1. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.7B.2-1 Punto di partenza In Strutture 7B.1 you learned the informal imperative. Use the formal imperative to give commands, directions, and suggestions to a person you address using Lei.

2. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.7B.2-2 The formal imperative forms correspond to Lei and Loro. Form the Lei imperative by dropping the -o ending of the first person present-tense form and adding -i to -are verbs and -a to -ere and -ire verbs.

3. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.7B.2-3 Apra la porta, signorina! Open the door, Miss! Compri lasciugatrice, signore! Buy the clothes dryer, Sir! Si siedano, signori! Be seated, gentlemen! Sedetevi, signori! Sit down, gentlemen! Remember that Loros use is limited to very formal situations. The imperative form of voi is much more commonly used to address a group.

4. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.7B.2-4 For verbs that are irregular in the first person present, change the final -o to -a. Signorina, venga in cucina e beva unaranciata. Miss, come into the kitchen and drink an orange soda. Esca subito, dottore! Vada con Giuseppe. Go out at once, Doctor! Go with Giuseppe. Faccia il bucato, per favore. Do the laundry, please. Dica la verità! Tell the truth!

5. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.7B.2-5 Stia tranquillo! Li lavo io. Be calm. Ill wash them. Abbia pazienza, signora! Be patient, Miss! Some common verbs are irregular in the formal imperative.

6. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.7B.2-6 To form the Loro imperative of all regular or irregular verbs, drop the -o ending of the first person present-tense form and add -ino to -are verbs and -ano to -ere and -ire verbs. Guardino che bella villa! Look what a beautiful villa! Vedano comè grande il cortile. See how large the courtyard is.

7. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.7B.2-7 Non dica niente a mia madre! Dont say anything to my mother! Non faccia rumore. Dont make noise. To make a negative formal command, add non before the affirmative form. No other changes are necessary.

8. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.7B.2-8 Si svegli, signore. Vuole il caffè? Ne prenda un po. Wake up, Sir. Do you want some coffee? Have some. Le bambine faranno i letti. Gli dia (Dia loro) le lenzuola. The girls will make the beds. Give them the sheets. Unlike with informal commands, object and reflexive pronouns precede formal commands. The only exception is the indirect object pronoun loro.

9. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.7B.2-9 Here are some common expressions using the formal imperative.

10. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.7B.2-10 Prego, si accomodi! Please, make yourself comfortable! Venga pure! Come in, by all means! Words such as prego and pure can be used to soften a command or to offer encouragement.

11. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.7B.2-11 1. Professore, (passa / passi) laspirapolvere dopo la lezione! 2. Signora, (pulisci / pulisca) i fornelli! 3. Per favore, mi (dai / dia) la scopa! 4. Signori, (facciano / faccia) attenzione! 5. Mi (scusa / scusi), dovè il ferro da stiro? 6. Dottori, (spazzino / spazzi) il laboratorio! 7. (Siamo / Sia) paziente, sarà tutto impeccabile tra due minuti! 8. Signora Paoletti, (stira / stiri) le lenzuola, per favore! Scegli la forma corretta dellimperativo informale per completare ogni frase.