Letting Someone do Something: Italian Grammar Lesson

How to let Someone do Something in Italian?

In the lesson about fare causativo, we learned how to make someone do something in Italian. To recap, we use this structure when we want to “push” someone to do something.

Just like in English, in Italian we also have a structure that we use when we want to let someone do something. In this case, there is none pushing anyone, but it is rather a concession.

Even if the meaning of these two structures is different in both languages, in Italian the structure is the same:

fare + verb in the infinitive.

However, fare can also be replaced by the verb lasciare, to express the meaning of letting someone do something.

Let’s then have a look at some examples where fare means to let and how we can use lasciare as well.

How to use “let (…)” in Italian?

The use of Pronouns

Whenever you want to use this structure, make sure you use the correct pronouns.

Whether you need to use a direct or indirect pronoun depends on the main verb. In fact, the verb fare behaves like an auxiliary verb, that only provides modal information about the sentence.

By this I mean that the verb “fare” does not add any further semantic information to the sentence: it cannot be literally translated into “to do”, because the actual meaning – or semantic information – of the sentence is given by the main verb.

For instance, in the sentence “mia madre non mi fa guardare la televisione” (my mum does not allow me to watch television) the verb “fare” adds no meaning to the sentence. The verb guardare, instead, is what we have to focus our attention on.

Therefore, you must look at the main verb of the sentence and know whether it is a transitive or intransitive verb, and this will allow you to know whether it needs a direct or indirect pronoun.

Paradoxically, the choice of the pronoun is the opposite in this structure: if the main verb is transitive, you need an indirect pronoun, and if it is intransitive, then you need a direct one.

For instance, the verb comprare (to buy) is a transitive verb. However, if I want to say that I let her buy something I will have to say:

• In this case “le” is the indirect pronoun standing for “a lei” (to her).

Opposingly, the verb partire (to leave) is an intransitive verb. If I want to say that I let her leave I will have to say:

• In this case “la” is the direct pronoun.

Why Does This Happen? A Linguistic Perspective

The phenomenon regarding the choice of a direct or indirect pronoun is rooted in the syntactic and semantic properties of the verbs and how they interact with the structure of sentences involving the verb “fare”/”lasciare” (to let or to allow).

For the verb “comprare” (to buy), which is transitive, the usual construction would use a direct object for the thing being bought. However, when used in a construction with “fare”/”lasciare”, the focus shifts to the permission granted to the subject of the main verb.

In the sentence “io le lascio comprare qualcosa”, “le” (to her) is an indirect pronoun that refers to whom the permission is granted. This structure focuses on the action being allowed rather than on qualcosa (something), which is the object of the main verb.

In contrast, the verb “partire” (to leave) is intransitive and needs no direct object. When constructing a sentence with “fare”/”lasciare” and an intransitive verb to express the concession to perform an action, in Italian we use a direct pronoun that refers to the person being allowed to perform the action denoted by the main verb.

So, “io la lascio partire” translates to “I let her leave,” with “la” referring directly to her, emphasizing the allowance of the action itself rather than to whom the action is directed.

Imperative Form

The most common way we use this structure is when we want someone to allow us or someone else do something. In this case, we use the imperative form of the verb fare.

The imperative is used to give orders, instructions, and advice.

When you use the informal imperative form – when it is addressed to “tu” (you singular) – pronouns must be attached at the end of the verb. Instead, when you use the formal imperative form – when it is addressed to “lei” – pronouns must be precede the verb.

However, it is important that you notice that the subject and the pronoun do not necessarily coincide. This means that I can address “you” singular to let me, him, her, us do something, but at the same time, I can address “you” plural to do the same.

The verb fare is irregular, so its conjugation is a bit tricky when it comes to using pronouns, but here is how it works:

As you can see, the distinction between direct and indirect pronouns is visible at the third person singular and plural only, since direct and indirect pronouns are the same for all the other persons.

Another interesting fact to notice is that, of course, not all combinations are logically and grammatically possible. This is why the form where “tu” singular is the subject and “voi” is the object does not exist.

Here are some examples: