Italian conjugation explanation
Imperative with pronouns
<p>One of the most important rules to master in the
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/44/" target="_blank">Imperative mood</a>
is the placement of pronouns (direct object, indirect object, and reflexive pronouns). The position changes depending on whether the command is <strong>informal</strong> (<span style="font-style: italic;">tu, noi, voi</span>) or <strong>formal</strong> (<span style="font-style: italic;">Lei</span>).</p><div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Informal Commands (tu, noi, voi)</div>
<p>For affirmative informal commands, the pronoun attaches to the <strong>end</strong> of the verb to form a single word. This is known as an <strong>enclitic</strong> position.</p>
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<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/alzarsi/" title="Click to see conjugations for alzarsi" target="_blank">alzarsi</a>
(reflexive):</div><div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Alzati</span> subito! (<span style="font-style: italic;">Get up immediately!</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">Not <span class="red_emphasis">Ti alza</span>. The pronoun <span style="font-style: italic;">ti</span> attaches to the end.</div>
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<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/mangiare/" title="Click to see conjugations for mangiare" target="_blank">mangiare</a>
(direct object <span style="font-style: italic;">lo</span>):</div><div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Il panino è buono. <span class="green_emphasis">Mangialo</span>! (<span style="font-style: italic;">The sandwich is good. Eat it!</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">Not <span class="red_emphasis">Lo mangia</span>.</div>
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<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/lavarsi/" title="Click to see conjugations for lavarsi" target="_blank">lavarsi</a>
(reflexive plural):</div><div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Laviamoci</span> le mani. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Let's wash our hands.</span>)</div>
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<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Formal Commands (Lei)</div>
<p>For formal commands, the rule is the opposite. The pronoun remains separate and is placed <strong>before</strong> the verb (<strong>proclitic</strong> position).</p>
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<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/sedersi/" title="Click to see conjugations for sedersi" target="_blank">sedersi</a>
(reflexive):</div><div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Si sieda</span>, per favore. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Sit down, please.</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">Using <span class="red_emphasis">Siedasi</span> sounds archaic or overly bureaucratic.</div>
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<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/guardare/" title="Click to see conjugations for guardare" target="_blank">guardare</a>
(direct object <span style="font-style: italic;">lo</span>):</div><div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Lo guardi</span> attentamente. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Look at it carefully.</span>)</div>
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<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Negative Commands</div>
<p>Negative commands follow the
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/italian_imperative_affirmative_vs_negative/" target="_blank">standard negative composition rules</a>
, but pronoun placement differs slightly:</p><ul>
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<p><strong>Formal (Lei):</strong> Always keeps the pronoun before the verb.</p>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Non si preoccupi</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Don't worry.</span>)</div>
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<p><strong>Informal (tu):</strong> Because the negative <span style="font-style: italic;">tu</span> form uses the infinitive, you have two correct options. You can place the pronoun before the infinitive <strong>or</strong> attach it to the end (dropping the final -e).</p>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Non ti alzare</span>! OR <span class="green_emphasis">Non alzarti</span>! (<span style="font-style: italic;">Don't get up!</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Non lo mangiare</span>! OR <span class="green_emphasis">Non mangiarlo</span>! (<span style="font-style: italic;">Don't eat it!</span>)</div>
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