Imperative - tu: Prendi, Va', Fai, ...

Imperativo - tu: Prendi, Va', Fai, ...


Forma per dare istruzioni informali con tu.

(Form used to give informal instructions with tu.)

When to use the imperative (tu)

Use Imperativo (tu) to tell one person you know well what to do.

  • Typical situations: family, friends, colleagues you are on tu terms with.
  • In English it matches: Take…, Put…, Open…, Go…, Tell…

Key idea: the subject tu is usually not said.

  • Tu prendi un carrello.Prendi un carrello.
  • Tu vai in panetteria.Vai in panetteria.

Fast formation: from infinitive to “tu” command

For many verbs, you only change the ending.

Infinitive ending Imperative (tu) Example
-are -a Compra i biscotti.
-ere -i Prendi il succo dal frigo.
-ire -i Apri i biscotti.

The important exceptions in this unit (learn as fixed forms)

Some very common verbs do not follow the simple ending rule.

Infinitive Imperative (tu) Meaning
fare fai / fa' do, make
dare dai / da' give
stare stai / sta' stay
andare vai / va' go
dire di' tell, say

Apostrophe forms (fa’, da’, sta’, va’): what to pay attention to

  • Short form = apostrophe: fa’, da’, sta’, va’.
  • Meaning is the same as fai/dai/stai/vai.
  • Use them often in quick spoken instructions: Va' alla panetteria subito.

Spelling check: it’s an apostrophe (’), not an accent.

  • Correct: Di' al cassiere grazie.
  • Wrong: Dì al cassiere grazie. (this is an accent mark, not the standard spelling here)

How to build natural instructions

Imperatives often come in short sequences.

  • Verb + object: Metti la frutta nel carrello.
  • Verb + place: Vai in panetteria.
  • Verb + person: Di' al cassiere che vuoi pagare con la carta.

To sound polite with friends, you can add:

  • per favore (please)
  • grazie (thanks)

Self-check: choose the right form in 5 seconds

  1. Am I speaking to one person informally? → use tu imperative.
  2. Does the verb end in -are? → use -a (comprare → compra).
  3. Does it end in -ere / -ire? → use -i (prendere → prendi, aprire → apri).
  4. Is it one of the key exceptions? → memorize: fai/fa', dai/da', stai/sta', vai/va', di'.
  5. Remove tu: Tu fai la lista…Fai la lista…
  1. -are → -a, -ere/-ire → -i.
Infinito (Infinitive)Imperativo (tu) (Imperative (tu))Esempio (Example)
Mettere (To put)Metti (Put)Metti la frutta nel carrello. (Put the fruit in the cart.)
Prendere (To take)Prendi (Take)Prendi il succo dal frigo. (Take the juice from the fridge.)
Aprire (To open)Apri (Open)Apri i biscotti per la merenda. (Open the cookies for a snack.)
Fare (To do / to make)Fai / Fa' (Do / Make)Fai la lista della spesa. (Make the grocery list.)
Dare (To give)Dai / Da' (Give)Dai la carta vantaggi in cassa. (Give the loyalty card at the checkout.)
Stare (To stay)Stai / Sta' (Stay)Stai qui vicino alla cassa. (Stay here near the checkout.)
Andare (To go)Vai / Va' (Go)Va' alla panetteria subito. (Go to the bakery right away.)
Dire (To say / to tell)Di' (Say / Tell)Di' al cassiere grazie. (Say thank you to the cashier.)

Exercise 1: Multiple choice

Instruction: Choose the correct answer

1. ___ un carrello e metti la frutta qui.

___ a cart and put the fruit here.

2. ___ in panetteria e compra i biscotti, per favore.

___ to the bakery and buy the cookies, please.

3. ___ la lista della spesa prima di uscire.

___ the shopping list before going out.

4. ___ al cassiere che vuoi pagare con la carta.

___ the cashier that you want to pay by card.

Exercise 2: Rewrite the phrases

Instruction: Rewrite the sentences by turning them into informal 'you' (imperative) instructions. Example: “You take the bread.” → “Take the bread.”

Show/Hide translation Show/Hide hints
  1. Tu metti la frutta nel carrello.
    ⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Metti la frutta nel carrello.
    (Put the fruit in the cart.)
  2. Tu prendi il succo dal frigo.
    ⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Prendi il succo dal frigo.
    (Take the juice from the fridge.)
  3. Tu apri i biscotti per la merenda.
    ⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Apri i biscotti per la merenda.
    (Open the cookies for the snack.)
  4. Tu fai la lista della spesa.
    ⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Fai la lista della spesa.
    (Make the shopping list.)
  5. Tu dai la carta vantaggi in cassa.
    ⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Dai la carta vantaggi in cassa.
    (Give the loyalty card at the checkout.)
  6. Tu vai alla panetteria subito.
    ⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Va' alla panetteria subito.
    (Go to the bakery right away.)

Exercise 3: Grammar in action

Instruction: Take turns giving your partner instructions to find and buy the products.

Show/Hide translation
Situation
Al supermercato, aiuti un amico a fare la spesa velocemente.
(At the supermarket, you help a friend do the grocery shopping quickly.)

Discuss
  • Quali cose devono andare nella lista della spesa oggi e perché? (Which things need to go on the shopping list today and why?)
  • In che ordine vai nel supermercato: frutta, verdura, panetteria, carne o pesce? Spiega perché: è più veloce, comodo o economico? (In what order do you go through the supermarket: fruit, vegetables, bakery, meat or fish? Explain why: is it faster, more convenient, or cheaper?)

Useful words and phrases
  • Fai la lista della spesa. (Make the shopping list.)
  • Prendi il carrello della spesa. (Get the shopping cart.)
  • Metti la frutta e la verdura nel carrello. (Put the fruit and vegetables in the cart.)

Use in conversation
  • Prendi / compra / metti… (Take / buy / put…)
  • Vai / va'… (Go…)
  • Dai / di'… (Give…)

Written by

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:

Thursday, 16/04/2026 17:47