comportarci

Comportarci is the Italian pronominal infinitive of the verb comportarsi, meaning to behave oneself. The form is used when the subject performing the action includes the speaker or a group that includes the speaker. It is formed by attaching the clitic pronoun ci to the infinitive, yielding comportarci. In everyday use, it denotes conduct or behavior within social or moral expectations.

Grammar and usage

Comportarsi is a regular -are verb with reflexive pronouns. The present tense forms are: io mi comporto, tu ti comporti, lui/lei si comporta, noi ci comportiamo, voi vi comportate, loro si comportano. The infinitive with the pronoun is esercised after verbs of necessity or intention: Dobbiamo comportarci bene; Voglio comportarmi correttamente. The past tense commonly uses essere: ci siamo comportati (masc.), ci siamo comportate (fem.). Subjunctive: che io mi comporti, che noi ci comportiamo, etc. Imperfect: mi comportavo, ti comportavi, si comportava, ci comportavamo, vi comportavate, si comportavano.

Meaning and scope

While primarily meaning to behave oneself, comportarsi can also convey broader conduct in social contexts, such as professional settings, classrooms, or public behavior. It contrasts with the non-pronominal form comportare, which means to bear, to involve, or to entail, and is not used reflexively in the same way.

Related terms

Related nouns include comportamento (behavior) and buone abitudini, referring to general conduct. The phrase comportarsi bene or comportarsi male is common to indicate proper or improper behavior.

Notes

Comportarci emphasizes the actor’s own conduct within a group, and the pronominal form is essential when specifying the speaker’s or group’s behavior.