| 6.9.3 Polite form |
Most languages distinguish between an informal form, used with friends or between youngsters, people you know well and a polite form which you use with elder people or people of special respect. In English this is not (commonly) used anymore, it sounds really outdated as you will see.
For the singular in the polite form you use the feminine pronouns of the singular.
Singular forms:
nominative for both genders: lei
accusative (direct object) for both genders: la
dative (indirect object) for both genders: le
Concerning the plural form it is a little bit more complicated. For the nominative you have two forms, the nowadays unusual loro and voi, more common in nowadays Italian.
In the accusative plural forms there is a distinction between feminine and masculine. Speaking to men the third person accusative plural masculine is used, li. Speaking to women the third person accusative plural feminine le is used. But vi for both gender is possible as well.
Plural forms:
nominative for both genders: loro / voi (more common)
accusative (direct object) feminine: le / vi
accusative (direct object) masculine: li / vi
dative (indirect object) feminine & masculine: loro / vi
In the dative the postponed loro is used (Do loro il libro), but for both gender vi can be used as well.
Summary:
Nominative polite form for both gender: voi / loro
Accusative polite corresponds to the third form plural or vi: li / le or vi
Dative polite loro or vi: a loro, vi
| accusative singular (only one possibility): feminine form for both man and woman | |
| La posso invitare per un caffè? Can I invite Him / Her for a coffee? (meaning: Can I invite you for a coffee - the person is addressed in an unpersonal form) |
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(nominative: Lei può rispondere alla mia domanda? |
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| dative singular (only one possibility): feminine form for both man and woman | |
| Le ho detto che questo non è possibile. I have told Him / Her that this is not possible. (meaning: I have told you that this is not possible) |
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| Le ho dato 10 euro. I gave Him / Her ten Euro. (meaning: I have given you 10 Euro.) |
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| accusative plural (li talking to men, le talking to women) | |
| Li posso invitare a prendere un caffè Signori? Can I invite you for a coffee, gentlemen? |
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| Le posso invitare a prendere un caffé Signore? Can I invite you for a coffee, ladies? |
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| with vi (more informal) for both men and women | |
| Vi posso invitare a prendere un caffè? Can I invite you (ladies or gentlemen) for a coffee? |
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| dative plural (with loro, nowadays unusual) or vi | |
| Ho detto loro che questo non è possibile. I have told Them that this is not possible. (meaning: I have told you that this is not possible) |
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| Vi ho detto che questo non è possibile. I have told Them that this is not possible. (meaning: I have told you that this is not possible) |
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