The imperative mood is an essential aspect of Italian grammar, particularly for those who want to give commands, offer advice, or make requests. Understanding how to use the imperative mood correctly can enhance your ability to communicate effectively in Italian. In this article, we’ll delve into the imperative mood of regular verbs in Italian grammar, exploring its forms, uses, and nuances. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to polish your Italian, this comprehensive guide will provide you with the tools you need.
What is the Imperative Mood?
The imperative mood is used to give commands, instructions, advice, or requests. It is direct and often requires a response or action from the listener. In English, examples of the imperative mood include phrases like “Close the door,” “Please sit down,” or “Listen to me.” In Italian, the structure and use of the imperative mood vary slightly, but the core purpose remains the same.
Forms of the Imperative Mood in Italian
Italian verbs are divided into three conjugations based on the endings of their infinitive forms: -are, -ere, and -ire. The imperative forms for these conjugations differ, and it’s crucial to learn them to use the imperative mood correctly.
Imperative for -are Verbs
Let’s take the regular verb “parlare” (to speak) as an example.
– **Tu (you, singular informal):** parla (speak)
– **Lei (you, singular formal):** parli (speak)
– **Noi (we):** parliamo (let’s speak)
– **Voi (you, plural informal and formal):** parlate (speak)
– **Loro (you, plural formal):** parlino (speak)
Examples:
– Tu parla con lui. (You, speak to him.)
– Lei parli più forte, per favore. (You, speak louder, please.)
– Parliamo domani. (Let’s speak tomorrow.)
– Voi parlate piano. (You all speak quietly.)
– Loro parlino tra di loro. (You all speak among yourselves.)
Imperative for -ere Verbs
Now, let’s look at the regular verb “leggere” (to read).
– **Tu (you, singular informal):** leggi (read)
– **Lei (you, singular formal):** legga (read)
– **Noi (we):** leggiamo (let’s read)
– **Voi (you, plural informal and formal):** leggete (read)
– **Loro (you, plural formal):** leggano (read)
Examples:
– Tu leggi questo libro. (You, read this book.)
– Lei legga il giornale. (You, read the newspaper.)
– Leggiamo insieme. (Let’s read together.)
– Voi leggete attentamente. (You all read carefully.)
– Loro leggano le istruzioni. (You all read the instructions.)
Imperative for -ire Verbs
Finally, let’s examine the regular verb “dormire” (to sleep).
– **Tu (you, singular informal):** dormi (sleep)
– **Lei (you, singular formal):** dorma (sleep)
– **Noi (we):** dormiamo (let’s sleep)
– **Voi (you, plural informal and formal):** dormite (sleep)
– **Loro (you, plural formal):** dormano (sleep)
Examples:
– Tu dormi bene. (You, sleep well.)
– Lei dorma tranquilla. (You, sleep peacefully.)
– Dormiamo un po’. (Let’s sleep a little.)
– Voi dormite presto. (You all sleep early.)
– Loro dormano nella stanza accanto. (You all sleep in the next room.)
Negative Imperative Forms
The negative imperative forms are used to tell someone not to do something. In Italian, the negative imperative for the second person singular (tu) is formed using “non” followed by the infinitive verb. For all other forms, “non” is placed before the imperative form.
Negative Imperative for -are Verbs
Using “parlare” again as our example:
– **Tu (you, singular informal):** non parlare (do not speak)
– **Lei (you, singular formal):** non parli (do not speak)
– **Noi (we):** non parliamo (let’s not speak)
– **Voi (you, plural informal and formal):** non parlate (do not speak)
– **Loro (you, plural formal):** non parlino (do not speak)
Examples:
– Tu non parlare adesso. (You, do not speak now.)
– Lei non parli così forte. (You, do not speak so loudly.)
– Non parliamo di questo. (Let’s not speak about this.)
– Voi non parlate tutti insieme. (You all do not speak all at once.)
– Loro non parlino durante la lezione. (You all do not speak during the lesson.)
Negative Imperative for -ere Verbs
Using “leggere” as our example:
– **Tu (you, singular informal):** non leggere (do not read)
– **Lei (you, singular formal):** non legga (do not read)
– **Noi (we):** non leggiamo (let’s not read)
– **Voi (you, plural informal and formal):** non leggete (do not read)
– **Loro (you, plural formal):** non leggano (do not read)
Examples:
– Tu non leggere quel libro. (You, do not read that book.)
– Lei non legga il mio diario. (You, do not read my diary.)
– Non leggiamo queste lettere. (Let’s not read these letters.)
– Voi non leggete durante il film. (You all do not read during the movie.)
– Loro non leggano i documenti riservati. (You all do not read the confidential documents.)
Negative Imperative for -ire Verbs
Using “dormire” as our example:
– **Tu (you, singular informal):** non dormire (do not sleep)
– **Lei (you, singular formal):** non dorma (do not sleep)
– **Noi (we):** non dormiamo (let’s not sleep)
– **Voi (you, plural informal and formal):** non dormite (do not sleep)
– **Loro (you, plural formal):** non dormano (do not sleep)
Examples:
– Tu non dormire sul divano. (You, do not sleep on the couch.)
– Lei non dorma in ufficio. (You, do not sleep in the office.)
– Non dormiamo troppo. (Let’s not sleep too much.)
– Voi non dormite durante la lezione. (You all do not sleep during the class.)
– Loro non dormano prima di cena. (You all do not sleep before dinner.)
Imperative with Reflexive Verbs
Reflexive verbs in Italian require the reflexive pronoun to agree with the subject. When using the imperative mood with reflexive verbs, the pronoun is attached to the end of the verb in the affirmative form and precedes the verb in the negative form.
Examples with Reflexive Verbs
Let’s use the reflexive verb “lavarsi” (to wash oneself).
– **Affirmative:**
– **Tu (you, singular informal):** lavati (wash yourself)
– **Lei (you, singular formal):** si lavi (wash yourself)
– **Noi (we):** laviamoci (let’s wash ourselves)
– **Voi (you, plural informal and formal):** lavatevi (wash yourselves)
– **Loro (you, plural formal):** si lavino (wash yourselves)
Examples:
– Tu lavati le mani. (You, wash your hands.)
– Lei si lavi il viso. (You, wash your face.)
– Laviamoci prima di cena. (Let’s wash ourselves before dinner.)
– Voi lavatevi i denti. (You all wash your teeth.)
– Loro si lavino bene. (You all wash yourselves well.)
– **Negative:**
– **Tu (you, singular informal):** non lavarti (do not wash yourself)
– **Lei (you, singular formal):** non si lavi (do not wash yourself)
– **Noi (we):** non laviamoci (let’s not wash ourselves)
– **Voi (you, plural informal and formal):** non lavatevi (do not wash yourselves)
– **Loro (you, plural formal):** non si lavino (do not wash yourselves)
Examples:
– Tu non lavarti le mani. (You, do not wash your hands.)
– Lei non si lavi il viso. (You, do not wash your face.)
– Non laviamoci prima di cena. (Let’s not wash ourselves before dinner.)
– Voi non lavatevi i denti. (You all do not wash your teeth.)
– Loro non si lavino bene. (You all do not wash yourselves well.)
Common Irregularities and Special Cases
While the focus of this article is on regular verbs, it’s important to note some common irregularities and special cases in the imperative mood.
Irregular Verbs
Some common verbs like “essere” (to be) and “avere” (to have) have irregular imperative forms.
– **Essere (to be):**
– **Tu:** sii (be)
– **Lei:** sia (be)
– **Noi:** siamo (let’s be)
– **Voi:** siate (be)
– **Loro:** siano (be)
Examples:
– Tu sii paziente. (You, be patient.)
– Lei sia gentile. (You, be kind.)
– Siamo pronti. (Let’s be ready.)
– Voi siate puntuali. (You all be punctual.)
– Loro siano rispettosi. (You all be respectful.)
– **Avere (to have):**
– **Tu:** abbi (have)
– **Lei:** abbia (have)
– **Noi:** abbiamo (let’s have)
– **Voi:** abbiate (have)
– **Loro:** abbiano (have)
Examples:
– Tu abbi cura di te. (You, take care of yourself.)
– Lei abbia pazienza. (You, have patience.)
– Abbiamo fiducia. (Let’s have faith.)
– Voi abbiate coraggio. (You all have courage.)
– Loro abbiano rispetto. (You all have respect.)
Special Cases: “Andare,” “Fare,” “Dire,” and “Dare”
These verbs also have unique imperative forms.
– **Andare (to go):**
– **Tu:** vai (or va’) (go)
– **Lei:** vada (go)
– **Noi:** andiamo (let’s go)
– **Voi:** andate (go)
– **Loro:** vadano (go)
Examples:
– Tu vai a casa. (You, go home.)
– Lei vada in ufficio. (You, go to the office.)
– Andiamo al cinema. (Let’s go to the cinema.)
– Voi andate subito. (You all go immediately.)
– Loro vadano alla riunione. (You all go to the meeting.)
– **Fare (to do/make):**
– **Tu:** fai (or fa’) (do/make)
– **Lei:** faccia (do/make)
– **Noi:** facciamo (let’s do/make)
– **Voi:** fate (do/make)
– **Loro:** facciano (do/make)
Examples:
– Tu fai attenzione. (You, pay attention.)
– Lei faccia silenzio. (You, be quiet.)
– Facciamo una pausa. (Let’s take a break.)
– Voi fate i compiti. (You all do your homework.)
– Loro facciano quello che vogliono. (You all do whatever you want.)
– **Dire (to say):**
– **Tu:** di’ (say)
– **Lei:** dica (say)
– **Noi:** diciamo (let’s say)
– **Voi:** dite (say)
– **Loro:** dicano (say)
Examples:
– Tu di’ la verità. (You, tell the truth.)
– Lei dica il suo nome. (You, say your name.)
– Diciamo grazie. (Let’s say thank you.)
– Voi dite tutto. (You all say everything.)
– Loro dicano quello che pensano. (You all say what you think.)
– **Dare (to give):**
– **Tu:** dai (or da’) (give)
– **Lei:** dia (give)
– **Noi:** diamo (let’s give)
– **Voi:** date (give)
– **Loro:** diano (give)
Examples:
– Tu dai una mano. (You, give a hand.)
– Lei dia un consiglio. (You, give advice.)
– Diamo il benvenuto. (Let’s give a welcome.)
– Voi date retta. (You all pay attention.)
– Loro diano il loro contributo. (You all give your contribution.)
Using the Imperative in Everyday Situations
Knowing how to use the imperative mood in Italian can greatly enhance your communication skills in a variety of everyday situations. Here are a few examples of how you might use the imperative mood in different contexts:
At a Restaurant
– **Ordering Food:**
– Cameriere, porti il menu, per favore. (Waiter, bring the menu, please.)
– Tu prendi la pizza. (You, take the pizza.)
– **Giving Instructions:**
– Non mangiate troppo velocemente. (You all do not eat too quickly.)
– Assaggi il vino. (You, taste the wine.)
In a Classroom
– **Teacher to Students:**
– Ragazzi, aprite i libri. (Students, open your books.)
– Non parlate tra di voi. (You all do not talk among yourselves.)
– **Students to Each Other:**
– Studiamo insieme. (Let’s study together.)
– Dammi la penna. (You, give me the pen.)
During Travel
– **Giving Directions:**
– Vai dritto. (You, go straight.)
– Giri a sinistra. (You, turn left.)
– **Requesting Assistance:**
– Mi aiuti, per favore. (You, help me, please.)
– Aspettate un momento. (You all wait a moment.)
Conclusion
Mastering the imperative mood of regular verbs in Italian is a fundamental step in your language learning journey. By understanding the different forms and their uses, you can effectively give commands, offer advice, and make requests in various situations. Remember to practice regularly and immerse yourself in conversations to become more comfortable with using the imperative mood. Buona fortuna! (Good luck!)
