Italian Reflexive Verbs & the Past Tense

Si sono baciati subito. È stato un colpo di fulmine.

You’ve learned how to conjugate reflexive verbs in the present tense (you clever student, you) and now you’re ready to tackle the past tense.

Which, lucky for you, won’t be so complicated since you’ve got the fundamentals down. 

BUT, before we get started, I must be honest and tell you that reflexive verbs aren’t the only ones you’re learning about today. There are actually two types here -- reciprocal and reflexive verbs. 

Reflexive verbs are actions that you do to yourself, like “divertirsi,” which means “ to have fun.” 

Reciprocal verbs are verbs that require some kind of reciprocal action, like “we met each other,” which can be translated as “incontrarsi.” 

The latter is typically lumped into the same camp as the former, which is fair because they’re structured the same way in the past tense. 

Ooookay, I hear you. Enough grammar explanation. How is this stuff done?

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