The Italian reflexive has many different functions, some of which are not paralleled in English. Reflexive verbs always take the auxiliary essere, except in the case mentioned in section 24.1. The reflexive pronoun is omitted when the reflexive verb is an infinitive depending on fare or lasciare, e.g.:

Lo hanno fatto pentire (not pentirsi) delle sue parole.

They made him regret his words.

Direct reflexives

Most transitive verbs can be used reflexively when subject and object coincide. Direct reflexives are usually defined as taking unstressed reflexive pronouns (before the verb) and essere in compound tenses. However, they may also take stressed pronouns (cf. chapter 16): these follow the verb, and avere is used (cf. section 22.6), e.g.:

Mi sono vestito / Ho vestito i bambini (e poi me stesso).

I (got) dressed / I dressed the children (and then myself).

Indirect reflexives

The reflexive pronoun is an indirect object and expresses greater involvement in the action by the subject. This is increasingly common in R1–2. In compound tenses, the past participle agrees with the subject (or with the object, R3):