How to Learn Imperative in Italian
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
The goal of this article is not to substitute a serious course in Italian language. But to make interested people ready for such an endeavour. One of the first things you might need in a foreign language is to ask them to do something for you. This is a basic "How to" for that.
Steps
- Go to wikiHow article How to Pronounce Italian Words
- Note that each Italian verb has for modes,
- Infinitive (infinito).
- Gerund (gerundio).
- Present Participle (participio presente).
- Past Participle (participio passato).
- Note that imperative usually addresses the second person (singular or plural). In Italian it could mean to address a third person (for instance, he should leave). Also it can be addressed to first person plural (that is, let' s leave, as an example).
- Recognise that Italian verbs in infinitive forms terminate to these endings
- are : Example, parlare (to talk)
- They are called -are verbs.
- ere : Example, vedere (to see)
- They are called -ere verbs.
- ire : Example, capire (to understand)
- They are called -ire verbs.
- are : Example, parlare (to talk)
- Recognise stem. When you drop an ending from a verb what that remains is said to be the stem of that verb. Hence, parl-, ved-, and cap- are stems of three mentioned example.
- Know division of Italian verbs into regular and irregular.
- You cannot recognise irregular verbs from their stems or their endings.
- Irregular verbs does not follow certain grammar rules to build different tenses, and participle out of them. They should be memorised and practiced until become skilled in using them.
- For example, avere (to have) changes to ho when you want to say, "I have" without any connection to its stem, av.
- In contrast, parlare (to talk) becomes parlo (I talk) according to general rule to drop are and add o to stem to make the first person present tense. You can recognise that stem has been kept as it is in the infinitive.
- Use polite imperative. Most of the time the polite form of imperative is used. A foreigner must always uses the polite form until becomes fully fluent in Italian.
- Learn imperative for regular verbs.
- Learn imperative for -are verbs.
- Singular : drop ending add i. Example : parli
- Plural : drop ending add ino. Example : parlino
- Learn imperative for -ere verbs.
- Singular : drop ending add a. Example : rida
- Plural : drop ending add ano. Example : ridano
- Learn imperative for -ire verbs.
- Singular : drop ending add a. Example : parta
- Plural : drop ending add ano. Example : partano
- Learn imperative for certain -ire verbs.
- Singular : drop ending add isc then add a. Example : capisca
- Plural : drop ending add isc then add ano. Example : capiscano
- Learn imperative for -are verbs.
Nonpolite Forms of Imperative
- Note that non-polite forms of second persons addressed by the "imperative" are tu (singular you) and voi (plural you).
- Learn imperative for regular verbs.
- Learn imperative for -are verbs.
- Singular : drop ending add a. Example : (tu) parla
- Plural : drop ending add ate. Example : (voi) parlate
- Learn imperative for -ere verbs.
- Singular : drop ending add i. Example : (tu) ridi
- Plural : drop ending add ete. Example : (voi) ridete
- Learn imperative for -ire verbs.
- Singular : drop ending add i. Example : (tu) parti
- Plural : drop ending add ite. Example : (voi) partite
- Learn imperative for certain -ire verbs.
- Singular : drop ending add isc then add i. Example : (tu) capisci
- Plural : drop ending add i then add amo. Example : (voi) capiamo
- Learn imperative for -are verbs.
Imperative First Person Plural
- Note that this is equivalent to "Let us" in english. English only adds this phrase to infinitive without to.
- Note also that this is easiest to learn. All are the same.
- Learn imperative for -are verbs.
- Drop ending add iamo. Example : (noi) parliamo
- Learn imperative for -ere verbs.
- Drop ending add iamo. Example : (noi) ridiamo
- Learn imperative for -ire verbs.
- Drop ending add iamo. Example : (noi) partiamo
- Learn imperative for -are verbs.
- Follow the same pattern even for irregular verbs. For example dare (to give) makes diamo (let us give) or avere (to have) becomes abbiamo (let's have).