Italian Imperative with Pronouns
You have already learned that pronoun placement with Italian imperatives follows specific rules. You can find pronouns at the end of the verb forming a single word, or preceding the verb, depending on the type of imperative form you are conjugating.
Rispondigli!
Answer him!
Me lo dica, signore!
Tell it to me, sir!
Rule of thumb: pronouns follow the verb with the affirmative informal imperative and precede it with the affirmative formal imperative.
Here, I will show you what happens with negative formal and informal imperative forms.
How to use Negative Imperative with Pronouns?
Negative Informal Imperative
If you read other articles about Italian imperative, you already know that I conceptually divide imperative conjugations in formal and informal forms.
In the negative informal form of the imperative, both direct pronouns and indirect pronouns can be put either before or after the verb. Both forms are correct!
Let’s have a look at some examples:
(Tu) Non chiamarmi! / Non mi chiamare!
Don’t call me!
(Noi) Non mangiamolo! / Non lo mangiamo!
Let’s not eat it!
The same applies for double pronouns.
(Voi) Non parlatemi così! / Non mi parlate così!
Don’t talk to me that way!
As you have noticed, when they come before the verb, the pronouns remain separated, while when they come after the verb, they join onto it, forming a single word.
Also, notice that while the negative informal imperative with tu requires the verb in the infinitive tense, when it is paired with pronouns, it just keeps it original conjugation.
Negative Formal Imperative
When it comes to conjugating the negative formal imperative, pronouns placement is not as flexible as with the informal imperative. In fact, direct and indirect pronouns always come before the imperative verb when addressing to lei.
(Lei formale) Per favore, non lo faccia!
Please, do not do it!
Also here, the same applies for double pronouns.
(Lei formale) Non me lo dica!
Do not tell it to me!
Imparali! (Learn them!)
In everyday conversations it is probably more common to place the pronouns before the verb rather than after, but both forms are correct, and you can freely choose when to use one or the other!
Practice the use of both forms, because you have to be able to recognize both of them, when you read or speak with someone!
Leggili, usali, e imparali! (Read them, use them, and learn them!
