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Non diluire mai con acqua fredda.

Non diluire mai con acqua fredda.
Never dilute with cold water.
From Lesson 436:The infinitive for instructions (-are, -ere, -ire)·Italian

Questions & Answers about Non diluire mai con acqua fredda.

Why is the infinitive diluire used here instead of an imperative conjugation?
This is the Jussive Infinitive. It is commonly used in manuals, recipes, and warning labels to give general, impersonal instructions to anyone reading, rather than a direct command to a specific person.
I learned that non + infinitive is used for negative tu commands. Is this the same grammar rule?
They look identical, but the context is different. A negative tu command is directed at one specific person you know. Here, as a general instruction, it applies impersonally to everyone. The difference becomes clear with affirmative commands: a general instruction still uses the infinitive (like diluire con acqua), while an affirmative tu command uses the conjugated imperative form (diluisci).
How does the word order work with non and mai when using an infinitive?
Just like with conjugated verbs, the verb is sandwiched between the two parts of the negative structure. You start with non, add the infinitive verb diluire, and immediately follow it with mai.
Why is there no article before acqua fredda?
The article is omitted because acqua fredda is used in a broad, uncountable sense here. Additionally, technical instructions, product labels, and recipes in Italian frequently drop articles to make the text as concise as possible.

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