Imperative French Tense

How to form the imperative?

 

The present imperative is formed from the present indicative but unlike the present, it is only conjugated in three people.

Let’s look for example at the conjugation of the verb “PARTIR” in the present indicative: 

PARTIR (To leave) Présent de l’indicatif – present tense

Je pars – I leave
Tu pars – You leave
Il.elle. on part – He leaves
Nous partons – We leave
Vous partez – You leave
Ils partent – They leave

In the imperative, we only keep the forms of « tu » – you, « nous »- we and « vous » -you of the present.

Then, we remove the subject personal pronouns. Look at :

PARTIR (to leave) Impératif – imperative form

Pars
Partons
Partez 

LIRE (to read) Impératif – – imperative form

Lis
Lisons
Lisez

PEINDRE (to paint) Impératif – – imperative form

Peins
Peignons
Peignez

SOURIRE (to smile) Impératif – – imperative form

Souris
Sourions
Souriez

 

Some particularities to know

• For verbs of the 1st group,
• some verbs from the 3rd group,
• as well as for pronominal verbs.

 

The verbs of the 1st group as well as some verbs of the 3rd group (to go, to pick, offer, open, suffer and their derivatives) do not take -s in the second person singular in the imperative.

 

For example, let’s conjugate the verb « MANGER » – to eat:

MANGER Présent de l’indicatif – Present tense	MANGER Impératif = Imperative form
Je mange Tu manges Il mange Nous mangeons Vous mangez Ils mangent	Mange* Mangeons Mangez

*Here the second person singular, “eat” does not take -s.

Let’s take the example of the verb “OFFRIR” which is part of the verbs of the 3rd group:

OFFRIR Présent de l’indicatif – present tense	OFFRIR Impératif- imperative form
J’offre Tu offres Il offre Nous offrons Vous offrez Ils offrent	Offre Offrons Offrez

 

 

Attention! 

However, we must add an -s to the 2nd person singular, when the verb is followed by the pronouns “en” and “y”. 

Exemples :

Manges-en ! – eat it !

Vas-y ! Go ahead !

Please note, the above remark is not valid when the pronouns “y” and “en” depend on an infinitive and not on the imperative verb.

Example :

Va en acheter trois ! Go buy three!

In this sentence the pronoun “en” is the complement of the infinitive verb “purchase” and not the verb “va”.

 

The imperative French tense of pronominal verbs

 

Unlike other verbs, pronominal verbs are always conjugated with a personal pronoun in the present imperative.

We must place the pronoun after the verb and add a hyphen.

Arrêtez-vous ! – Stop!

Levons-nous ! – Let’s get up!

However, we must add an -s to the 2nd person singular, when the verb is followed by the pronouns “en” and “y”. Look :

Manges-en ! – Eat it!

Vas-y ! – Go ahead !

 

 

Attention!

In the affirmative imperative, the pronouns “me” and “te” transform into « moi » et « toi ».

For example :

Lave-toi ! Wash yourself !

Regarde-moi ! Look at me ! 

Attention 

But in the negative form, we find the pronouns “me” and “te”. The pronoun changes place.

Look : 

Ne te lave pas ! Don’t wash!

Ne me regarde pas ! Do not look at me !

Regarding the formation of the imperative, there is one last thing you need to know. The imperative has four irregular verbs that you must memorize.

 

Irregular verbs in the imperative

Here is the conjugation of the four irregular verbs in the imperative:

AVOIR (to have) – Impératif – imperative form

Aie
Ayons
Ayez

ÊTRE (to be) –Impératif

Sois
Soyons
Soyez

SAVOIR (to know) –Impératif

Sache
Sachons
Sachez

For the verb “VOULOIR”, there are two possible conjugations:

VOULOIR (to want) – Impératif

Veuille
Veuillons
Veuillez

VOULOIR (to want) – Impératif

Veux
Voulons
Voulez

 

Note that the first is more common. It is mainly used in polite expressions or to express an order in a polite manner.

For example :

Veuillez-vous asseoir ! Please have a seat !

Now that you know how to conjugate any verb in the imperative, we will see how to use this tense

 

When to use the Imperative French tense?

 

The present imperative can be used:

To express an order

Tais-toi ! Shut up !

Range ta chambre ! Clean up your room !

 

To make a request / state a requirement

Apportez votre sac de sport mardi prochain. Bring your gym bag next Tuesday.

Rendez-moi votre travail la semaine prochaine au plus tard. Return your work to me next week at the latest.

 

To give advice

Repose-toi un peu. Take a rest.

Appelle le médecin. Call the doctor.

 

To make a supplication

Laisse-moi dormir encore une heure s’il te plaît ! Please let me sleep for another hour!

Prête-moi ta voiture. Lend me your car.

 

To forbid

Ne touchez pas aux tableaux ! Don’t touch the paintings!

N’entrez pas ! Don’t enter!

 

To give an instruction

Beurrez et farinez votre moule. Butter and flour your mold.

Tournez à gauche après le feu. Turn left after the light.

 

To express a wish

Passez un bon séjour ! Have a nice stay !

Amusez-vous bien. Have fun.

 

To announce a blessing or a curse

Soyez maudits ! Be cursed!

Soyez heureux. Be happy

 

To grant permission

Prends mon pull si tu as froid. Take my sweater if you’re cold.

Prends les clefs qui sont dans mon sac. Take the keys that are in my bag.

 

To invite

Viens manger avec nous si tu veux. Come eat with us if you want.

Dors à la maison. Sleep at home.

 

To say a prayer

Pardonnez nos péchés. Forgive our sins.

Libérez-nous du mal. Free us from evil.

 

 

Exercises : Imperative French tense

What is the imperative of theses verbs.

Faire

1. Faire
2. Faisez
3. Faisons
4. Fais
5. Font
6. Faites

Prendre

1. Prend
2. Prendre
3. Prendrons
4. Prends
5. Prenez
6. Prenons

Aller

1. Vas
2. Va
3. Allons
4. Aller
5. Allez
6. Vais

Dessiner

1. Dessines
2. Dessiner
3. Desssine
4. Dessinons
5. Dessinent
6. Dessinez

Sortir

1. Sorte
2. Sort
3. Sors
4. Sortez
5. Sortir
6. Sortons

Venir

1. Viens
2. Venons
3. Viens
4. Venissons
5. Venez

Partir

1. Partez
2. Parter
3. Partir
4. Pars
5. Partons
6. Parte

Answers:

Faire: 3.4.6

Prendre: 4.5.6

Aller: 2.3.5

Dessinne: 3.4.6

Sortir: 3.4.6

Venir: 2.3.5

Partir: 1.4.5

Transform these sentences into the imperative

 

1. Tu invites un copain.
2. Nous invitons un copain.
3. Vous invitez un copain.
4. Tu fais la fête!
5. Nous faisons la fête!
6. Vous faites la fête!
7. Tu ne ranges pas tout seul.
8. Tu n’oublies pas d’indiquer la date.

 

Answers

1. Invite un copain!
2. Invitons un copain!
3. Invitez un copain !
4. Fais la fête!
5. Faisons la fête !
6. Faites la fête!
7. Ne range pas tout seul !
8. N’oublie pas d’indiquer la date!

 

Let me know how this article was helpful for you in the comments. Other tips here

Julie