La maggior parte dei verbi che sono irregolari nel presente indicativo mantengono le stesse irregolarità anche nell'imperativo.

(Most verbs that are irregular in the present indicative maintain the same irregularities in the imperative as well.)

Persona / Verbo (Person / Verb)Andare (To go)Fare (To do / To make)Dare (To give)Stare (To stay / To be)Dire (To say / To tell)
Tu (You - singular informal)Va’ / Vai! (Go! / Go!)Fa’ / Fai! (Do! / Do!)Da’ / Dai! (Give! / Give!)Sta’ / Stai! (Stay! / Stay!)Dì’! (Say! / Tell!)
Noi (We)Andiamo! (Let's go! / We go!)Facciamo! (Let's do / We do!)Diamo! (Let's give / We give!)Stiamo! (Let's stay / We stay!)Diciamo! (Let's say / We say!)
Voi (You - plural)Andate! (You go! / Go!)Fate! (You do / Do!)Date! (You give / Give!)State! (You stay / Stay!)Dite! (You say / Say!)

Exceptions!

  1. The verbs essere and avere are also irregular in the imperative in the forms tu, noi, and voi: sii!, siamo!, siate! (essere); abbi!, abbiamo!, abbiate! (avere).
  2. 'Va', da', fa', sta' are used when the following word starts with a consonant. When the next word starts with a vowel, an "i" is added to the end of the verb: "fa' così" -> "fai attenzione".

Exercise 1: L'imperativo irregolare

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

diamo, sii, facciamo, Dite, Va', Sappi, Abbiate, Abbi

1. Dare, noi:
Ragazzi, ... una mano all'altro team.
(Guys, let's give a hand to the other team.)
2. Essere, tu:
Per favore, ... collaborativo.
(Please be cooperative.)
3. Andare, tu:
... dal tuo collega e risolvete il problema.
(Go to your colleague and solve the problem.)
4. Dire, voi:
... la vostra opinione.
(Give your opinion.)
5. Avere, voi:
... rispetto delle idee degli altri.
(Respect the ideas of others.)
6. Fare, noi:
Ragazzi, ... il possibile per supportarci.
(Guys, let's do everything we can to support each other.)
7. Sapere, tu:
... ascoltare, perché la comunicazione è fondamentale.
(You need to listen, because communication is essential.)
8. Avere, tu:
... pazienza quando gli altri fanno un errore.
(Be patient when others make a mistake.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct sentence among the three options that contains the irregular imperative used correctly. Watch out for common mistakes such as the incorrect use of the forms "va'", "da'", "fa'", "sta'", or the omission of the "i" when the verb is followed by a vowel.

1.
"Va'" is used before a word starting with a consonant, while "in" begins with a vowel, so here you must use "vai."
"Va" without an apostrophe is not correct as an imperative; the correct imperative is "va'" or "vai."
2.
The form "fa'" is only used before words starting with a consonant, so here it is incorrect because "attenzione" starts with a vowel.
The apostrophe is missing in "fa'", so this form is incorrect.
3.
"Dà" with an accent is indicative, not imperative; the correct imperative form is "da'" without an accent.
"Dai" is used when the following word starts with a vowel. Here "il" starts with a consonant, so you must use "da'."
4.
It is missing an "i" in "sii", so this form is incorrect.
"Sei" is present indicative, not imperative, so it is wrong for a command.

Exercise 3: Rewrite the phrases

Instruction: Rewrite the sentences using the informal imperative (tu, noi, voi) of the verbs given: andare, fare, dare, stare, dire, essere, avere. Change only the verb form and, if necessary, add or remove the person (tu/noi/voi).

Show/Hide translation Show/Hide hints
  1. Hint Hint (va' / vai) Tu vai in banca con Marco.
    ⇒ _______________________________________________ Example
    Va' in banca con Marco.
    (Go to the bank with Marco.)
  2. Noi facciamo una pausa adesso.
    ⇒ _______________________________________________ Example
    Facciamo una pausa adesso.
    (Let's take a break now.)
  3. Voi date il documento al direttore.
    ⇒ _______________________________________________ Example
    Date il documento al direttore.
    (Give the document to the director.)
  4. Hint Hint (sta' / stai) Tu stai attento alla riunione.
    ⇒ _______________________________________________ Example
    Stai attento alla riunione.
    (Pay attention during the meeting.)
  5. Hint Hint (essere) Noi siamo puntuali domani mattina.
    ⇒ _______________________________________________ Example
    Siamo puntuali domani mattina.
    (Let's be on time tomorrow morning.)
  6. Hint Hint (avere) Voi avete pazienza con i nuovi colleghi.
    ⇒ _______________________________________________ Example
    Abbiate pazienza con i nuovi colleghi.
    (Have patience with the new colleagues.)

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Fabio Pirioni

Bachelor in Humanities

University of Udine

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Last Updated:

Thursday, 08/01/2026 00:55