The imperative is used to give commands, issue orders, and exhort. This is often done using the negative form. For example, in English, we might say, "Don't touch it!" or "Don't speak!" Following is a table outlining the negative imperative forms in Italian for verbs ending in -are, -ere, and -ire.
As you can see, the formation of the negative imperative is relatively simple in its most commonly used forms: with tu the infinitive is used and with voi the present indicative is used--both add non before the verb.
Lei and Loro, the formal forms of you in the singular and the plural, use the subjunctive.
parlare | credere | finire | |
tu | non parlare! | non credere! | non finire! |
Lei | non parli! | non creda! | on finisca! |
noi | non parliamo! | non crediamo! | non finiamo! |
voi | non parlate! | non credete! | non finite! |
Loro | non parlino! | non credano! | non finiscano! |
As you can see, the formation of the negative imperative is relatively simple in its most commonly used forms: with tu the infinitive is used and with voi the present indicative is used--both add non before the verb.
Lei and Loro, the formal forms of you in the singular and the plural, use the subjunctive.
Examples:
| Non lavorare troppo! Non ti fa bene! Don't work too much! It isn't good for you! Signora, non tocchi le pareti! Sono state dipinte da poco. Ma'am, don't touch the walls! They have been recently painted. Ragazzi, non mangiate troppo. Tra due ore ceniamo. Guys, don't eat too much. We're having dinner in two hours. Non ripetano sempre le solite cose, professori! Professors, don't always repeat the usual things! Non dimentichiamo le chiavi questa volta! Let's not forget the keys this time! |