French Imperative: Complete Guide to Commands in French
Introduction: What is the French Imperative?
The French imperative (l'impératif) is a verb mood used to give commands, make requests, offer advice, or provide instructions. Unlike other verb forms, the imperative is unique because it exists only in three persons: tu (informal you), nous (we), and vous (formal you/plural you). Understanding the French imperative explained in this guide will help you communicate more directly and naturally in everyday situations.
The imperative is essential for:
- Giving direct orders or commands
- Making polite requests
- Offering suggestions or advice
- Writing recipes, instructions, or directions
- Encouraging or motivating someone
Formation: French Imperative Conjugation
The French imperative conjugation follows straightforward patterns based on the present tense. The key difference is that subject pronouns are dropped entirely—you simply use the verb form alone.
Regular -ER Verbs
For -ER verbs like parler (to speak), drop the final -s from the tu form:
| Person | Present Tense | Imperative | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| tu | tu parles | parle | Parle plus fort ! (Speak louder!) |
| nous | nous parlons | parlons | Parlons français ! (Let's speak French!) |
| vous | vous parlez | parlez | Parlez lentement. (Speak slowly.) |
Regular -IR Verbs
For -IR verbs like finir (to finish), keep all endings:
| Person | Present Tense | Imperative | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| tu | tu finis | finis | Finis tes devoirs ! (Finish your homework!) |
| nous | nous finissons | finissons | Finissons ce projet. (Let's finish this project.) |
| vous | vous finissez | finissez | Finissez avant midi. (Finish before noon.) |
Regular -RE Verbs
For -RE verbs like attendre (to wait), keep all endings:
| Person | Present Tense | Imperative | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| tu | tu attends | attends | Attends une minute ! (Wait a minute!) |
| nous | nous attendons | attendons | Attendons ici. (Let's wait here.) |
| vous | vous attendez | attendez | Attendez votre tour. (Wait your turn.) |
Irregular Imperatives
Four common verbs have irregular imperative forms that must be memorized:
| Verb | tu | nous | vous |
|---|---|---|---|
| être (to be) | sois | soyons | soyez |
| avoir (to have) | aie | ayons | ayez |
| savoir (to know) | sache | sachons | sachez |
| vouloir (to want) | veuille | veuillons | veuillez |
The -S Exception with Y and En
When the tu form of an -ER verb is followed by y or en, the -s is added back for pronunciation:
- Vas-y ! (Go ahead! / Go there!)
- Manges-en ! (Eat some!)
- Parles-en à ton professeur. (Talk about it to your teacher.)
Usage: How to Use Imperative in French
Learning how to use imperative in French involves understanding not just the conjugation, but also the context and tone. Here are the main ways the imperative is used:
1. Direct Commands
The most straightforward use—giving orders or instructions:
- Ferme la porte ! (Close the door!)
- Écoutez attentivement. (Listen carefully.)
2. Polite Requests
With the right tone and often with s'il te plaît or s'il vous plaît, the imperative becomes polite:
- Passe-moi le sel, s'il te plaît. (Pass me the salt, please.)
- Veuillez patienter. (Please wait.) — Very formal
3. Suggestions and Invitations
The nous form translates as "let's":
- Allons au cinéma ! (Let's go to the movies!)
- Mangeons ensemble ce soir. (Let's eat together tonight.)
4. Advice and Encouragement
- Sois patient. (Be patient.)
- N'aie pas peur. (Don't be afraid.)
- Courage ! Continue ! (Courage! Keep going!)
5. Negative Commands
To form negative imperatives, place ne before the verb and pas after:
- Ne parle pas ! (Don't speak!)
- Ne faites pas de bruit. (Don't make noise.)
- N'oublions pas nos affaires. (Let's not forget our things.)
Pronoun Placement
In affirmative commands, pronouns attach to the verb with a hyphen. In negative commands, pronouns go before the verb:
- Affirmative: Regarde-le ! (Look at it/him!)
- Negative: Ne le regarde pas ! (Don't look at it/him!)
- Affirmative: Donne-moi le livre. (Give me the book.)
- Negative: Ne me donne pas le livre. (Don't give me the book.)
Note: me becomes moi and te becomes toi in affirmative commands.
Examples: French Imperative Examples in Context
Here are practical French imperative examples showing the mood in real-life situations:
| French | English | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Écoute cette chanson ! | Listen to this song! | Recommendation to a friend |
| Prenez la première rue à droite. | Take the first street on the right. | Giving directions |
| Soyons réalistes. | Let's be realistic. | Suggesting a perspective |
| Ne touche pas à ça ! | Don't touch that! | Warning a child |
| Ayez confiance en vous. | Have confidence in yourself. | Encouragement (formal) |
| Dis-moi la vérité. | Tell me the truth. | Request to a friend |
| Faites vos devoirs avant de jouer. | Do your homework before playing. | Instruction to children |
| N'oublie pas d'appeler ta mère. | Don't forget to call your mother. | Reminder |
| Asseyez-vous, je vous en prie. | Please sit down. | Polite invitation |
| Allons-y ! | Let's go! | Motivating a group |
Common Mistakes: What Learners Often Get Wrong
When learning the French imperative, several errors appear frequently. Being aware of these will help you avoid them:
1. Forgetting to Drop the -S for -ER Verbs (tu form)
One of the most common mistakes is keeping the -s from the present tense:
- Incorrect: Parles français !
- Correct: Parle français !
Remember: Only -ER verbs (and aller) drop the -s in the tu imperative.
2. Including Subject Pronouns
Unlike English, French imperatives never include the subject pronoun:
- Incorrect: Tu mange ! or Vous partez !
- Correct: Mange ! or Partez !
3. Wrong Pronoun Placement in Negative Commands
Pronouns go before the verb in negative commands, not after:
- Incorrect: Ne regarde-le pas !
- Correct: Ne le regarde pas !
4. Using Moi/Toi in Negative Commands
The stressed pronouns moi and toi are only used in affirmative commands. In negative commands, use me and te:
- Affirmative: Donne-moi de l'eau.
- Negative: Ne me donne pas d'eau. (Not: Ne moi donne pas...)
5. Confusing Irregular Forms
The irregular verbs être, avoir, savoir, and vouloir have unique imperative forms that don't follow the present tense pattern:
- Incorrect: Es gentil ! (from present tu es)
- Correct: Sois gentil !
6. Forgetting the -S Before Y and En
For liaison and pronunciation, add the -s back when y or en follows:
- Incorrect: Va-y !
- Correct: Vas-y !
7. Using the Wrong Register
Using tu forms with strangers or authority figures can seem rude. When in doubt, use vous:
- Too casual: Attends une seconde. (to a stranger)
- Appropriate: Attendez une seconde, s'il vous plaît.