Lesson 34 of 40 · win the Rule Writer badge
Qui si mangia bene — il si impersonale
The si impersonale: talking about 'people in general'
Welcome to the sign-making factory. No naming names — just say what 'one' does, the impersonal Italian way.
🎯 By the end you can…
- Make general statements without naming who does the action
- Use si + verb for customs and rules
- Understand recipes and signs written with si
🎬 Listen to the scene
Tap a line to hear it, then say it back louder than Luna barks.
How do you say 'thank you' in Italian?
You say 'grazie'. In Italy people eat a lot of pasta.
And at your house, do you always eat at eight?
Yes, and you're never supposed to feed Luna under the table... even though we always do.
🔑 Building the si impersonale
| Structure | Example |
|---|---|
| si + verb (singular object) | Si mangia bene qui. — People eat well here. |
| si + verb (plural object) | Si vendono i biglietti qui. — Tickets are sold here. |
| negative | Non si fuma. — No smoking (one doesn't smoke). |
Adam's tip: The verb becomes plural if what follows is plural: si vende UN libro but si vendono DUE libri.
🧩 Where you'll meet it
- Recipes: si aggiunge il sale, si cuoce per dieci minuti
- Signs and rules: si prega di non toccare
- Everyday chat: Come si fa? Come si scrive?
🤯 Wow fact
Si mangia bene qui — nobody specific is eating, it's just 'the general people of this restaurant.' Handy for polite complaining!
🗣️ Say it fast, say it silly
Qui si mangia, si dorme, si gioca sempre!
Three times in a row without tripping = you win.
🧠 Puzzle time
Answer in your head first, then tap to check. 0 of 6 checked
Complete with si + the verb.
Correct the mistake.
😂 Barzelletta — Luna's joke
Cosa non si fa mai a casa di Luna?
🚀 Your mission today
Write three rules for your house using si, and read them out to your family.
🎲 Play it with someone
House rules with si
Each student writes three household rules using si: «In questa casa non si urla, si rispettano gli animali.»
Recipe relay
In pairs, write a silly three-step recipe for 'Luna's dream dinner' using si + verb for each step.
For teachers & grown-ups
A fun bridge into real Italian recipe language, useful for cooking-themed lessons later.
🧪 End-of-lesson quiz
Eight quick questions. Get 6 right to win the Rule Writer badge.
This lesson belongs to Unit 12 — Comparing and instructing. Pass every quiz in the unit — and know 1750 words — to be promoted to the next level.
💪 Keep the streak going
- Flashcards, Set 40 — food and cooking
- Write three rules for your own house using si
Word sets for this lesson
