Today we speak about verbs and expressions which are not referred to a defined subject: they are called “impersonali”.
There are 3 groups of verbs: 1. Atmospheric conditions: es. Piove = it rains; nevica = it snows; è caldo = it is hot; è freddo = it is cold. 2. It is necessary: es. Bisogna rispettare le regole. = It is necessary to respect rules. Occorre prenotare in largo anticipo. = It is necessary to book in wide advance. 3. Common opinions: Sembra che tutti fossero contenti. = It seems that everybody was happy.
Often we found the pronoun “si” in impersonal expressions: es. Negli uffici pubblici non si fuma. = In public offices smoking is prohibited.
If you wish to know more about impersonal expressions or you want to do some exercises, do not hesitate to get in touch with me.