L’IMPÉRATIF / IMPERATIVE

Used to express a command. Virtually always used in the present tense.

1. English equivalent:say something. Let's go! Don't be afraid.

2. Construction:Three forms: tu, vous, and nous(let us...). For regular verbs, use the same form of the verb as the present (but use without the subject pronouns): Vous chantez.(You are singing.) Chantez!(Sing!). Nous ne chantons pas.(We're not singing.) Ne chantons pas!(Let's not sing!)

3. In the tuform, -erverbs drop the s: Tuchantes. Chante! Ne chante pas!

4. Irregular forms:

Person		avoir		être		savoir		vouloir
tu		aie		sois		sache		veuille
nous		ayons		soyons		sachons		veuillons
ils/elles		ayez		soyez		sachez		veuillez

Veuillezis used with the infinitive to soften a command: Veuillez chanter, (sing, please.) Veuillez ne pas chanter.(PIease do not sing.)

 

AFFIRMATIVE COMMANDS WITH PRONOUNS

The following word order is used.

verb		-le		-moi		y		en
			-toi
		-la		-lui
			-nous
		-les		-vous
			-leur

1. Connect pronouns to the verb and to each other withhyphens: Regardez-moi! Donne-les-leur!

2. Note that me and tu change to moiand toiwhen usedwith affirmative commands.

   1. Reflexive verbs in the imperative use "toi"instead of "te": Tuteleves. Leve-toi!

   2. Moi+ enand toi+ enbecome m'enand t'en : Parle-m'enl Va-t'en!

 

NEGATIVE COMMANDS WITH PRONOUNS

Negative commands follow the rules for word order and pronoun use given in the personal pronoun section above, but do not use the subject: Tu ne te (eves pas. Ne te (eve pas! Vous ne m'en parlez pas. Ne m'en parlez pas! Nous n'y allons jamais. N'y allons jamais!