Italian Grammar Bank
ITALIAN IMPERATIVE FORM
The imperative is a verbal mode frequently used to give commands, orders and directions.
It can also be used to give friendly advice and suggestions.
HOW TO FORM IMPERATIVES
With the 2nd person, both singular and plural, the imperative in Italian follows the same conjugation of the present indicative, without personal pronouns:
The only difference takes place with the second person singular of verbs in -are (1st conjugation), where we use the following pattern:
PATTERN
Verb root + A
Let’s look at the complete conjugation of the imperative in the table below:
| Person | 1st CONJUGATION (Cantare) | 2nd CONJUGATION (Correre) | 3rd CONJUGATION (Salire) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd Singular (Tu) | canta | corri | sali |
| 2nd Plural (Voi) | cantate | correte | salite |
It’s also possible to form the imperative with the 1st person plural (noi) and with the formal pronoun lei, we use the present subjunctive (congiuntivo presente).
This is called “congiuntivo esortativo“:
| Person | 1st CONJUGATION (Cantare) | 2nd CONJUGATION (Correre) | 3rd CONJUGATION (Salire) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Plural (Noi) | cantiamo | corriamo | saliamo |
| Formal pronoun (Lei) | canti | corra | salga |
IRREGULARITIES
In the second person singular, some verbs, besides the regular form, also have a shortened form:
| Fare | Andare | Dire | Dare | Stare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd singular (tu) | fai/fa’ | vai/va’ | di’ | dai/da’ | stai/sta’ |
Other verbs have an irregular form both in the 2nd person singular and plural:
| Essere | Avere | Sapere | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd singular (tu) | sii | abbi | sappi |
| 2nd plural (voi) | siate | abbiate | sappiate |
THE NEGATIVE FORM
For the personal pronouns lei, voi, and noi, the negative imperative follows this structure:
PATTERN
(lei / voi / noi) + non + imperative
| Non perdete tempo! | Don’t waste time! |
| Non perdiamo tempo! | Let’s not waste time! |
| Non perda tempo. | Don’t waste time. |
For the personal pronoun tu, we follow this structure:
PATTERN
(tu) + non + infinitive
| Non perdere tempo. | Don’t waste time. |
IMPERATIVE & PRONOMINAL PARTICLES
For reflexive verbs, with the 2nd person both singular and plural (tu/voi) and with the 1st person plural (noi), the pronominal particle goes at the end of the verb:
| 1st CONJUGATION (Svegliarsi) | 2nd CONJUGATION (Sedersi) | 3rd CONJUGATION (Vestirsi) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd singular (tu) | svegliati | siediti | vestiti |
| 1st plural (noi) | svegliamoci | sediamoci | vestiamoci |
| 2nd plural (voi) | svegliatevi | sedetevi | vestitevi |
This doesn’t happen with the formal “lei” and its particle “si”.
| Formal Imperative (Lei) | English |
|---|---|
| Si svegli | Wake up |
| Si sieda | Sit |
| Si vesta | Get dressed |
Pronominal particles serving as objects are added at the end of the verbs, and they form a single word:
| Aprila! | Open it! |
| Lasciami in pace! | Leave me alone! |
| Chiamateli! | Call them! |
| Non farlo!/Non lo fare! | Don’t do it! |
The imperative is one of the most used verbal tenses. You’ll find it very often in songs and recipes. Some examples:
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FAQs
What is the imperative used for?
The imperative is a verbal mode primarily used to give commands, orders, and directions. It can also be employed to offer friendly advice and suggestions.
Where can imperatives be commonly found?
Imperatives are commonly used in various contexts such as in songs, recipes, and instructional guides, but also in everyday conversations, to give advice.
Are imperatives different based on politeness or formality?
Yes, imperatives can vary based on politeness or formality, particularly with the use of the formal pronoun “lei”, which employs the present subjunctive.
How do you form negative imperatives?
For personal pronouns “lei”, “voi”, and “noi”, the negative imperative is formed by placing “non” before the imperative.
For “tu”, “non” is placed before the infinitive form of the verb.
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