Log inSign up

I miei genitori litigano spesso e ora si separano.

I miei genitori litigano spesso e ora si separano.
My parents argue often and now they are separating.
From Lesson 159:Reciprocal verbs (ci, vi, si)·Italian

Questions & Answers about I miei genitori litigano spesso e ora si separano.

Why is there a si before separano?
The pronoun si makes the verb reciprocal. It shows that the parents are doing the action to each other, meaning they are separating from one another. Without si, the verb separano just means they are separating something else (like sorting laundry), which would require a direct object.
Does litigano mean they are taking legal action, like litigating?
No, litigare is a common false friend. It simply means to argue or to fight verbally. If they were actually going to court, you would use a phrase like fare causa.
I thought we drop the article for family members. Why is it i miei genitori and not just miei genitori?
You only drop the definite article for singular close family members, like mio padre or mia sorella. Because genitori (parents) is plural, you must keep the article i.
Why does spesso come after the verb instead of before it?
In Italian, adverbs of frequency like spesso (often) and sempre (always) usually go immediately after the verb. While in English you might say they often argue, Italian naturally orders it as litigano spesso.

Learn I miei genitori litigano spesso e ora si separano and more in Italian

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.

  • ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
  • ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
  • ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free
Start learning Italian →