A2.39 - Teamwork

The irregular imperative

L'imperativo irregolare

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 keep the same irregularities in the imperative too.)

What you’re learning here: the imperative for common irregular verbs

You use the imperative to give direct instructions: in a meeting, at work, or in everyday situations.

  • tu = tell one person you know well (colleague you’re on first-name terms with).
  • noi = “let’s …” (inclusive instruction).
  • voi = tell a group / multiple people.

The key forms (and why they look “strange”)

These verbs are irregular in the imperative. Memorise them as ready-to-use command forms.

Person andare fare dare stare dire
tu Va’ / Vai Fa’ / Fai Da’ / Dai Sta’ / Stai Dì
noi Andiamo! Facciamo! Diamo! Stiamo! Diciamo!
voi Andate! Fate! Date! State! Dite!

Va’/Vai, Fa’/Fai, Da’/Dai, Sta’/Stai: choosing the right one

For tu, you often see two forms:

  • Short form with apostrophe: va’, fa’, da’, sta’
  • Full form ending in -i: vai, fai, dai, stai

Practical rule used in this book:

  • Before a word starting with a consonant → prefer va’, fa’, da’, sta’.
  • Before a word starting with a vowel → use the -i form: vai, fai, dai, stai.
Next word starts with… More natural choice Example
consonant fa’, da’, va’, sta’ Fa’ attenzione. / Da’ retta a me.
vowel fai, dai, vai, stai Fai attenzione! / Vai avanti!

Don’t confuse the apostrophe with the accent (common mistake)

In writing, learners often mix up these two:

  • Imperative short form uses an apostrophe: fa’, da’, va’, sta’.
  • Wrong in this context: fà, dà, và, stà (accent) — avoid these.

Tip: if you mean “Do!/Give!/Go!/Stay!” and it’s short, you almost always want the apostrophe.

Dire in the imperative: why it’s just “Dì”

dire (tu) is special: the imperative is Dì (with accent).

  • Dì la verità. = Tell the truth.
  • Dì pure. = Go ahead (tell me).

There is no “di’” with apostrophe here for dire.

Also irregular: essere and avere (the ones you’ll hear a lot)

These two are irregular in the imperative, too (especially in workplace language).

Verb tu noi voi
essere sii! siamo! siate!
avere abbi! abbiamo! abbiate!

Self-check: can you build the command correctly?

  1. Who am I talking to? tu / noi / voi
  2. Is the verb one of the irregular ones in the table?
  3. If it’s andare/fare/dare/stare with tu: check the next word (consonant → apostrophe form; vowel → -i form).
  4. Check spelling: apostrophe (fa’, da’, va’, sta’) vs accent (only Dì here).

Mini models for professional contexts (ready to reuse)

  • Va’ in ufficio subito. / Vai avanti.
  • Fa’ una sintesi del report. / Fai attenzione ai dettagli.
  • Da’ un’occhiata a questo documento. / Dai una mano al nuovo collega.
  • Sta’ calmo. / Stai attento con questi dati.
  • Dì la verità al cliente.
  • Andiamo a parlare con il responsabile. / Facciamo così.
Persona / Verbo (Person / Verb)Andare (To go)Fare (To do / to make)Dare (To give)Stare (To stay)Dire (To say)
Tu (You (singular))Va’ / Vai!Fa’ / Fai!Da’ / Dai!Sta’ / Stai!Dì’!
Noi (We)Andiamo!Facciamo!Diamo!Stiamo!Diciamo!
Voi (You (plural))Andate!Fate!Date!State!Dite!

Exceptions!

  1. Even the verbs essere and avere are irregular in the imperative in the tu, noi and voi forms: 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, add an "i" at the end of the verb: "fa' così"' -> "fai attenzione".

Exercise 1: Multiple choice

Instruction: Choose the correct answer

1. ____ una mano al nuovo compagno di squadra: è il suo primo giorno.

____ a hand to the new teammate: it's his first day.

2. ____ attenzione alle scadenze, così evitiamo un errore.

____ attention to the deadlines, so we avoid a mistake.

3. ____ in sala riunioni e prepara il tavolo per il gruppo.

____ to the meeting room and set up the table for the group.

4. ____ calmi e collaboriamo: il problema si risolve insieme.

____ calm and let's work together: the problem gets solved together.

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct sentence in the imperative.

1.
"Dai" is the full form of the imperative of "dare", but before a consonant it is more natural to use the shortened form "da'" in short instructions; for the exercise, the use of the shortened form is highlighted.
With "dare" in the imperative (tu), the correct form is the shortened "da'" or the full "dai"; "dà" with an accent is indicative and wrong.
2.
"Sei" is the present indicative, not the imperative, so it does not express an order.
"Sia" is the imperative form for Lei (polite form), not for "tu".

Exercise 3: Rewrite the phrases

Instruction: Rewrite the sentences as orders/instructions using the imperative (tu, noi or voi). Choose the correct form among: va'/vai, fa'/fai, da'/dai, sta'/stai, dì; andiamo, facciamo, diamo, stiamo; andate, fate, dite. Example: «Per favore, tu vai a casa.» → «Vai a casa!»

Show/Hide translation Show/Hide hints
  1. Per favore, tu vai in ufficio subito.
    ⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Vai in ufficio subito!
    (Go to the office right away!)
  2. Per favore, tu fai attenzione in strada.
    ⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Fai attenzione in strada!
    (Be careful on the road!)
  3. Per favore, tu dai un’occhiata a questo documento.
    ⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Dai un’occhiata a questo documento!
    (Take a look at this document!)
  4. Per favore, tu stai attento con questi dati.
    ⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Sta’ attento con questi dati!
    (Be careful with this data!)

Exercise 4: Grammar in action

Instruction: In pairs, decide the tasks and give clear instructions to the group.

Show/Hide translation
Situation
Durante una riunione, il leader organizza un lavoro di squadra urgente.
(During a meeting, the leader organizes urgent teamwork.)
Discuss
  • Qual è il problema principale e come lo risolviamo insieme? (What is the main problem and how do we solve it together?)
  • Quali compiti dai al tuo compagno e perché? Usa tu/noi/voi per dare indicazioni?","Come comunichi con rispetto se qualcuno fa un errore? (Which tasks do you give your partner and why? Do you use tu/noi/voi to give directions?)
Useful words and phrases
  • Dai una mano al compagno di squadra. (Give a hand to your teammate.)
  • Fai attenzione durante la riunione. (Pay attention during the meeting.)
  • Supportiamoci e collaboriamo insieme. (Let's support each other and collaborate together.)
Use in conversation
  • Va'/Vai, Da'/Dai, Fa'/Fai, Sta'/Stai (tu) (Va'/Vai, Da'/Dai, Fa'/Fai, Sta'/Stai (tu))
  • Andiamo!, Facciamo!, Diciamo! (noi) (Andiamo!, Facciamo!, Diciamo! (noi))

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This content has been designed and reviewed by the coLanguage pedagogical team: About coLanguage

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Fabio Pirioni

Bachelor in Humanities

University of Udine

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Last Updated:

Wednesday, 15/04/2026 20:27