Recognizing and using reflexive verbs can be tricky in Italian. There are other lessons on Yabla that cover some aspects of reflexive verbs, but in this lesson, we'll try to make some sense of using reflexive verbs in compound tenses. This is a head-scratcher for many learners. 

Let's back up just a bit. 

If you are using the present indicative tense, you can conjugate the reflexive verb itself. As soon as you do this, the reflexive ending is separated from the root verb.

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Let's take the reflexive verb domandarsi. The ordinary verb is domandare (to ask), and the reflexive domandarsi is "to ask oneself/to wonder." As you can see in the example below, the reflexive object comes first and then the conjugated part of the verb.

E allora mi domando: "ma come è possibile?".

And so I ask myself: "But how is it possible?"

Captions 11-12, Sposami EP 5 - Part 20

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This can work with the imperfetto, too.

In mezzo a tutta quella neve mi domandavo se ce l'avrei fatta a diventare un artista.

In the midst of all that snow I wondered if I could have made it to becoming an artist.

Captions 34-35, Volare - La grande storia di Domenico Modugno Ep. 1 - Part 30

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But if I am telling you what I was thinking about yesterday, I will likely use the passato prossimo. If I am using the normal version of the verb domandare, I use the auxiliary avere (to have) as an auxiliary. Here, in the third-person singular. 

E poi mi ha domandato: "Ma che la politica a te piace?"

And then she asked me: "But do you like politics?"

Caption 47, Illuminate Margherita Hack - Part 2

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But if the verb is used reflexively, the object is the same as the subject and we switch to the auxiliary essere (to be). This might be a tricky rule to remember, but if you listen carefully to speech in Yabla videos (and do Scribe), it will gradually become natural for you to use the auxiliary essere. So much of learning is repeating or imitating what you hear. 

Mi sono domandato se ce l'avrei fatta.

If I am a woman speaking, then I say,

Mi sono domandata se ce l'avrei fatta.

Let's go a step further. If I want to use a modal verb, such as dovere (to have to), potere (to be able to), or volere (to want to), then the modal verb is the conjugated verb in the phrase. Here, we are in the present tense, no compound tense.

E forse ti devi chiedere che cosa vuoi davvero.

Yeah, maybe you should ask yourself what you really want.

Caption 71, Il Commissario Manara S2EP2 - L'addio di Lara - Part 10

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L'importante è che gli ingredienti siano buoni e poi non si può sbagliare.

The important thing is for the ingredients to be good and then one can't go wrong.

Captions 15-16, In cucina con Arianna la panzanella - Part 2

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The ordinary verb sbagliare can be used with the auxiliary avere in a compound tense. 

Ho sbagliato, ma non intendo ripetere l'errore.

I made a mistake, but I don't intend to repeat the error.

Caption 60, Sposami EP 5 - Part 2

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But I can say pretty much the same thing using the reflexive verb, and here, in a compound tense such as the passato prossimo, I need the auxiliary essere (to be).

Niente, non manca niente, mi sono sbagliata.

Nothing, nothing is missing, I made a mistake (I was mistaken).

Caption 41, Sposami EP 6 - Part 10

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However, if I add a modal verb, then the reflexive particle attaches itself to the auxiliary verb essere. The modal verb is the conjugated one. This is a little tricky!

Devo essermi sbagliato, avevo letto "agenzia immobiliare".

I must be mistaken. I had read "real estate agency."

Caption 22, Sei mai stata sulla Luna? film - Part 9

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Keep listening and you'll begin hearing these reflexive constructions as very natural. Playing the Scribe game, or even Speak will take you to the next level in terms of understanding how reflexive work, especially if you repeat them whenever possible. And remember, we are here to answer your questions if you don't get it, if you get confused. We are humans!

Thanks for reading. 

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One of our subscribers has asked about the difference between two verbs: immaginare and supporre. Of course, both verbs have English cognates: "to imagine" and "to suppose." But knowing when and how to use them is not always obvious. Let's focus first on immaginare, and we'll save supporre for an upcoming lesson. 

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Immaginare

The verb immaginare can be transitive and it matches up with the English meaning of "imagine." In an episode of Sposami, Ugo wants some comprehension from Nora. She gives him a snappy retort.

Per una volta nella vita, cerca di capirmi, prova a immaginare la situazione. -Cosa devo immaginare, Ugo? L'ho vista la scena.

For once in your life, try to understand me, try to imagine the situation. -What should I imagine, Ugo? I saw the scene.

Captions 36-38, Sposami EP 5 - Part 20

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It can be intransitive and still corresponds to English: 

Ma immagina quando fra dieci, vent'anni il mercato richiederà soltanto calcolatori elettronici.

But imagine when, in ten, twenty years, the market will be asking for electronic calculators only.

Captions 27-28, Adriano Olivetti La forza di un sogno Ep.2 - Part 15

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Immaginare can be used with a reflexive ending to add some personal reinforcement.

Immaginati la sorpresa quando ho scoperto che dopo tutti questi anni eri diventata... Un poliziotto? -No! Bellissima!

Imagine [for yourself] my surprise when I discovered that after all these years you had become... A cop? -No! Beautiful!

Captions 6-9, Il Commissario Manara S1EP6 - Reazione a Catena - Part 14

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In English, when we give a short answer, we usually say "I can imagine," in other words, using a modal verb before the main verb. In Italian, we can just use the verb itself with no modal verb before it. 

Poi io so' [sono] passato a lavorare nello studio e mi occupo un po' di tutto... un incarico di fiducia. -Immagino.

Then I began working in the office and I handle a little bit of everything... a position of trustworthiness. -I can imagine.

Captions 54-56, I Bastardi di Pizzofalcone EP1 I Bastardi - Part 11

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We can also use the modal verb potere (to be able to) as an option.

Non mi sono ancora ripreso da questa tragedia, ve lo confesso. -Posso immaginare.

I haven't yet recovered from this tragedy, I'll confess it to you. -I can imagine.

Captions 6-7, I Bastardi di Pizzofalcone EP4 Gelo - Part 10

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The verb immaginare is also used like "to suppose,"  "to think," "to believe," and "to guess." Although we used the cognate in the translation to facilitate remembering the word, other words could work, too. This is a case in which immaginare and supporre are interchangeable. 

Immagino che vorrà parlarmi di Donata Miulli.

I imagine that you will want to talk to me about Donata Miulli.

I suppose that you will want to talk to me about Donata Miulli.

I guess that you will want to talk to me about Donata Miulli.

Caption 30, Imma Tataranni Sostituto procuratore S1 EP 4 Maltempo - Part 23

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Since both verbs have to do with hypothesis rather than certainty, they often take the subjunctive when followed by the conjunction che. 

Immagino che si tratti del sequestro De Carolis.

I guess [that] it is about the De Carolis kidnapping.

Caption 61, Il Commissario Manara S2EP10 -La verità nascosta - Part 7

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In English we often say, "I suppose so," "I think so," "I guess so," etc. It's important to keep in mind that in Italian, this "so" is expressed with di sì. We translated immagino di sì with "I imagine so," but it could also have  been "I guess so" or "I think so."

Ma, quindi, Grazia faceva la modella? Immagino di sì. Casa sua era piena di foto di questo tipo, quindi immagino di sì.

But, so, Grazia was a model? I imagine so. Her house was full of photos like this, so I imagine so.

Captions 60-61, I Bastardi di Pizzofalcone EP4 Gelo - Part 5

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In Part 2, we'll focus on supporre.

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