L’Impératif
Only 3 easy things to remember! :
1) Drop the subject pronouns
2) For regular -er verbs, & aller, drop the “s” in the “tu” form
3) To give a negative command, just add “ne/n’ ” before the verb and “pas” after!
The imperative is used when one wants to:
-give an order
-forbid something
-give advice
-express a wish
Just as in English, you drop the subject pronoun when using the imperative.
“Shut the door!” (There is no subject pronoun, but one is implied. In this case it is “you” singular or “you” plural)
FORMATION:
Imperative with regular -er verbs
Look at the chart below. These are the forms of the imperative. You will notice there are only 3 forms: 2nd person singular (tu), 1st person plural (nous), and 2nd person plural (vous).
|
parler (1er groupe) |
singulier |
pluriel |
|
1re personne singulier |
– |
Parlons ! |
|
2e personne |
Parle ! |
Parlez ! |
|
3e personne |
– |
– |
The 1st person plural (the nous form), and 2nd person plural (the vous form) are the same as the regular conjugations.
The 2nd person singular (the tu form) changes. You drop the -s for all regular -er verbs.
Imperative with other regular verbs
The tu, nous, and vous form are all conjugated the same as they are in the present tense. All you have to do is leave out the subject pronoun.
| Regular -ir verbs | Regular -re verbs |
| Choisis ! | Attends ! |
| Choisissons! | Attendons ! |
| Choisissez ! | Attendez ! |
Choisis un film! – Choose a film! (telling one person – (You singular))
Choisissons un film! – Let’s choose a film! (We/Us)
Choisissez un film! – Choose a film! (telling more than one person – (You plural))
Negation
In the negative, the ne/n’…pas simply goes around the conjugated verb.
Ne parlez pas!
Ne dors pas!
Exception! The verb ALLER is irregular in the imperative, as follows:
| Va ! | Allons! | Allez! |
Remember:
1) FORM COMMAND ACCORDING TO SUBJECT, BUT LEAVE OUT/DROP THE SUBJECT PRONOUN!
2) DROP THE ‘S’ IF IT’S THE “TU” FORM OF A REGULAR -ER VERB
3) ALL OTHER VERBS FOLLOW THEIR REGULAR CONJUGATION PATTERN- EXCEPT FOR ALLER!
For more information:
–About.com gives a good overview of the Imperative