Making commands (the imperative)
1 Definition
The imperative is the form of a
verb
used to instruct or invite someone
to do something. It has three persons:
- Second person singular: donne!
- First person plural: donnons!
- Second person plural: donnez!
2 Formation and use of imperative
2.1 For regular -er verbs and
aller
The
second person singular
is formed by taking the second person singular of
the
present tense
(e.g. donnes) and removing the final -s:
Donne-lui un coup de main pour
la vaisselle!
Give him / her a hand with the washing-up!
Va lui donner un coup de main
pour la vaisselle!
Go and give him / her a hand with the washing-up!
Change l’ampoule dans la cuisine avant de t’en aller.
Change the bulb in the kitchen before you go.
Achète du pain quand tu seras au supermarché.
Buy some bread when you’re at the supermarket.
Mange ton biscuit avant d’aller jouer.
Eat your biscuit before you go out and play.
Range ta chambre sinon tu n’iras pas jouer dehors.
Tidy your bedroom or else you won’t go and play outside.
Branche l’aspirateur dans l’entrée s’il te plaît.
Plug the hoover in in the hall please.
Note
Note, however, that the -s returns to this form when it is
followed by y or en:
Vas-y, achètes-en!
Go on, buy some!
Voilà des bonbons, mais donnes-en quelques-uns à ton frère aussi.
Here are some sweets, but give some to your brother as well.
Elle a des allergies. Penses-y si tu lui achètes quelque chose.
She suffers from allergies. Bear that in mind if you buy her anything.
Vas-y sans moi, je t’en prie. J’ai trop de travail.
Go without me, please. I’ve got too much work.
Il y a des roses dans le jardin, coupes-en pour ta mère.
There are roses in the garden, cut some for your mother.
Si tu as des oeufs, apportes-en que je te fasse un gâteau.
If you have any eggs, bring some so I can make you a cake.
The
first person plural
is the same as the first person plural of the
present tense
(e.g. donnons):
Donnons-lui un coup de main
pour la vaisselle!
Let's give him / her a hand with the washing-up!
Allons lui donner un coup de
main pour la vaisselle!
Let's go and give him / her a hand with the washing-up!
Arrangeons-nous pour arriver à l’heure.
Let’s make sure we arrive on time.
Allons au restaurant ce soir. Cela nous détendra.
Let’s go to a restaurant this evening. It’ll be relaxing for us.
Allons ensemble à l’école.
Let’s go together to school.
Regardons ce qu’ils nous ont acheté.
Let’s see what they’ve bought us.
Restons chez nous ce soir.
Let’s stay at home this evening.
The
second person plural
is the same as the second person plural of the
present tense
(e.g. donnez):
Donnez-lui un coup de main
pour la vaisselle!
Give him / her a hand with the washing-up!
Allez lui donner un coup de
main pour la vaisselle!
Go and give him / her a hand with the washing-up!
Marchez dans les allées non dans la pelouse s’il vous plaît.
Walk on the paths not on the lawn please.
Restez encore un peu. J’ai quelque chose à vous montrer.
Stay a little longer. I’ve got something to show you.
Fermez les volets s’il vous plaît.
Close the shutters please.
Compostez votre billet avant de monter dans le train.
Stamp your ticket before getting on the train.
Présentez-moi à votre ami.
Introduce me to your friend.
2.2 Other verbs
For most other
verbs
, all three persons are the same as the equivalent
persons in the
present tense
:
Finis tes devoirs! / Finissez
vos devoirs!
Finish your homework!
Rends-lui le livre! / Rendez-lui
le livre!
Give him / her back the book!
Apprenez bien vos tables de multiplication pour demain.
Learn your times tables properly for tomorrow.
Descends à la cave pour aider ton frère.
Go down to the cellar to help your brother.
Apprenons l’espagnol ensemble.
Let’s learn Spanish together.
Mettons de côté nos différences.
Let’s put our differences to one side.
Attends-moi ici dans cinq minutes s’il te plaît.
Wait for me here in five minutes please.
There are, however, four irregular formations:
Table 62.2.2a: Irregualar imperatives
| verb | imperative |
|---|
|
Être |
sois,
soyons, soyez |
|
Avoir |
aie,
ayons, ayez |
|
Savoir |
sache,
sachons, sachez |
|
Vouloir |
veuille,
(no 1st pers pl), veuillez |
Sois sage!
Be good!
N’ayez pas peur!
Don’t be frightened!
Sache que je n’y suis pas mêlé
Please understand that I’m not involved
Veuillez vous asseoir
Please sit down
Ayez la bonté de nous aider s’il vous plaît.
Be kind enough to help us please.
Aie le courage de reconnaître que tu t’es trompé.
Have the courage to admit you made a mistake.
Soyez vous et personne d’autre.
Be yourself and no-one else.
Veuillez lui pardonner les soucis qu’il vous a faits.
Please excuse him the trouble he’s caused you.
Sois ici à sept heures demain s’il te plaît.
Be here at seven o’clock tomorrow please.
2.3 Pronominal verbs in the imperative
In
affirmative
imperative sentences, the
reflexive pronoun
comes immediately
after the main verb. Note that the pronoun te is replaced with
toi:
Lève-toi!
Get up!
Attendez-vous à d’importants changements, vous pouvez me croire.
Expect some major changes, believe me.
Reposez-vous, je crois que vous en avez besoin.
Have a rest, I think you need to.
Décidez-vous vite si la maison vous intéresse.
Decide quickly if the house interests you.
Tenons-nous bien. Le directeur nous regarde.
Let’s sit up straight. The head teacher is looking at us.
Mettez-vous plus près les uns des autres.
Come closer together.
In
negative
imperative sentences, however, the word order reverts to
the regular word order:
Tu ne te lèves pas
You don't get up
Ne te lève pas!
Don't get up!
Ne nous baignons pas ici. Il y a trop de cailloux.
Let’s not swim here. There are too many pebbles.
Ne nous réjouissons pas trop vite. Nous n’avons pas encore remporté le contrat.
Let’s not celebrate too quickly. We haven’t won the contract yet.
Ne te moque pas de ton frère.
Don’t tease your brother.
Ne t’occupe pas de cela, laisse-moi faire.
Don’t worry about that, let me do it.
Ne vous plaignez pas, il a fait ce qu’il pouvait pour vous aider.
Don’t complain, he did what he could to help you.
2.4 Use of imperative
The imperative is used very much as it is in English:
- To give an order:
Fermez la porte!
Close the door!
- Make a suggestion:
Allons-y!
Let's go!
- Make an invitation:
Venez chez nous!
Come to our house!
- Express a wish:
Dors bien!
Sleep well!
