Breakdown of Si devono indossare scarpe pulite; è obbligatorio.
essere
to be
pulito
clean
la scarpa
the shoe
dovere
must
si
one (impersonal)
indossare
to put on
obbligatorio
mandatory
Questions & Answers about Si devono indossare scarpe pulite; è obbligatorio.
Why is the verb devono in the plural form when si is usually treated like a singular subject?
This is the si passivante (passive si). In this structure, the verb agrees with the noun receiving the action, which acts as the grammatical subject. Since scarpe pulite (clean shoes) is plural, the modal verb dovere must be the plural devono.
Where does the si go when using a modal verb like dovere?
Just like with reflexive pronouns, you have two choices. You can place the si before the conjugated modal verb (Si devono indossare), which is the most common and natural choice. Alternatively, you can drop the final -e of the infinitive and attach it there (Devono indossarsi), though this sounds a bit more formal.
If scarpe pulite is feminine plural, why does the sentence end with obbligatorio (masculine singular)?
Could I use mettere instead of indossare here?
Yes, but indossare is slightly more formal and specifically means to wear or put on clothing. This makes it perfect for official signs or rules. Mettere (or mettersi) is the more everyday, casual way to talk about putting on clothes.
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