French Grammar
Tenses & Moods
15 articlesVerb Groups
4 articlesVerb Forms
4 articlesGrammar Structures
4 articlesImpératifA1Imperative
The imperative (impératif) is used to give commands, instructions, or requests.
- Parle plus fort !
- Speak louder!
- Fais attention !
- Pay attention!
- Viens maintenant s'il te plait, on est en retard !
- Come now please, we’re late!
For most verbs, the imperative is formed from the present indicative conjugations for tu, nous, and vous, with the subject pronoun omitted.
Object pronouns (me, te, nous, vous, le, la, lui, etc.), when used as direct or indirect objects, are attached after the verb with a hyphen in affirmative imperatives (e.g., parle-moi talk to me!).
Negation: In negative imperatives, use ne before the verb and pas after it. Object and reflexive pronouns are placed between ne and the verb (e.g., ne me parle pas don’t talk to me!, ne te lève pas don’t get up!).
Formation of Imperative
1st Group (-er verbs)
| Pronoun | Ending | parler (to speak) | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| tu | -e | parle ! | Speak! |
| nous | -ons | parlons ! | Let’s speak! |
| vous | -ez | parlez ! | Speak! (pl.) |
It uses the present indicative forms, but drop the -s for tu (except before y or en).
2nd Group (-ir verbs)
| Pronoun | Ending | finir (to finish) | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| tu | -is | finis ! | Finish! |
| nous | -issons | finissons ! | Let’s finish! |
| vous | -issez | finissez ! | Finish! (pl.) |
Use the present indicative forms for tu, nous, vous.
3rd Group (-re and irregular verbs)
| Pronoun | Ending | faire (to do/make) | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| tu | -s | fais ! | Do! |
| nous | -ons | faisons ! | Let’s do! |
| vous | -ez | faites ! | Do! (pl.) |
It once again uses the present indicative forms, but some verbs have irregular imperative forms.
Verbs from 3rd group using imperative built not from the present indicative:
| Verb | Tu | Nous | Vous | Example (Translation) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| avoir | aie | ayons | ayez | Aie du courage ! Have courage! |
| être | sois | soyons | soyez | Sois sage ! Be good! |
| savoir | sache | sachons | sachez | Sache la vérité ! Know the truth! |
| vouloir | veuille | veuillons | veuillez | Veuillez attendre ! Please wait! |
Examples
- Envoie l’email maintenant !
- Send the email now!
- Vérifions les documents ensemble !
- Let’s check the documents together!
- Passe un appel à Adrien !
- Make a call to Adrien!
- Demande à Adrien de venir !
- Ask Adrien to come!
- Finissez le rapport aujourd’hui !
- Finish the report today!