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

Form used to give informal instructions with tu.

Teacher explanation

What you are learning: the informal imperative (tu)

Use l’imperativo (tu) to give an instruction to one person you address as tu (a friend, colleague you’re on first-name terms with, family).

English often uses the base form: “Take…”, “Go…”, “Tell…”.
Italian usually uses a special verb form: Prendi!, Vai!, Di’!

Step 1: Start from the infinitive and change the ending

For many verbs, you just change the infinitive ending:

Infinitive	Imperative (tu)	Pattern
-are (parlare)	-a (parla)	-are → -a
-ere (prendere)	-i (prendi)	-ere → -i
-ire (aprire)	-i (apri)	-ire → -i

Step 2: Recognize the key verbs in this unit (including irregular ones)

In shopping / daily-life instructions, a few verbs appear constantly. Learn them as fixed “command forms”.

Meaning	Infinitive	Imperative (tu)	Natural example
put	mettere	metti	Metti la frutta nel carrello.
take	prendere	prendi	Prendi il succo dal frigo.
open	aprire	apri	Apri i biscotti per la merenda.
do / make	fare	fai / fa’	Fai la lista della spesa.
give	dare	dai / da’	Dai la carta vantaggi in cassa.
stay	stare	stai / sta’	Stai qui vicino alla cassa.
go	andare	vai / va’	Va’ alla panetteria subito.
say / tell	dire	di’	Di’ al cassiere grazie.

The apostrophe forms (fa’, da’, sta’, va’, di’): what to pay attention to

Fai / Dai / Stai / Vai are the normal forms.
Fa’ / Da’ / Sta’ / Va’ are short forms you will see a lot on signs and in quick speech.
Di’ (from dire) is typically written with an apostrophe.

Common pitfall: don’t mix up fa (= “he/she does”) with fai (= “you do!”) and fa’ (= “do!”).

~~Fa la lista della spesa.~~ (This means “He/She makes the shopping list.”)
Fai la lista della spesa. / Fa’ la lista della spesa. (Instruction)

Quick self-check: is it really an instruction for “tu”?

Can you add “please” in English? If yes, it’s likely an imperative. Vai in panetteria, per favore.
Is tu missing? In Italian, commands usually omit the subject: Prendi… (not Tu prendi…).
Does the verb look like the patterns?
- -are → -a (parla, compra)
- -ere/-ire → -i (prendi, apri)
- Or is it one of the key irregulars: fai, dai, stai, vai, di’?

Mini “mental checklist” when you speak

Start with the verb: Prendi… / Metti… / Vai…
Add the object and place: …la frutta nel carrello, …il succo dal frigo
Add softeners if needed: per favore, subito

-are → -a
-ere/-ire → -i

Infinito	Imperativo (tu)	Esempio
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. Prendi un carrello e metti la frutta qui.

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

3. ___ la lista della spesa prima di uscire. Fai la lista della spesa prima di uscire.

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

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

Tu metti la frutta nel carrello.

⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
Metti la frutta nel carrello.
(Put the fruit in the cart.)
Tu prendi il succo dal frigo.

⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
Prendi il succo dal frigo.
(Take the juice from the fridge.)
Tu apri i biscotti per la merenda.

⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
Apri i biscotti per la merenda.
(Open the cookies for a snack.)
Tu fai la lista della spesa.

⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
Fai la lista della spesa.
(Make the shopping list.)
Tu dai la carta vantaggi in cassa.

⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
Dai la carta vantaggi in cassa.
(Give the loyalty card at the checkout.)
Tu vai alla panetteria subito.

⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
Va' alla panetteria subito.
(Go to the bakery right away.)

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Duration	Per month	Total
1 month	€14.99	€14.99
3 months -47%	€8.00	€24.00
6 months -62%	€5.75	€34.50
12 months -75%	€3.79	€45.48
48 months -90%	€1.50	€72.00

Duration	Per month	Total
1 month	€14.99	€14.99
3 months -47%	€8.00	€24.00
6 months -62%	€5.75	€34.50
12 months -75%	€3.79	€45.48
48 months -90%	€1.50	€72.00

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

What you are learning: the informal imperative (tu)

Step 1: Start from the infinitive and change the ending

Step 2: Recognize the key verbs in this unit (including irregular ones)

The apostrophe forms (fa’, da’, sta’, va’, di’): what to pay attention to

Quick self-check: is it really an instruction for “tu”?

Mini “mental checklist” when you speak

Exercise 1: Multiple choice

Exercise 2: Rewrite the phrases

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