How to Use the Imperative in French

Step-by-Step Guide

1. 1

   Step 1: When using verbs that contain infinitives ending in -er

   Here are some examples:
   Regarde; (Look) (To those you would normally address as "tu") Regardons; (Let's look) Regardez; (Look) (To those you would normally address as "vous")
2. 2

   Step 2: we remove the final letter "s" from the -tu form of the present tense for the imperative

   For example: Être (To be):
   Sois, Soyons, Soyez. (Ex; "Sois sage" means "Be good".) Avoir (To have):
   Aie, Ayons, Ayez. (Ex; "Ayons de la patience" means "Let's have patience".) Savoir (To know):
   Sache, Sachons, Sachez. (Ex; "Sachez vos amis" means "Know your friends".) , For example:
   Ne va pas au parc. (Don't go to the park.) Ne mangeons plus de viande. (Let's not eat any more meat.) N'oubliez jamais ce que je vous ai dit. (Never forget what I have told you.) , Some examples:
   Donne-le-lui! (Give it to him!) Achetons-en. (Let's buy some.) Vas-y. (Go there.) Remember the letter "s" is kept when followed by
   -y or
   -en.
   
   Parlez-moi! (Speak to me!) Notice the emphatic "moi" is used rather than "me";
   -toi would be used instead of
   -te. , (Don't tell him anything.) Ne nous oubliez jamais. (Never forget us.) Ne leur en donne pas. (Don't give them any (of it).) N'y va plus. (Don't go there any more.) Ne le prenons pas. (Let's not take it.) , For example:
   Habille-toi vite! (Get dressed quickly!) Promenons-nous dans les bois. (Let's go for a walk in the woods.) Couchez-vous, les enfants. (Go to bed, children.) , Here are a few examples:
   Ne te blesse pas. (Don't hurt yourself.) Ne nous trompons pas. (Let's not be mistaken.) Ne vous moquez pas d'eux. (Don't make fun of them.)
3. 3

   Step 3: unless it is followed by the pronouns -y or -en.

4. 4

   Step 4: There are three verbs that are irregular in the imperative

5. 5

   Step 5: taking their imperative from the present subjunctive form.

6. 6

   Step 6: When you want to form the negative imperative form

7. 7

   Step 7: simply put -ne in front of the imperative and -pas or an alternative after it.

8. 8

   Step 8: When using object pronouns with the imperative

9. 9

   Step 9: the pronouns follow the verb and are hyphenated.

10. 10

    Step 10: However

11. 11

    Step 11: with the negative imperative

12. 12

    Step 12: the pronouns will precede verb

13. 13

    Step 13: as in these examples: Ne lui dites rien.

14. 14

    Step 14: With reflexive verbs

15. 15

    Step 15: the reflexive pronoun follows the imperative

16. 16

    Step 16: and -te changes to -toi.

17. 17

    Step 17: Just as we saw earlier with object pronouns

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    Step 18: however

19. 19

    Step 19: in the negative imperative of reflexive verbs

20. 20

    Step 20: the reflexive pronoun precedes the verb

21. 21

    Step 21: and -te is used

22. 22

    Step 22: not -toi.

Detailed Guide

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