Imperative

The imperative mood is used to give orders. Read the examples below.

Prendi la prima a destra. singular familiar address

Take the fist (street) to the right.

Giri all'angolo. singular formal address

Turn at the corner.

Prendete la seconda a sinistra. plural formal/familiar address

You( plural) take the second (street) on the left.

The imperative is used to give orders, advice, to tell people what to do.

NB: The imperative forms of tu, voi and noi are the same as the present forms, with one
exception: the tu form of verbs ending in -are, which ends in -a.

tu forms parlare parla! speak!

scrivere scrivi! write!
dormire dormi! sleep!
finire finisci! finish!

noi forms parlare parliamo! lets’ speak!

scrivere scriviamo! let’s write!
dormire dormiamo! lets’ sleep!
finire finiamo! let’s finish!

voi forms parlare parlate! speak!

scrivere scrivete! write!
dormire dormite! sleep!
finire finite! finish!

Study the following examples.

Mangia la minestra! Eat your soup!

Spendi poco! Don’t spend too much!
Vieni qui! Come here!
Finisci subito! Finish immediately!
Impariamo l’italiano! Let’s learn Italian!
Ragazzi, ascoltate! Boys and girls, listen!
The imperative polite (Lei) form

The polite form of the imperative is used extensively. For instance, you use the polite form
when giving street directions to one person, when you tell a shop assistant what you want,
when you make a request in a restaurant or cafe. Or any other public place or simply in your
interactions with people outside your circle of friends and relatives.

Lei forms parlare Parli! Speak!

scrivere Scriva! Write!
dormire Dorma! Sleep!
finire Finisca! Finish!

Remember:

Scusi! (Excuse me!) is formal scusare to excuse

Scusa! (Excuse me!) is familiar

 This is a list of the most common verbs you are likely to use with the imperative in the Lei
(formal) form.

vada
andare go Vada a destra! Go to the right!

fare faccia do/make Faccia attenzione! Pay attention!

Give me 100 grams of

dare dia give Mi dia un etto di prosciutto!
prosciutto!

Can I help you?

dire dica say/speak Buongiorno, dica!
(literally: Speak!)

girare giri turn Giri a sinistral! Turn left!

prendere prenda take Prenda la prima a destra! Take the first to the right!

scendere scenda get off Scenda alla prossima fermata! Get off at the next stop!

Keep calm!
stare stia be/stay Stia tranquillo!
Do not worry!

venire venga come Venga domani! Come tomorrow!

Some irregular imperatives

The following verbs have irregular tu forms of the imperative.

Study the imperative tu forms below.

Va’ avanti!
andare va’
Go ahead!

Da’ pure a me!

dare da’
Give (it/them) to me!

Fa’ pure!
fare fa’
Go ahead, do it!

Sta’ fermo!
stare sta’
Keep still!

Di’ la verità!
dire di’
Tell the truth!

When pronouns are attached at the end of these irregular imperatives, the first letter of the pronoun is
doubled (gli is the exception).

Valle incontro! Go and meet her!

Dallo a lui, per favore! Give it to him, please.
Fammi un favore. Do me a favour.
Stacci a sentire. Listen to us.
Digli che siamo qui. Tell him that we are here.
The negative imperative

NON SUONARE LA TROMBA!

When you tell a person in the familiar (tu) form not to do something, you use non and the
infinitive of the verb.
e.g. Alberto, non fare tanto rumore!
Alberto, don’t make so much noise!

In the polite (Lei) form, you just use non and the imperative form of the verb.
e.g. Non faccia complimenti!
Don’t stand on ceremonies! / Go right ahead!

In the noi and voi forms of the verb, the negative is also formed in the normal way, with non
and the imperative of the verb.
e.g. Non fate gli stupidi!
Don't be stupid!
The imperative of reflexive verbs

When using a reflexive verb the reflexive pronoun is attached to the end of the verb,
except in the polite (Lei) form where it goes before the verb.

Study the following examples.

Ciao, Carla, accomodati.

Hello, Carla, come in.
accomodarsi
Prego, Signora, si accomodi.
Please, madam, come in.

Antonio, fermati qui.

Antonio, stop here.
fermarsi
Per favore, si fermi qui.
Please, stop here.

Non preoccuparti, mamma, torno presto.

Do not worry, mum, I’ll be back early.
preoccuparsi
Non si preoccupi, Signore, tra poco è pronto.
Do not worry, sir, it will be ready soon.

Presto, ragazzi, svegliatevi!

Hurry up, boys and girls, wake up!
svegliarsi
Signore, si svegli, sono le sette.
Sir, wake up, it is seven o’clock.

Alziamoci, è ora di andare.

Let’s get up, it is time to go.
alzarsi
Si alzi, prego, questo posto è occupato.
Get up, please, this place is taken.

Divertitevi, ragazzi!
Have a good time, boys and girls.
divertirsi
Si diverta, Signora, questa sera a teatro.
Have a good time at the theatre this evening, madam.
The imperative with pronouns

We have seen that the following direct and indirect object pronouns normally come before
the conjugated verb and after the infinitive.

mi ti ci vi

lo la li le

gli le ne

Examples:

Lo facciamo o no?
Shall we do it or not?
Voglio vederti.
I want to see you.

Please note:
• In the imperative tu, noi and voi forms these pronouns are always attached to end of the
verb.
e.g. Per favore, prendilo tu!
Please do it!

• In the polite (Lei) form, the pronouns go before the verb.

e.g. Per favore, lo prenda Lei!
Please do it!