Dopo le faccende, mi siedo comodamente sul divano.

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Breakdown of Dopo le faccende, mi siedo comodamente sul divano.

• su: on
• sedersi: to sit
• dopo: after

Questions & Answers about Dopo le faccende, mi siedo comodamente sul divano.

Why is the clitic pronoun mi used in mi siedo?

Because sedersi is a reflexive verb meaning “to sit down” (a change of position). The reflexive pronoun (mi, ti, si, ci, vi, si) shows the subject acts on themself. So you need mi: mi siedo = “I sit down.” Without it, you’re using a different verb, sedere, which describes the state of being seated rather than the act of sitting down.

Can I say siedo instead of mi siedo here?

You can, but it changes the meaning and feel:

• Mi siedo (sul divano) = I sit down (now/then).
• Siedo (sul divano) = I am seated/I sit (state or habitual), and in everyday Italian it sounds a bit literary. For the state, people more often say sono seduto/a sul divano.

How do you conjugate sedersi in the present, and how do you tell someone to sit?

Present indicative:

• mi siedo, ti siedi, si siede, ci sediamo, vi sedete, si siedono

Imperative (common forms):

• Informal to one person: siediti
• Formal to one person: si sieda
• To a group: sedetevi Past participle agrees with gender/number and takes essere: mi sono seduto / mi sono seduta.