Non fermarti mai?

Question

I'm just starting out learning Italian, so I do not know too much about it just yet. Onto the problem... In a few songs I've heard the phrase "non fermarti mai", which supposedly means "do not ever stop [yourself]", directed at singular 'you'. This phrase doesn't make sense to me at all. Should it not be "non ti ferma mai"? Because *ferma* is the singular 'you' imperative and it is reflected at themself (the 'you' person), hence *ti*.I've also seen the phrase "non ti fermare", which is also weird. Why is there an infinitive of *fermare*?Could someone explain how these phrases work? Or are these applications of 'artistic license' and thus technically incorrect, but used anyway to make the songs better? If so, what is or are the correct phrase or phrases? Thanks a lot!

Answer 1

Ciao! Great question! Are you familiar with Italian commands (gli imperativi)? The negative "tu" command for is expressed by non plus the infinitive. For example, if I tell you not to eat the ice cream (not sure why I would do that, but oh well!) I would say "NON MANGIARE IL GELATO!" as that is the negative tu command.

Now, let's look at your sample. If it were not a reflexive verb, we would say NON FERMARE MAI, however, it is a reflexive verb being used for the negative tu command, therefore, the "ti" becomes attached to the end. We cannot put it in the beginning because it is not followed by a conjugated verb leaving us with NON FERMARTI MAI.

I hope I did not make it too complicated. PLease feel free to follow up!

Answer 2

To make the negative singular you imperative we use the infinitive of the verb (non fumare, non entrare, non parlare, non disturbare, etc.)

Non fermarti because the verb is fermarsi (reflexive verb).

With the negative forms of the imperative, the pronoun can also be put right before the verb. Some examples:

Non arrabbiarti - Non ti arrabbiare

Non preoccuparti - Non ti preoccupare

Non alzatevi - Non vi alzate

Non mangiatelo - Non lo mangiate

Another example of the reflexive pronoun before a negative imperative is in the title of an old song "Non ti scordar(e) di me".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVQJUSUxMqo

Answer 3

not an artistic license......one can say "non fermarti mai", o" non ti fermare mai"