Italian grammar
Comandi con Lei (formale) e con voi (plurale)
Give polite formal instructions with Lei commands (and voi for more than one person).
From the scene Entri, si accomodi (Come in, sit down)
In short
Commands to Lei use the congiuntivo: entri, si accomodi. To several people use voi: entrate, accomodatevi.
Your turn
Which one goes with sit down (Lei)?
Options: si accomodi · entri / entrate · accomodatevi
Show answer
sit down (Lei) → si accomodi
How it works
Formal commands to one person (Lei) use the congiuntivo: entrare → entri, accomodarsi → si accomodi, preoccuparsi → non si preoccupi.
Good to know
To several people everyday Italian uses the voi imperative: entrate, accomodatevi, non vi preoccupate (the Loro form "si accomodino" sounds like a grand hotel).
come in (Lei / voi) entri / entrate
Ramón
Entrate e accomodatevi, prego.
Come in and sit down, please.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) e accomodatevi, prego.
Options: Entrate · Si accomodi · Sia gentile
Show answer
Ramón
Entrate e accomodatevi, prego.
Come in and sit down, please.
sit down (Lei) si accomodi
Ramón
Si accomodi, prego. E se sono in due?
Sit down, please. And if there are two of them?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank), prego. E se sono in due?
Options: Entrate · Accomodatevi · Si accomodi
Show answer
Ramón
Si accomodi, prego. E se sono in due?
Sit down, please. And if there are two of them?
sit down (voi) accomodatevi
Ramón
Entrate e accomodatevi, prego.
Come in and sit down, please.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Entrate e (blank), prego.
Options: accomodatevi · si accomodi · sia gentile
Show answer
Ramón
Entrate e accomodatevi, prego.
Come in and sit down, please.
be nice (Lei) sia gentile
Your turn
What goes with sia gentile?
Options: come in (Lei / voi) · sit down (Lei) · be nice (Lei)
Show answer
sia gentile → be nice (Lei)
don't worry, have a coffee (voi) non vi preoccupate, prendete un caffè
Ramón
Non vi preoccupate, prendete un caffè. Facile.
Don't worry, have a coffee. Easy.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank). Facile.
Options: Non vi preoccupate, prendete un caffè · Entrate · Si accomodi
Show answer
Ramón
Non vi preoccupate, prendete un caffè. Facile.
Don't worry, have a coffee. Easy.
Common mistake
Not Entra or Entrate here. Formal, with Lei.
Entri, prego.
Come in, please.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| come in (Lei / voi) | entri / entrate |
|---|---|
| sit down (Lei) | si accomodi |
| sit down (voi) | accomodatevi |
| be nice (Lei) | sia gentile |
| don't worry, have a coffee (voi) | non vi preoccupate, prendete un caffè |
More lines from the story
- RamónEntri, prego.Come in, please.
- ElenaCerto. Ripeta con me: "Entri, prego."Sure. Repeat after me: "Come in, please."
- RamónSono già qui! Mi scusi, mi scusi... qual era la prima cosa?They're here already! Excuse me, excuse me... what was the first thing?