini are eaten. |
Impersonal si | transitive verbs with no noun phrase | A che ora si mangia? Translation: What time do people eat? |
intransitive verbs | Si entra da qui. Translation: You enter through here. |
Summary
The impersonal si is used to talk about events, actions, or situations involving a nonspecific subject; it corresponds to the English “one,” the generic “you” or “we,” “they,” or “people.” It is never followed by a noun phrase — in which case, it would be a passive si — and it always precedes a verb in the third-person singular.
Ready to practice? We have prepared some activities for you to practice the Italian impersonal si.
To know more, check out this overview of the several uses of si. Happy learning!
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