Greek to Italian: a prohibition changes the verb construction as well as the negative word
Do not create a negative command by copying a positive one
The Greek verb lesson explains prohibitions through a subjunctive construction with μη or μην, optionally preceded by να, rather than a negated imperative form. An Italian translation has its own change of construction: a second-person singular prohibition uses non with an infinitive. Replacing only the negative particle while keeping an independently selected positive-command verb can therefore produce the wrong target form.
Treccani illustrates non fare questo, do not do this. The infinitive here is still directed at a listener; it is not a dependent phrase meaning in order to do. A Greek prohibition can consequently become an Italian infinitival construction without losing its function as a command. The grammatical labels on the two sides differ, while the instruction to refrain from the action remains the same.
Actual plural commands follow another Italian pattern
For a second-person plural Italian prohibition, Treccani describes non followed by the same verb form used for the affirmative imperative. Its example non fate questo differs from the singular non fare questo. The target should therefore be built for the actual number and treatment of the addressee, not through one universal negative-command formula applied to every Greek instruction.
The Greek source can also use plural address politely to an individual. That means its ending does not always provide a literal count of listeners. Before selecting the Italian command construction, determine whether the passage instructs one familiar person, respectfully addresses an individual or speaks to a group. These are interpretive distinctions, not reasons to assume that a Greek plural prohibition always requires a numerically plural Italian command.
A pronoun can move without changing the requested action
Italian negative commands permit a weak pronoun before or after the verb. The Crusca consultation contrasts non dirlo and non lo dire. Both can prohibit saying the same thing; moving lo does not add a new object or reverse the command. A translation should not be rejected merely because its target pronoun position differs from the Greek source sequence.
However, permission to vary the target pronoun’s position does not authorize changing its referent. The Greek weak-pronoun system can identify the item or person affected by the instruction. Preserve that participant while choosing a valid Italian placement. A prohibition against telling one person something must not become a prohibition against telling a different person, even if both versions sound natural. Likewise, retain the difference between a negative report about what somebody does and a prohibition telling them what not to do. The source negative construction, the intended listener and the affected participant must be interpreted together before the Italian verb and clitic are assembled. This preserves the practical instruction while allowing the two languages to distribute its grammar differently.
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