Imperative - Lei - Italian

The formal imperative for "Lei" ("you") is used to politely give commands, requests, or advice.

Rules for formation:

• Use the present subjunctive
• Regular verbs ending in -are: parlare → parli
• Regular verbs ending in -ere or -ire: prendere → prenda, dormire → dorma
• Irregular verbs: fare → faccia, dire → dica, andare → vada, stare → stia, dare → dia
• Negation: Non + verb (Non parli!, Non prenda!)

Examples:

• "Parlare" (to speak) ends in -are: Parli più forte! (Speak louder!)
• Negative (DO NOT speak): Non parli adesso! (Don't speak now!)
• "Prendere" (to take) ends in -ere: Prenda il libro! (Take the book!)
• Negative: Non dorma troppo! (Don't sleep too much!)

Irregular verbs in the formal "Lei" imperative

These verbs are irregular when used in the Lei (formal singular) imperative:

• essere → sia (to be)
• avere → abbia (to have)
• fare → faccia (to do / to make)
• dire → dica (to say / to tell)
• andare → vada (to go)
• stare → stia (to stay / to be)
• dare → dia (to give)
• venire → venga (to come)
• tenere → tenga (to hold / to keep)
• uscire → esca (to go out / to exit)
• rimanere → rimanga (to remain / to stay)
• bere → beva (to drink)
• scegliere → scelga (to choose)
• sedere → sieda (to sit)
• salire → salga (to go up / to climb)
• spegnere → spenga (to turn off)
• togliere → tolga (to take off / to remove)
• vedere → veda (to see)
• porre → ponga (to put / to place)
• tradurre → traduca (to translate)