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!
Mange ton biscuit avant d’aller jouer.
Eat your biscuit before you go out and play.
Montre-moi tes photos de vacances.
Show me your holiday photos.
Baisse un peu la radio s’il te plaît.
Turn the radio down a bit please.
Si tu viens apporte ton sac de couchage.
If you’re coming bring your sleeping bag.
Regarde ce que tu as fait!
Look what you’ve done!
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!
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.
Vas-y sans moi, je t’en prie. J’ai trop de travail.
Go without me, please. I’ve got too much work.
Voilà des bonbons, mais donnes-en quelques-uns à ton frère aussi.
Here are some sweets, but give some to your brother as well.
Tu as un jour de congé, profites-en pour te détendre un peu.
You’ve got a day off, take the opportunity to relax a little.
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.
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!
Annonçons la nouvelle à nos amis immédiatement.
Let’s announce the news to our friends immediately.
Appelons Marie pour lui dire que nous sommes bien arrivés.
Let’s call Marie to tell her that we arrived safely.
Allons au restaurant ce soir. Cela nous détendra.
Let’s go to a restaurant this evening. It’ll be relaxing for us.
Profitons du beau temps pour nous détendre dans le jardin.
Let’s take advantage of the good weather to relax in the garden.
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!
Tournez à droite après le pont s’il vous plaît.
Turn right after the bridge please.
Appelez les pompiers s’il vous plaît.
Call the fire brigade please.
Pensez à m’écrire quand vous serez au Canada.
Remember to write to me when you’re in Canada.
Restez encore un peu. J’ai quelque chose à vous montrer.
Stay a little longer. I’ve got something to show you.
Allumez la lumière s’il vous plaît.
Turn the light on please.
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!
Lis cet article, ça t’intéressera.
Read this article, it’ll interest you.
Mettez vos affaires dans ce placard s’il vous plaît.
Put your things in this cupboard please.
Buvez moins d’alcool si vous voulez vous mettre en bonne condition.
Drink less alcohol if you want to get yourself fit.
Reprends du café, je t’en prie.
Have some more coffee, please.
Apprenons l’espagnol ensemble.
Let’s learn Spanish together.
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
Aie confiance en toi.
Have confidence in yourself.
Sachez vous montrer plus humble parfois.
You must show yourself to be more humble sometimes.
Ayez l’air sûr de ce que vous affirmez.
Be confident in what you’re saying.
Aie le courage de reconnaître que tu t’es trompé.
Have the courage to admit you made a mistake.
Soyez rassuré, il n’y a pas de quoi vous inquiéter.
Rest assured that there’s nothing for you to worry about.
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!
Rassurez-vous, il y aura beaucoup de personnes à votre conférence.
Rest assured, there will be a lot of people at your lecture.
Décidez-vous vite si la maison vous intéresse.
Decide quickly if the house interests you.
Assieds-toi près de ton frère.
Sit next to your brother.
Renseigne-toi à la gare si tu veux savoir l’heure des trains.
Ask at the station if you want to know the times of the trains.
Verse-toi à boire si tu as soif.
Pour yourself a drink if you’re thirsty.
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 te coiffe pas comme ça, ça te vieillira.
Don’t have your hair done like that, it’ll make you look older.
Ne vous approchez pas de la rivière s’il vous plaît.
Don’t go near the river please.
Ne vous fatiguez pas à le lui expliquer, il ne vous écoutera pas.
Don’t bother explaining it to him, he won’t listen to you.
Ne te plains pas, tu aurais pu avoir une amende.
Don’t complain, you might have got a fine.
Ne t’occupe pas de cela, laisse-moi faire.
Don’t worry about that, let me do it.
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!
