L'imperativo: parla! / non parlare! / parli!
L'imperativo: parla! / non parlare! / parli! means “Giving orders and advice; the negative tu form is non + infinitive”. For tu, -are verbs take -a (parla. Formation: tu: -a(are)/-i(ere,ire) · noi: -iamo · voi: -ate/-ete/-ite — negativo tu: non + infinito — Lei: -i(are)/-a(ere,ire)
Giving orders and advice; the negative tu form is non + infinitive
A2Formation
tu: -a(are)/-i(ere,ire) · noi: -iamo · voi: -ate/-ete/-ite — negativo tu: non + infinito — Lei: -i(are)/-a(ere,ire)
Explanation
For tu, -are verbs take -a (parla!) while -ere and -ire take -i (prendi!, senti!). Noi uses -iamo (andiamo!) and voi uses the same form as the present (parlate!). The formal Lei borrows the subjunctive and reverses the vowels: parli!, prenda!. The single most surprising rule for learners: the negative tu imperative is not the imperative at all but non + infinitive — non parlare!, non andare!, non ti preoccupare! The other persons simply add non: non parlate!. A few short irregulars must be memorised: va'/vai, da'/dai, fa'/fai, sta'/stai, di'. Pronouns attach to the end in tu/noi/voi forms (dimmi, andiamoci) but go before with Lei (mi dica).
Examples
Note
*Non parla! is a classic learner error meaning nothing — it must be non parlare!. This is unlike Spanish, which uses the subjunctive (no hables).
FAQ
L'imperativo: parla! / non parlare! / parli! — what does it mean and how is it used?
Giving orders and advice; the negative tu form is non + infinitive. For tu, -are verbs take -a (parla!) while -ere and -ire take -i (prendi!, senti!). Noi uses -iamo (andiamo!) and voi uses the same form as the present (parlate!). The formal Lei borrows the subjunctive and reverses the vowels: parli!, prenda!. The single most surprising rule for learners: the negative tu imperative is not the imperative at all but non + infinitive — non parlare!, non andare!, non ti preoccupare! The other persons simply add non: non parlate!. A few short irregulars must be memorised: va'/vai, da'/dai, fa'/fai, sta'/stai, di'. Pronouns attach to the end in tu/noi/voi forms (dimmi, andiamoci) but go before with Lei (mi dica).
L'imperativo: parla! / non parlare! / parli! — how do you form it?
tu: -a(are)/-i(ere,ire) · noi: -iamo · voi: -ate/-ete/-ite — negativo tu: non + infinito — Lei: -i(are)/-a(ere,ire)
L'imperativo: parla! / non parlare! / parli! — any usage notes?
*Non parla! is a classic learner error meaning nothing — it must be non parlare!. This is unlike Spanish, which uses the subjunctive (no hables).