Italian conjugation explanation
Auxiliary verb for reflexive verbs
<p>Reflexive verbs always use
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/essere/" title="Click to see conjugations for essere" target="_blank">essere</a>
as an auxiliary verb in compound tenses (like the<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/123/" target="_blank">Passato prossimo</a>
):</p><div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Il gatto <strong><span class="green_emphasis">si è nascosto</span></strong> sotto il letto. (<span style="font-style: italic;">The cat hid under the bed.</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Io <strong><span class="green_emphasis">mi sono incontrato</span></strong> con lui oggi. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I met with him today.</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><strong><span class="green_emphasis">Vi siete addormentati</span></strong> sul divano. (<span style="font-style: italic;">You fell asleep on the sofa.</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Reflexive verbs with modal verbs</div>
<p>With reflexive verbs (like
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/nascondersi/" title="Click to see conjugations for nascondersi" target="_blank">nascondersi</a>
or<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/lavarsi/" title="Click to see conjugations for lavarsi" target="_blank">lavarsi</a>
), the position of the reflexive pronoun determines the auxiliary when used with modal verbs (such as <span style="font-style: italic;">volere</span>,<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/potere/" title="Click to see conjugations for potere" target="_blank">potere</a>
, or<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/dovere/" title="Click to see conjugations for dovere" target="_blank">dovere</a>
).</p><p>If the pronoun acts as a <strong>prefix</strong> (placed before the conjugated verb), simple tenses of the modal verb use
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/essere/" title="Click to see conjugations for essere" target="_blank">essere</a>
:</p><div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Perché <strong><span class="green_emphasis">si è voluto</span></strong> nascondere? (<span style="font-style: italic;">Why did he want to hide?</span>)</div>
<p>If the pronoun is attached to the <strong>end</strong> of the infinitive, simple tenses of the modal verb use
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/avere/" title="Click to see conjugations for avere" target="_blank">avere</a>
:</p><div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Perché <strong><span class="green_emphasis">ha voluto</span></strong> nascondersi? (<span style="font-style: italic;">Why did he want to hide?</span>)</div>