In this episode of Coffee Break Italian, Mark and Francesca introduce a new grammar point: the very useful si impersonale or “impersonal si”. We learn how the word si can be used as a generic subject in order to avoid specific reference to a person or group of people. We also learn how to form this impersonal structure with different tenses, provided the verb is in the third person singular form. We then hear this grammar point during a conversation between Elena, a teacher of English, and her friends Alberto and Cinzia. Listen out for some useful phrases such as: dare una mano, fare due passi and roba da matti!
If you'd like to take advantage of bonus materials, lesson notes and a translation challenge, you can access the full Coffee Break Italian Season 3 course on the Coffee Break Academy.