Informal affirmative commands

Informal Affirmative Commands

When you need to give a direct order, instruction, or a little encouragement—like a coach shouting from the sidelines—you use the imperative.

Giving a command to a group is easy. The noi (let's...) and voi (you all...) imperative forms are exactly the same as the present indicative tense.

However, giving a command to one person (tu) is slightly different for -are verbs. Instead of ending in -i, the command form ends in -a.

Pronoun-are verbs-ere verbs-ire verbs
tu-a-i-i
noi-iamo-iamo-iamo
voi-ate-ete-ite

Let's Go Team! (Noi and Voi)

To say "Let's [verb]!", use the noi form.

Come on team, let's always play together!
Forza squadra, giochiamo sempre insieme!
Let's attack immediately, we are losing!
Attacchiamo subito, stiamo perdendo!

To command a group, use the voi form.

The referee is looking, defend well!
L'arbitro sta guardando, difendete bene!
Nobody is defending, shoot now!
Nessuno sta difendendo, tirate adesso!

Singular Commands (Tu)

For a single player (tu), -are verbs take an -a ending, while -ere and -ire verbs take an -i.

You are playing well, score!
Stai giocando bene, segna!
You were resting, now run!
Stavi riposando, adesso corri!

On the Field

Now you're ready to put your players into action and get la palla (the ball) into la rete (the net)!

Boys, jump and catch the ball!
Ragazzi, saltate e prendete la palla!
Boys, jump and shoot the ball into the net!
Ragazzi, saltate e tirate la palla nella rete!

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