Grammar: Verbs - Imperative

Grammar: Verbs - Imperative

Section: Understanding the Imperative

• The imperative is used in French to give commands, instructions, or express wishes.
• The French imperative only exists in the second person singular (tu), first person plural (nous), and second person plural (vous) forms.

Section: Formation of the Imperative

• For -er verbs and all verbs conjugated like them, including aller, the ‘tu’ form of the imperative is the present tense without the final -s. For instance, parle (speak!).
• The imperative for -ir, -re verbs and all verbs conjugated like them, is the same as the present tense. For instance, fais (do!) and prends (take!).
• The ‘nous’ and ‘vous’ forms of the imperative are the same as the present tense forms. For instance, mangeons (let’s eat!) and mangez (eat! - formal or to a group).

Section: Negation in the Imperative

• To negate an imperative in French, place the negative particles ne and pas around the verb, as in ne parle pas (don’t speak).
• In commands and instructions, it is common to omit the subject pronoun. For example, instead of “tu vas là”, one would simply say “vas là!” (Go there!).

Section: Using Object Pronouns with the Imperative

• Direct and indirect object pronouns, as well as the pronouns y and en, come after the verb in affirmative commands and are connected with a hyphen. For instance, Donne-le-moi (Give it to me).
• In negative commands, these pronouns precede the verb. For example, Ne le lui donne pas (Don’t give it to him).

Section: Reflective Verbs in the Imperative

• For reflexive verbs, the verb is conjugated normally, but the reflexive pronoun matches the subject. For instance, “Lève-toi!” (Stand up!) - note that te becomes toi after the verb.
• In negative commands with reflexive verbs, the structure is the same as with other negative commands. For example, Ne te lève pas! (Don’t get up!).

Section: The Irregular Imperatives

• There are several verbs with irregular imperative forms, including être, avoir, savoir and vouloir. For instance, the imperative form of être is sois, soyons, soyez (be).