The worst mistake in the use of congiuntivo

In this video I'll talk about one of the worst mistakes with Italian subjunctive mood (congiuntivo). If there's an error that you should avoid at all costs, it exactly the mistake I'm gonna discuss in this video. In fact, this is quite possibly the worst and most embarrassing mistake related to the use of Italian subjunctive mood.

In the introduction of my videos I typically say, or specify, that these video lessons are aimed at non-native speakers who are learning Italian.

This time, though, I'm gonna say that this video is aimed at Italian native speakers too, considered that many make this mistake, including quite famous politicians.

This mistake, in fact, isn't made only by those who are learning Italian as a foreign language, but also by Italians themselves. In that case, this mistake will be twice as embarrassing.

(Channel Intro)

Hi, everybody! I am Luca and in this video I would like to talk about one of the most serious mistakes in the use of congiuntivo.

Let me say right away that the error I'm gonna discuss in this video is not like other errors. By contrast, it's a mistake with a special status.

Alright. In this video I'm gonna introduce the error. Given that it's a special error, I am gonna discuss it more thoroughly than usual.

In the next video I'm gonna explain how to avoid this mistake. I don't know if I'll make one single video on how to avoid this mistake, or a series of videos on how to avoid this mistake.

Anyways, in this video I will briefly talk about the error, I'll introduce the issue, so to speak.

I like to call this error "l'errore di Fantozzi" because it was made famous by Fantozzi's movies. It's not that these movies "invented" this error. This error already existed. It's just that these movies, Fantozzi's movies, made this type of mistake with congiuntivo famous.

Now I don't want delve into Fantozzi's films. You have probably heard this name. Well, anyways, it's a series of funny movies, or rather tragicomic movies, which you might wanna watch, if you haven't done it already. Because, regardless, these are movies that you cannot not know. In other words, all Italians have watched these movies.

Well, in these films, in Fantozzi's films, almost all characters made mistakes when using congiuntivo. That is, they made mistakes in using Italian subjunctive mood. And in particular, they made the mistake I'm gonna discuss in this video.

So this mistake is embarrassing for this reason: because, if you make this mistake, Fantozzi's characters will come to everybody's mind.

It's clear that, in those films, those characters made this mistake because the goal was to make a parody or in any case to convey the idea of ignorance.

I'm gonna do some research on the Internet and, if I find them, I'll add some scenes where these characters make these mistakes.

--

- Signor Conte... Venghi, Duca Conte, venghi!

- Signor Duca venghi venghi, a sua disposizione.

--

- Vado?

- Vadi! Si è acceso!

--

- Posso andare?

- Vadi contessa, vadi!

--

So, if today one makes the mistake I'm gonna discuss in this video, everybody will think of Fantozzi's films and their characters.

I would say that the connection between this error and Fantozzi's films is so strong that, if one makes this mistake, everybody will think of Fantozzi's films. And everybody will want to laugh.

It's not just me who says that. I mean, it's not something that comes only to my mind, it comes to all Italians' mind, or in any case the vast majority of Italians will think of that. That is, they will think of funny characters from Fantozzi's movies.

For example, some politicians have recently made such mistakes and newspapers obviously commented referring to Fantozzi's films.

So, even if you may be not aware of such background, when speaking, if you make this mistake, everybody will think of funny scenes from Fantozzi's films.

In other words, this mistake will make you look ignorant - even if you are not. Like I said, it's not because it's an error in using Italian congiuntivo: it's THAT error in the use of Italian subjunctive which has been made famous by Fantozzi's films.

I don't want to scare you, in the sense that you should't be afraid to make this mistake. Also because, in actual fact, if you will watch the video where I explain how to avoid this mistake, avoiding this error is actually quite easy.

But let's move on to the error in question.

Basically, the error lies in using forms that don't exist.

In particular, the error is related to the subjunctive mood (congiuntivo) used as imperative when addressing someone by "lei".

So, you know there's the second -person-singular imperative, for example "mangia!". Next, there's the second-person -plural imperative "mangiate!". And, lastly, there's the third -person-singular form, where in theory people say that the subjunctive mood is used. Meaning that, with respect to function, it's the third-person-singular imperative, which takes its forms from Italian subjunctive mood.

So if we consider the verb "mangiare", we should say: "mangi!". If we address someone by LEI, we should say "mangi!".

Well, the error essentially lies in using forms that don't exist.

For example, instead of saying "vada", the characters of Fantozzi's movies said "vadi".

--

-Vado?

- Vadi! Si è acceso!

--

- Posso andare?

- Vadi contessa, vadi!

--

Instead of saying "dica", they said "dichi".

Or, instead of saying "Dica, ragioniere!" the character said: "Dichi, ragioniere!".

Or, instead of "Mi dica!", "Mi dichi!".

Or, instead of saying "faccia", they said "facci".

Instead of saying "venga", which would be the correct form, Fantozzi's movies' characters said "venghi".

- Signor Conte... Venghi Duca Conte, venghi!

- Signor Duca venghi venghi, a sua disposizione!

That is, instead of saying "Venga qui!", they said "Venghi qui!".

Instead of saying "Esca!", they said "Eschi!".

Another example with this error is when one of Fantozzi's characters says "Mi dii" instead of "Mi dia". So the subjunctive mood of "dare" would be "dia", but Fantozzi's character said "Mi dii".

But the most famous scene is probably the scene where one main character, instead of telling Fantozzi "Batta!", which would be the correct form, says "Batti!"

- Allora ragioniere, che fa? Batti!

- Ma... mi dà del tu?

- No no, dicevo Batti lei!

- Ah, congiuntivo!

- Sì!

- Aspetti!

So, as you can see, the issue concerns the third-person-singular imperative when addressing someone by LEI.

Specifically, in Fantozzi's films, this mistake concerned irregular verbs or in any case slightly peculiar verbs such as "venire", "fare", "dire", "uscire", "andare". Well, those verbs which have slightly peculiar forms - if not exceptional forms.

That is it, as for a general introduction to this error. Up here I'll add a card to the lesson where I explain how to avoid this mistake, which is what interests us the most.