Getting other people to do things - Actions affecting ourselves and others - Functions - A Practical Guide - Modern Italian Grammar

Modern Italian Grammar: A Practical Guide, Third Edition (2013)

Part B. Functions

II. Actions affecting ourselves and others

21. Getting other people to do things

21.1 Introduction

Possibly the most important transactional function in any language is to get people to do things for you. Indeed after ‘mamma’, one of the first words some Italian children learn is Dammi! ‘Give me!’ There are various ways of getting others to do things, ranging from a polite request or question to an order or command using an imperative verb form (see 2.2.21). The question form with tu may be used when asking your friend to pass the salt (Mi passi il sale? ‘Can you pass me the salt?’) while the imperative form with Lei may be used for something as simple as calling the waiter in the restaurant or bar (Senta! Mi porti il conto! ‘Listen! Bring me the bill!’).

21.2 Giving orders and commands

The imperative can take the familiar tu form or the more formal Lei form. Examples are shown below along with the alternative option of using the indicative in a question form. All the imperative forms of regular verbs and of the common irregular verbs andare, dare, dire, fare, stare are shown in 2.2.21.

21.2.1 Lei

To give an order to someone you don't know, or don't know well, use the Lei form of the imperative. Here are some imperative forms you may want to use regularly or just to recognise:

Senta!

Si accomodi!

Excuse me! (Literally: Listen!)

Come in / make yourself comfortable!

Scusi!

Mi dia il passaporto, signora.

Excuse me!

Give me your passport, madam.

If you prefer to make a request rather than give a command, you can use the present indicative, or even the verb volere ‘to wish to’:

Mi il passaporto, signora?

Vuole accomodarsi, signora?

Would you give me your passport, madam?

Would you like to sit down, madam?

You can also make a polite request using the phrase Le dispiace … ? (see 22.4.3) followed by a verb infinitive:

Le dispiace aprire la finestra?

Would you mind opening the window?

21.2.2 Tu

To give a command or instruction to someone you are on familiar terms with, use the tu form of the imperative:

Mangia!

Vieni a casa mia alle 6.00.

Eat up!

Come to my house at 6 o'clock.

Passami il pane!

Siediti qui accanto a me.

Pass me the bread!

Sit here next to me.

Dagli un colpo di telefono!

Give him a call!

As seen already, some speakers may prefer to use the less abrupt indicative form of the verb. This means making a request rather than giving an order. The imperative form is shown in brackets:

Mangi un altro po' di dolce?

(Mangia un altro po' di dolce!)

Would you eat another little bit of cake?

(Eat another bit of cake!)

Mi passi il pane, per favore?

(Passami il pane!)

Would you pass me the bread?

(Pass me the bread!)

Mi dai un passaggio?

(Dammi un passaggio!)

Would you give me a lift?

(Give me a lift!)

The one-syllable imperatives (see 2.2.21) of the verbs andare, dare, dire, fare, stare (va', da', di', fa', sta') can sound particularly abrupt:

Da' retta a me.

Fa' come vuoi.

Listen to me.

Do as you please.

Some speakers therefore prefer to use a straightforward statement or question:

Dai retta a me.

Fai come vuoi.

You listen to me.

You do as you please.

Even with friends, you can make a request politely using ti dispiace … (see 22.4.3):

Ti dispiace prestarmi la giacca da sci?

Would you mind lending me your ski jacket?

21.2.3 Voi

To give a command or instruction to more than one person, use the voi form of the imperative. The voi form is the imperative form most frequently used in recipes:

Venite a cena da me sabato prossimo!

Come to dinner at my house next Saturday!

Tagliate i pomodori a pezzi piccoli.

Cut the tomatoes into small pieces.

21.2.4 Loro

Loro is a polite form of ‘you’ plural, corresponding to the singular Lei. Loro is however far less common than Lei, being used mainly by waiters or hotel staff to address customers. Loro, like Lei above, takes a third person verb form:

Si accomodino, signore.

Make yourselves comfortable, ladies.

Vengano di qui, signori.

Come this way, ladies and gentlemen.

21.2.5 Noi

When you are personally involved in the action, you use a proposal or exhortation rather than a command. The noi form of the imperative is identical to the regular present indicative form:

Controlliamo questi conti adesso.

Usciamo.

Let's have a look at these accounts now.

Let's go out.

21.3 Making negative requests and commands

All the imperative forms shown in 21.2 can also be expressed in a negative form, to tell someone not to do something (see also 2.2.22):

Lei

Non si preoccupi!

Don't worry!

tu

Non fumare tanto, Walter.

Don't smoke so much, Walter.

voi

Non andate lontano, ragazzi.

Don't go far away, kids.

Loro

Non si stanchino, signorine.

Don't get tired, ladies.

noi

Non usciamo stasera, restiamo a casa.

Let's not go out tonight, let's stay in.

When it comes to the present indicative forms, adding non to your request doesn't make any real difference to the meaning, except to sound more persuasive:

Non mi porti a cena?

Aren't you taking me to dinner?

Non andiamo al cinema?

Aren't we going to the cinema?

21.4 Written instructions and recipes

21.4.1 Instructions

Everyone has to cope with written instructions (nowadays often online) varying from recipes to tourist guidebooks, instructions for household or other appliances, getting money out of an ATM or cashpoint or taking medicine. Being addressed to the non-specialist reader, these kinds of instructions are usually very simple in structure, with a series of short sentences (sometimes numbered), and simplified terminology often accompanied by illustrations.

Written instructions often use the infinitive form of the verb (see 2.2.1), rather than one of the imperative forms shown above, to convey a sense of impersonality both as regards the source (often an unnamed authority or expert) and as regards the target reader (the general public). Here is one example which uses the infinitive:

Al Bancomat

1Inserire la tessera

2Digitare il codice personale

3Digitare PRELIEVO

4Scegliere la cifra desiderata

5Premere CONFERMA

6Ritirare il denaro

7Ritirare la tessera

At the cashpoint (ATM)

1Insert your card

2Key in your PIN

3Press ‘WITHDRAWAL’

4Select the amount required

5Press ‘CONFIRM’

6Take your money

7Retrieve your card

Here is a second example, using the infinitive:

ANNAFFIARE LE PIANTE

Quando è possibile usare acqua piovana.

In primavera e in autunno annaffiare al mattino.

In inverno annaffiare nel tardo mattino.

Non usare acqua eccessivamente fredda.

Dare sempre l'acqua gradualmente.

Assicurarsi che l'acqua non sia inquinata da sostanze nocive.

WATERING PLANTS

Whenever possible, use rainwater.

In spring and autumn, water in the mornings.

In winter, water late morning.

Do not use excessively cold water.

Always give water gradually.

Ensure that the water is not contaminated by harmful substances.

In this third example, the instructions for using a manual pasta-making machine also use the infinitive:

Prima di utilizzare la macchina per la prima volta, pulirla perfettamente con un panno asciutto. Non usare acqua. Fissare la macchina al tavolo. Fare un impasto di una certa consistenza. Introdurre dei pezzi d'impasto tra i rulli e girare lentamente la manovella.

Before using the machine for the first time, clean it thoroughly with a dry cloth. Do not use water. Fix the machine to the table. Make a pasta dough of suitable consistency. Introduce pieces of pasta dough between the rollers and turn the handle slowly.

21.4.2 Recipes

For recipes too, instructions are often given using the infinitive, as in example A below. But the same recipe can be given using verbs in the voi imperative form (see 21.2.3 above) in order to express a more informal and direct relationship with the reader, as in example B below. The translation into English is exactly the same for both.

La Ricetta di Franco (A)

Pasta e fagioli

(per 4 persone)

Rosolare in 3 cucchiai di olio extra-vergine d'oliva mezza cipolla tritata finemente ed aggiungere 300 grammi di fagioli cannellini.

Bagnare con un litro di brodo, aggiungere due patate a pezzetti e lasciare cuocere per 15 minuti.

Quindi cuocere 200 gr. di pasta mista nella zuppa e aggiustare di sale e pepe.

In un pentolino a parte friggere una noce di burro con un rametto di rosmarino e uno spicchio d'aglio.

Prima della fine della cottura della pasta, unire alla zuppa il burro, dopo averlo filtrato, e 2 pomodori pelati, tagliati a pezzetti.

Buon appetito!

La Ricetta di Franco (B)

Pasta e fagioli

(per 4 persone)

Rosolate in 3 cucchiai di olio extra-vergine d'oliva mezza cipolla tritata finemente ed aggiungete 300 grammi di fagioli cannellini.

Bagnate con un litro di brodo, aggiungete due patate a pezzetti e lasciate cuocere per 15 minuti.

Quindi cuocete 200 gr. di pasta mista nella zuppa e aggiustate di sale e pepe.

In un pentolino a parte friggete una noce di burro con un rametto di rosmarino e uno spicchio d'aglio.

Prima della fine della cottura della pasta, unite alla zuppa il burro, dopo averlo filtrato, e 2 pomodori pelati, tagliati a pezzetti.

Buon appetito!

FRANCO'S RECIPE

Pasta and bean soup

(for 4 people)

Sauté in 3 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil half an onion finely chopped and add 300 grams of cannellini beans.

Add a litre of stock and two potatoes cut in pieces and leave to cook for 15 minutes.

Then cook 200 grams of mixed pasta in the soup and adjust seasoning if necessary.

In a small separate pan, fry a knob of butter with a sprig of rosemary and a clove of garlic in it.

Before the pasta has finished cooking, add the butter, after straining it, to the soup, along with two peeled tomatoes cut in pieces.

Bon appetit!

21.4.3 Informal instructions

When giving instructions in an informal context (for example, to friends) the tu form of address is used (see 8.2). In the example below, a guidebook to Pozzuoli written in an informal style uses the tu form of imperative (see 21.2.2above).

Visita alla Solfatara di Pozzuoli

Parcheggia la macchina nel piazzale davanti all'ingresso. Dopo aver comprato il biglietto attraversa il campeggio e entra nell'area del cratere. Attraversalo tutto lungo il diametro centrale e poi fa' un giro lungo il margine esterno. Potrai osservare accuratamente lo spettacolo infernale delle fumarole.

Visit to the Solfatara in Pozzuoli

Park the car in the area in front of the entrance. After buying a ticket, cross the car park and go in to the crater area. Walk all the way across the central part and then walk around the outside edge of it. You will be able to see the fiery spectacle of the ‘fumarole’ (smoke emissions).


NOTE Note the forms of the imperative of fare (see 2.2.21). Note too how the unstressed pronoun lo is attached to the tu imperative form attraversa + lo (see 3.4.7).


21.5 Asking someone to do something

An alternative to the imperative forms shown above is a strongly worded request (one that you expect to be met) using a verb such as chiedere, volere.

21.5.1 Chiedere with di

Chiedere can be linked to the action (what someone is being asked to do) by di followed by a verb in the infinitive (see also 4.4.3). The person who is being asked is indicated by a noun introduced by a (agli student italiani) or by an indirect object pronoun (Le) (see also 3.4.2):

Bisogna chiedere agli studenti italiani di stare un po' più zitti.

We have to ask the Italian students to keep a little quieter.

Le chiedo di rispettare l'orario di lavoro.

I ask you to respect working hours.

21.5.2 Chiedere with che

Chiedere can also be followed by che and a dependent clause using the subjunctive (see 2.2.14). The people being asked to do something (i dipendenti) become the subject of this dependent clause (che i dipendenti rispettino):

Chiedo soltanto che i dipendenti rispettino l'orario di lavoro.

I only ask that the employees respect the working hours.

21.5.3 Volere with che

Volere, like chiedere, can also be followed by che and the subjunctive. The present indicative voglio is used to make a firm request, while the present conditional vorrei sounds rather more polite. The subjunctive tense used depends on which tense of volere is used in the first part of the sentence (see also 30.5 and Appendix IV):

Voglio che tu faccia uno sforzo per ricuperare il tempo perso.

I want you to make an effort to recover the time lost.

Vorrei che tu facessi uno sforzo per ricuperare il tempo perso.

I would like you to make an effort to recover the time lost.

21.6 Giving an order using ‘command’ verbs

More explicit command forms such as comandare, ordinare, as well as dire, can also be used, as an alternative to the imperative forms or the verbs shown above. Most take an indirect object, either a noun governed by a, as in the first example below, or an indirect object pronoun, as in the other two examples (see also 3.4.2), and are followed by di and the verb infinitive (see 21.5.1 above):

I carabinieri hanno comandato ai mafiosi di uscire dalla casa.

The police ordered the Mafia men to come out from the house.

La padrona di casa ci ha ordinato di pulire le scale.

The landlady ordered us to clean the stairs.

Gli ho detto di sbrigarsi.

I told him to hurry up.

21.7 Far fare, lasciar fare

When asking someone to do something, you can also use the verb fare ‘to make’ with a verb infinitive expressing the action you are making the person carry out. The person carrying out the action becomes the direct or indirect object, expressed by a noun or pronoun (see 3.4.12).

When there is no other object in the sentence, the noun or pronoun is the direct object:

Faccio venire Isabella.

I'll call Isabella.

Abbiamo bisogno di Isabella. La faccio venire.

We need Isabella. I'll have her come.

Ha fatto entrare il poliziotto.

He let the policeman in.

In the example below, the second verb (riparare) already has a direct object (il computer), so the person (whether noun or pronoun) who is being made to do something (il fidanzato di Giovanna) becomes the indirect object:

Ho fatto riparare il computer al fidanzato di Giovanna.

I got Giovanna's boyfriend to repair the computer.

Gli ho fatto riparare il computer.

I got him to repair the computer.

Similarly, to allow someone to do something is expressed by lasciar(e) and a verb infinitive, with the person as direct object:

Sono tornati gli operai. Li lascio entrare?

The workmen are back. Shall I let them in?

Non lo lascia parlare.

She doesn't let him speak.

In the first example below, when there is a second direct object (quel lavoro) the person being asked to carry out the action (mio marito) becomes the indirect object, in the same way as it did with fare (above). Both for fare and lasciare, the indirect pronoun can be either stressed a lui (see 3.3.2) or unstressed gli (see 3.4.2):

Ho lasciato fare quel lavoro a mio marito.

Ho lasciato fare quel lavoro a lui.

Gli ho lasciato fare quel lavoro.

I let him do that job.

Il capo ha fatto scrivere la relazione a me.

Il capo mi ha fatto scrivere la relazione.

The boss got me to write the report.

21.8 Using persuasion

Other ways of getting something done include invitation, encouragement, begging, and gentle persuasion.

21.8.1 Using invitare ‘to invite’, incoraggiare ‘to encourage’

These verbs use a direct object (person or pronoun), and are followed by a verb in the infinitive, linked by a (see 4.4.1):

Il preside invitò i ragazzi a riflettere sulle loro azioni.

The headmaster invited the boys to reflect on their actions.

Il mio supervisore mi ha incoraggiato a finire la mia tesi.

My supervisor encouraged me to finish my thesis.

21.8.2 Using persuadere, convincere ‘to persuade’

These verbs also use a direct object (person or pronoun), and are followed by a verb in the infinitive, introduced by a:

La mia amica cerca di persuadermi a comprare una macchina sportiva.

My friend is trying to persuade me to buy a sports car.

Convincerò Donatella a cambiare idea.

I'll persuade Donatella to change her mind.

21.8.3 Using pregare ‘to beg’

Pregare uses a direct object (person or pronoun) and is followed by a verb in the infinitive, linked to it by di:

Il direttore mi pregò di sedermi.

The manager begged me to sit down.

Mia madre ha pregato mia sorella di rimanere ferma.

My mother begged my sister to stay still.

Signora, La prego di ricordarsi della patente.

Signora, please remember your driving licence.

21.9 Monologo

And finally, since the tu and voi imperative verb forms (see 21.2.2, 21.2.3 above) are quite commonly used in the relationship between adults and children, we reproduce two typical, if somewhat exaggerated, ‘conversations’ between a mother and a group of children (adapted from Il libronuovo by B. Reggiani and A. Salvatore, IGDA, Novara). The first takes place on the beach, in summer, and the second, also reproduced in Chapter 40 as an example of informal communication, takes place in the winter, when the children are getting ready for school. The imperative forms are in italic, to help you identify them:

Mia moglie, d'estate, è così:

Valentina, spogliati. Franco non buttarti in acqua vestito. Roberta lascia stare il secchiello e togliti le scarpe. Roberta sta' ferma, Franco dov'è? Franco vieni a spogliarti, Valentina metti il costumino a Lorenzo, Franco dov'è? Roberta, vieni qui, il bagno si fa più tardi! Franco, dov'è Franco? Valentina acchiappa Roberta che si butta in acqua! Franco, perché hai fatto il bagno? Lorenzino di mamma sua, non si mangia la sabbietta, brutta la sabbietta! Franco, non vedo più Franco! Franco! Torna indietro, sennò niente gelato! Valentina corri a prendere Franco. Roberta non ti muovere! Franco, dov'è Franco?

This is my wife, in the summer:

Valentina, get undressed. Franco, don't jump in the water with your clothes on. Roberta, leave the bucket alone and get your shoes off. Roberta keep still, where's Franco? Franco come and get undressed, Valentina, put Lorenzo's costume on, where's Franco? Roberta, come here, you can go swimming later! Franco, where's Franco? Valentina grab hold of Roberta, she's jumping in the water! Franco, why did you go swimming now? Lorenzino, mummy's treasure, you mustn't eat the sand, nasty sand! Franco, I can't see Franco any more! Franco! Come back, otherwise no ice cream! Valentina run and get Franco. Roberta don't move! Franco, where's Franco?

D'inverno, invece, è così:

Valentina, svegliati, Roberta svegliati … Franco salta giù dal letto. Ragazzi sono le sette e cinque! Franco, presto, vai a fare la doccia. Valentina vestiti. Sono le sette e dieci! Ragazzi, il caffelatte è pronto! Franco hai fatto la doccia? Asciuga per terra. Roberta, perché piangi? Valentina, avanti, falle mettere la gonna gialla. Sono le sette e un quarto! Insomma, venite o no a prendere il caffelatte? Si sta freddando tutto! Roberta se piangi ancora vengo di là e ti ammazzo! Francooooooo! Dov'è Franco? Roberta non piangere, vatti a pettinare invece. Sono le sette e mezzo. Perderete l'autobus. Ma dimmi tu che razza di figli!

This is my wife, in the winter:

Valentina, wake up, Roberta wake up … Franco get out of bed. Kids, it's five past seven! Franco, quick, go and have a shower. Valentina get dressed. It's ten past seven! Kids, your caffelatte is ready! Franco, have you had a shower? Dry the floor. Roberta, why are you crying? Valentina, come on, let her put your yellow skirt on. It's quarter past seven! Come on, are you coming to drink this caffelatte or not? It's all getting cold! Roberta if you keep on crying, I'll come over there and kill you! Francooooooooo! Where's Franco? Roberta don't cry, go and comb your hair, instead of crying. It's half past seven. You'll miss the bus. Honestly, what sort of kids have I got!