Radio Arlecchino: Italian Grammar and Culture Podcast

Episode 8: Imperative - Your call is important to us

07.23.2007 - By College of Liberal Arts, University of Texas at AustinPlay

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

asset title: Episode 8: Imperative - Your call is important to us

filename: ra_08.mp3

track number: 8/22

time: 11:04

size: 9.08 MB

bitrate: 112 kbps

In 'Your call is important to us,' we begin looking at l'imperativo - one of the four formal verbal moods in Italian. The imperative is used to issue direct commands: you tell someone to do (or not to do) something. When you address someone formally in Italian, you use the third-person subjunctive, and that's a rather indirect method. In this episode, we're looking at the 'true' imperative, for first and second person. Let's listen as Antonella phones home from the Villa Borghese in Italy ...

Dialog: A phone call from the Villa Borghese

italiano

Antonella: Oh, sì, Apollo e Dafne di Bernini, il più grande scultore mai esistito - incredibile! Questo posto è incredibile, Eric! È stupendo.

C'è tutto: Tiziano, Caravaggio... Oh, oh, scusa, qui, io sono qui con i miei trentacinque studenti, che sono un po'... agitati. Dobbiamo entrare, dobbiamo comportarci bene, quindi ... però, no, sarà magnifico ... Okay, Eric, scusa un attimo, okay, un momento ...

Ragazzi, per favore, state zitti! Sono al telefono!

Finite di mangiare! Okay? Ah, lasciate gli zaini lì nel deposito! Metteteli ... Mettete le macchine fotografiche dentro, d'accordo? Sì, e, aspettatemi all'entrata, all'ingresso.

Per favore, Grant, scusa, portami i biglietti ...

Tu, Anna, Anna, no, no, non portare quel bottiglione d'acqua dentro. No. Grazie, mettilo nel cestino della spazzatura.

Va bene, grazie.

Oh, Eric, stavo dicendo, qua - Uh, ah, Cristina, ciao, ciao, bella, vieni, vieni ...

Eric, niente, dobbiamo aspettare la prossima. Devo scappare, è arrivata la, la nostra guida. Senti, mi mancherai tanto, Eric ... Salutami tutti a Austin ...

Eric: Sì, e rilassati, Antonella. Ma, senti, prima di andare via, dillo ancora una volta.

Antonella: Ah, grazie. Arisentirci!

English

Antonella: Oh, yes, Bernini's Apollo and Daphne. Bernini, the greatest scuptor there ever was - incredible! This place is incredible, Eric! It's stupendous.

There's everything: Titian, Caravaggio ... Oh, oh, sorry, here, I'm here with my thirty-five students, who are a little ... shaken up. We have to go in, we have to behave ourselves, so ... but no, it will be magnificent ... Okay, Eric, sorry, just a second, okay, one moment ...

Guys, please, quiet down! I'm on the phone!

Finish eating! Okay? Ah, leave your backpacks there in the cloakroom! Put them ... Put your cameras inside, all right? Yes, and wait for me at the entryway, and the entrance.

Please, Grant, excuse [me], bring me the tickets ...

You, Anna, Anna, no, no, don't take that bottle of water inside. No. Thanks, put it in the wastebasket.

That's fine, thanks.

Oh, Eric, I was saying, here - Uh, ah, Cristina, hi, hi, my dear, come, come ...

Eric, that's it, we'll have to wait til next time. I've got to run, she's here, our guide. Listen, I'm going to miss you so much ... Say hello for me to everyone in Austin ...

Eric: Yes, and relax, Antonella. But listen, before you go, say it just once more.

Antonella: Ah, thanks. Arisentirci! ('Until we hear each other again!')

More episodes from Radio Arlecchino: Italian Grammar and Culture Podcast