Permettevi

Permettevi is a form related to the Italian verb per mettersi, used to express allowing oneself to undertake an action. In standard Italian, the common, normative imperative form for the second person plural is Permettetevi, not per met tevi. The form with the pronoun attached to the verb reflects the reflexive construction of per mettersi, which means “to permit oneself.” Because of its reflexive nature, the pronoun vi (yourselves) accompanies the verb.

Etymology and grammar

Per mettersi comes from the core verb permett- (from Latin permittere, to allow) combined with the reflexive pronoun si/vi and a suitable conjugation. The reflexive pronoun indicates that the subject is performing the action on itself. In imperative sentences, Italian typically places the pronoun after the verb, yielding forms such as Permettetevi di + infinitive to tell the group to allow themselves to do something. The related non-reflexive verb forma, permettersi, is used in phrases like Mi permetto di chiedervi—“I dare to ask you” or “I would like to ask you” in a polite register.

Usage

The reflexive imperatives of per mettersi are generally found in formal or rhetorically oriented contexts. They emphasize that a group should grant themselves permission or the opportunity to act. In everyday writing and speech, speakers more often use phrases built around non-reflexive structures, or they choose the more common polite formulas to introduce a remark or suggestion, such as Mi permetto di osservare… (I would venture to observe…). The form per met tevi is less common in normative grammar and may appear as a misspelling or regional variant in some texts.

See also

Per mettersi; Mi permetto di; Non posso permettermi di.