3.1. Imperative
Imperative mood/Command forms
Imperatives
The imperative mood of a verb is also frequently referred to as the “command” form of a verb. The uses of the imperativo, therefore, are quite easy to imagine: when you are ordering/commanding someone to do something or when you are trying to get someone’s attention. E.g.,
Mangia tutto il panino!
Eat the whole sandwich!
Scusi, signora, mi può dire dov’è l’ufficio postale?
Excuse me, Ma’am, could you tell me where the post office is?
Forms of the imperativo informale
The informal imperative, imperativo informale, (across the tu, noi, voi forms) has only one deviation from the present indicative, that one deviation is the tu form of –are verbs:
Examples,
Guarda quei ragazzi! Look at those kids!
Siamo in ritardo, andiamo! We’re late, let’s go!
Apri la porta. Open the door.
Imperativo informale with reflexive verbs
If you are using the imperativo informale with a reflexive verb, the reflexive pronoun follows the verb and is attached to it.
With negative commands for a reflexive verb using the tu form, you have two options:
1. you can cut off the final –e from the infinitive before adding the pronoun ti;
2. you can place the pronoun ti before the infinitive.
Forms of the imperativo formale
The formal imperative, imperativo formale, (across the Lei and loro forms) has the following forms:
Examples,
Aspetti qui, signore. Wait here, sir.
Entrino pure, signori. Please enter, gentlemen.
Attenzione! All forms of the 3rd person imperative (imperativo formale) are identical to the corresponding singular forms of the present subjunctive (see Section 3.4.1). This a very useful association to remember.
Irregular imperatives
The irregular forms of the imperativo for frequently used verbs are detailed in the chart below. As you can see, the noi forms are always regular. There are other forms in the chart below that conform to the regular rules of the imperativo (e.g., the tu form of venire and tenere; the voi form of dire, fare, venire, tenere, dare, andare) but in order to be thorough we have included the complete charts.
* Note that fare, stare, dare, andare have two possible forms for the tu imperative
Examples from the irregular imperativi presented above:
Sii brava! Be good!
Abbiate pazienza! Have patience!
Sappi che mi manchi! Know that I miss you!
Di’ la verità! Tell the truth!
Negative imperatives
For all forms of the negative imperative (except the tu form), you simply put non in front of the appropriate form of the imperativo. E.g.,
Non apra quella finestra, signorina. Don’t open that window, miss.
Non diciamo niente a Luisa. Let’s not say anything to Luisa.
To create the negative imperative for tu, put non in front of the infinitive. (We saw this above in regards to imperative informale with reflexive verbs.) E.g.,
Non andare domani. = Don’t go tomorrow.
Non fumare più. = Don’t smoke anymore.
Pronoun placement with informal imperatives
Pronouns are attached to the end of an (affirmative) informal imperative. The following examples feature reflexive, direct object, indirect object, and combined pronouns:
Alzati! = Get up!
Bevetelo. = Drink it.
Scrivile. = Write her.
Mandiamoglielo. = Let’s send it to him.
Five verbs (stare, fare, dare, dire, andare) will double the first consonant of the direct object pronoun if you use their imperative forms sta’, fa’, da’, di’, va’:
Negative informal imperatives can have the pronoun in front of the infinitive, or attached to the end of the infinitive, after eliminating the final -e of the infinitive. For example:
Non la chiamare/non chiamarla. = Don’t call her.
Non li mangiare/Non mangiarli. = Don’t eat them.
Non gli telefonare/non telefonargli.
Don’t call him (or “Don’t call them”)
Pronoun placement with formal imperatives
Pronouns will always precede the formal imperative, for both affirmative and negative commands. This applies to all types of pronouns (reflexive, direct object, indirect object, combined).
Si vesta! = Get dressed!
Mi guardino! = Look at me!
Non gli telefoni. = Don’t call him/them.
Glielo mandi = Send it to him/them.