Kilo Lingo
Part of Chapter 12

CEFR A2-B1

3 min read

Test yourself (26 questions)

French Imperative

The French imperative comes in three forms - , , - covering "you" (informal singular), "let's", and "you" (formal or plural). Take the present-tense form, drop the subject pronoun, and you're mostly done.

The three forms

For most verbs, the imperative is just the present tense without the subject pronoun.

(-er):

  • (tu) parle - speak
  • (nous) parlons - let's speak
  • (vous) parlez - speak

(-ir cluster):

  • (tu) finis - finish
  • (nous) finissons - let's finish
  • (vous) finissez - finish

(-re cluster):

  • (tu) attends - wait
  • (nous) attendons - let's wait
  • (vous) attendez - wait

The -er drop-the-s rule

For -er verbs only, the tu form of the imperative drops the final -s from the present tense.

  • present: tu -> imperative:
  • present: tu -> imperative:
  • present: tu -> imperative:

The drop is silent in speech (the -s wasn't pronounced anyway) but matters in writing. -ir and -re verbs keep the -s: tu finis -> finis, tu prends -> prends.

The same rule applies to : tu vas -> .

The three irregulars

Three verbs have irregular imperative forms. Memorise them.

Verbtunousvous

Examples:

  • . (Be good.)
  • N' . (Don't be afraid.)
  • pour . (Know that I'm here to help you.)

Pronoun attachment with affirmative commands

With affirmative commands, pronouns attach to the end of the verb with a hyphen. Me becomes , becomes .

  • - . (Give me the book.)
  • --. (Tell it to me.)
  • -. (Sit down.) - reflexive imperative
  • -y. (Let's go.)
  • -. (Take some.)
  • -. (Stand up.)

The order when two pronouns attach: direct before indirect, then / at the end.

  • --. (Give it to me.) - direct le before indirect moi
  • --. (Bring them to us.)

Pronoun position with negative commands

With negative commands, the pronouns return to their normal preverbal position and / revert to me / .

  • me . (Don't give me the book.)
  • t' . (Don't sit there.)
  • N'y . (Let's not go there.)
  • N' . (Don't take any.)

The split is mechanical: affirmative = pronoun after verb with hyphen and moi / toi; negative = pronoun before verb in normal position with me / te.

The vowel-buffered -er forms

When a pronoun starting with a vowel attaches to an -er tu imperative, the -s comes back to make pronunciation smoother. This applies to y and specifically.

  • (go!) but -y! (go on!)
  • (eat!) but - (eat some of it)

This is purely phonetic - the -s links to the following vowel.

Common imperative phrases

A small set of imperative phrases you'll meet constantly. Worth memorising as units.

  • / . (Listen.)
  • / . (Look.)
  • / . (Come.)
  • Attends / . (Wait.)
  • -y. / -y. (Go on.)
  • -y. (Let's go.)
  • -. / -. (Tell me.)
  • Excuse-. / -. (Excuse me.)
  • -. (Sit down.) - formal
  • N' . / N' . (Don't forget.)
  • attention. / attention. (Be careful.)

Worked examples

  • plus , s' . (Speak more slowly, please.)
  • . (Eat your vegetables.)
  • ton . (Write your name here.)
  • cinéma! (Let's go to the cinema!)
  • N' . (Don't be afraid.)
  • -- . (Give it to me right now.)
  • . (Don't get up.)

Common mistakes English speakers make

Keeping the -s on the -er tu imperative: is wrong as a command, it's . Using me and after an affirmative command: -me is wrong, it's -. And forgetting that pronouns swap position between affirmative and negative: - is wrong, it's me .

See also

Practise: test yourself

Fill in the blank

0/10

Put the verb in brackets into the imperative form for the subject shown.

  1. la porte! (ouvrir, tu) (ouvrir, tu - no -s)

  2. le travail! (finir, vous) (finir, vous)

  3. en ville! (aller, nous) (aller, nous)

  4. calme! (être, tu) (être, irregular)

  5. confiance! (avoir, tu) (avoir, irregular)

  6. plus fort! (parler, vous) (parler, vous)

  7. le livre! (prendre, tu) (prendre, tu - keeps the -s)

  8. calmes! (être, vous) (être, irregular)

  9. ton nom ici! (écrire, tu) (écrire, tu)

  10. N' pas peur! (avoir, vous) (avoir, irregular, negative)

Translation drill

0/8

Translate each command into French.

  1. Eat your dinner! (tu)

  2. Let's go to town!

  3. Speak louder! (vous)

  4. Listen! (tu)

  5. Give me the book! (tu)

  6. Let's go!

  7. Don't get up! (tu)

  8. Be calm! (tu)

Pick the right one

0/8

Choose the correct command. With affirmative commands the pronoun attaches with a hyphen and me / te become moi / toi; with negative commands the pronoun stays before the verb as me / te.

  1. Give me the book!

  2. Don't give me the book!

  3. Sit down! (tu)

  4. Don't sit there! (tu)

  5. Speak! (tu, -er verb)

  6. Take some! (tu)

  7. Let's not go there!

  8. Tell me! (tu)

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Frequently asked questions

How do you form the French imperative?
Take the present-tense form for tu, nous, or vous, and drop the subject pronoun. For -er verbs, also drop the final -s on the tu form: tu parles -> parle (speak!). For -ir and -re verbs, no -s drop: tu finis -> finis (finish!), tu prends -> prends (take!). Same rule for nous: parlons (let's speak), finissons, prenons. And for vous: parlez, finissez, prenez. Three verbs are irregular: avoir -> aie / ayons / ayez, être -> sois / soyons / soyez, savoir -> sache / sachons / sachez.
Where do pronouns go with French commands?
With affirmative commands, pronouns attach to the verb with a hyphen, and 'me' becomes 'moi', 'te' becomes 'toi'. Donne-moi le livre (give me the book), assieds-toi (sit down), allons-y (let's go), prenez-en (take some). With negative commands, pronouns return to their normal preverbal position: ne me donne pas le livre, ne t'assieds pas, n'y allons pas. The affirmative-negative split for pronoun position is one of the cleanest catch points in French commands.