The pattern
Si + verb (always lui/lei form) = "you / one / people / we" in general.
Asking what's allowed
| Si può fare il bagno qui? | Is swimming allowed here? |
| Si può parcheggiare qui? | Is parking allowed here? |
| Si può pagare con la carta? | Can you pay by card? |
| Si può fumare qui? | Is smoking allowed here? |
Bonus
| Come si dice "___" in italiano? | How do you say "___" in Italian? |
Si passivante: the one-question test
Is there a direct object right after the verb? No → si impersonale, verb stays singular. Yes → si passivante, verb agrees with that object.
| Si affitta. | For rent. (one unit — singular object implied) |
| Si affittano. | For rent. (multiple units — plural object implied) |
| Si vende casa. | House for sale. (singular) |
| Si vendono case. | Houses for sale. (plural) |
Two named exceptions
- Adjective after si impersonale still goes masculine plural: "Quando si è stanchi..." (verb singular, adjective plural).
- Si + reflexive verb → ci si, not si si: "Ci si alza presto."
"Si parla italiano" is actually si passivante (parlare is transitive, italiano is its singular object) — not si impersonale, even though it's often taught loosely that way.