UNIT TWENTY-ONE
The imperative
1 The imperative is used, in Italian as in English, to express orders, com-
mands or strong requests:
As well as orders and requests, the imperative can also be used to express
wishes, invitations, encouragement and advice:
Forms of the imperative
2 Regular verbs in -are, -ere and -ire are conjugated as follows:
Guarda!
Entrate!
Chiedi a tuo padre.
Venga domani, Signora!
Andiamo!
Dammi il libro.Look!
Come in!
Ask your father.
Come tomorrow, Madam!
Let’s go!
Give me the book.Passa delle buone vacanze.
Ti ascolto: dimmi tutto.
Non ti preoccupare.
Hai l’aria stanca: vai a letto!Have a good holiday.
I’m listening to you: tell me everything.
Don’t worry.
You look tired: go to bed!(tu)
(Lei)
(noi)
(voi)
(Loro)Parlare
parla
parli
parliamo
parlate
parlinoTo speak
speak
speak
let us speak
speak
speak