To let someone do something
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 make someone do something.
But… what if we want to let someone do something in Italian?
In English, the meaning is slightly different. However, even if the meaning in Italian is also different, the structure is the same: fare + verb in the infinitive.
Examples
Let’s have a look at some examples where fare means to let. In these cases, fare could also be replaced by the verb lasciare.
Mia mamma ha fatto entrare in ufficio il suo amico.
My mum let his friend into the office.
I miei genitori non mi fanno uscire.
My parents don’t let me go out.
Quel rumore non mi fa dormire.
That noise doesn’t let me sleep.
Let me see!
We tend to use this structure a lot when we want someone to let us or someone else do something. In this case, we use the imperative form of the verb fare.
We usually use the imperative to give orders and we mainly use it to address one person (“you singular”). In this case, we form it just by removing -re from fare and adding a direct or indirect object pronoun instead.
You’ll notice some letters double:
- fammi: let me
- fatti: let yourself
- fagli/falle/fallo/falla: let him/her
- facci: let us
- fagli/falli/falle: let them
Do you remember the difference between direct and indirect object pronouns and verbs? Well, in the third line, fagli and falle are indirect object pronouns, and fallo and falla are direct object pronouns.
In the last line, fagli is also an indirect object pronoun (both feminine and masculine), and falli and falle are direct object pronouns.
Here are some examples:
Fagli compare quello che vuole!
Let him buy whatever he wants.
Facci entrare!
Let us get in!
Falla dormire!
Let her sleep!
Fammi vedere cosa hai scritto!
Let me see what you wrote!
Still translating in your head? Wanna speak Italian for real? Check out Stefano's courses to think directly in Italian and become fluent fast!
12 Responses
Apologies for the typing error. What I meant was
I am told that “farmi capire” =” make myself BE UNDERSTOOD” rather than make myself understand.
Please explain why that is so!
Ciao Morton!
“Farmi capire” is a reflexive verb. That means the actions reflect itself on the subject. In this case, fare a se stesso or fare a me (farmi is composed by the verb fare and the pronominal particle mi). That is why the meaning is make myself be understood.
“Fammi capire” is fai capire a me (fare + me). The meaning is make me understand.
Let us know if we solved your doubt or if you have more questions.
Yes = grazie mille.
I sent you another question which you have yet to answer.
II am told that “farmi capper” =” make myself BE UNDERSTOOD” rather than make myself understand.
I am afraid that just doesn’t make sense to me. Can you please explain?
Grazie!
Ciao Morton!
We’ve seen your question and it’s been answered in your latest comment 🙂
@julieta Grazie. OK – treating it as a reflexive verb explains why it is “to be understood”. However, consider these 2 sentences
1. Puoi farmi vedere il tuo Ferrari
2. Voglio farmi vedere dai miei amici con la mia Ferrari.
Doesn’t the 1st one = ” Can you LET ME SEE your Ferrari” and the 2nd one = ” I want TO BE SEEN by my friends with my Ferrari”?
It’s a bit confusing isn’t it when the written words “farmi vedere” are the same in both sentences!
Ciao Morton!
I understand why it can be confusing for you. But think of it this way: try to compose the sentence “breaking” the reflexive verb to understand the meaning.
The first sentence would be, Puoi far vedere a me la tua Ferrari? (minor correction: in Italian auto/macchina is a female noun). Can you make me see your Ferrari?
And the second sentence would be, Voglio far vedere me nella Ferrari ai miei amici. I want to make myself be seen on the Ferrari by my friends.
Remember that “farmi” is make myself.
Let me know if it’s less confusing for you or not.
@julieta Apologies for going on about this , but as it happens, I have just watched an Italian TV programme where the sentence “Faccio un altro pezzettino del disegno per farvi capire” was translated as “I’ll do another little piece of the drawing to help you understand”! So in this case, “farvi capire” means “make you (plural) understand” and NOT “make you (plural) be understood”!
Ciao Morton!
Don’t apologize, we are here to help you on your learning journey so ask all the questions you have!
Let’s do a little recap before answering your question. Reflexive verbs in Italian come with pronominal particles. I will take as an example the verb Farsi.
io mi faccio
tu ti fai
lei/lui si fa
noi ci facciamo
voi vi fate
loro si fanno
In the pronominal form it would be:
Farmi: fare a me
Farti: fare a te
Farsi: fare a sé
Farci: fare a noi
Farvi: fare a voi
So “Farvi capire” means fare capire a voi or as you wrote make you (plural) understand. It’s different from “farmi capire” = it’s me who is making myself be understood. While “farvi capire” it’s me who is explaining something to you (plural).
Make you be understood would be “farsi capire”.
Let me know if you have any more questions or doubts.
Your lessons keep referring to a previous lesson. But give no clue how to go back to that lesson, or find it. The emails you send do not have the lesson number on the. All very unsatisfactory. Where is lesson 193 ? How could I locate it?
Sorry, I just published it! Please check again. Thank you for telling me. 😛
@stefano
You say that “fagli and falle are indirect object pronouns, and fallo and falla are direct object pronouns”
So does that mean that when one wants to say let him/ her, it doesn’t matter whether one uses a direct or indirect object pronoun for him/her?
@morton-lim
Do these examples answer your question?
He’s innocent. Let him out! (direct objet)
Let him see your drawing! (= show him) (indirect object)