What is l’impératif?
L’impératif (the imperative) is used to give orders or advice to one or more people. The
imperative only exists in the second person singular (tu), the first person plural (nous) and the
second person plural (vous). The imperative is conjugated in the same way as the present tense,
but the subject pronouns are omitted.
Example
Passager: Arrêtez!
Chauffeur: Montez!
Passager: Conduisez-moi à la gare!
Chauffeur: Mettez votre ceinture, s’il vous plaît!
Passager: Allons-y!
When to use l’impératif in French
The imperative is a mood that we use to give an order or a suggestion to one or more people.
Examples: Arrêtez !
Montez !
Conduisez-moi à la gare !
Sometimes we include ourselves in the order and use the imperative in the first person plural
form (nous). This is similar to the English let’s + infinitive.
Example: Allons-y !
How to conjugate l’impératif in French
2nd person singular (tu)
We conjugate the imperative in the 2nd person singular using the present-tense form of the 1st
person singular. We do not include the pronoun.
This means that regular -er verbs end with e, while all other verbs end with s. For irregular
present-tense forms, see the list of irregular verbs.
Examples:
parler – Parle !
finir – Finis !
vendre – Vends !
1st person plural (nous)
The imperative for the 1st person plural form nous is the same as the present-tense form. This
means that for -er and -re verbs and irregular verbs we add ons, and for ir-verbs that are
conjugated like finir we add issons. The pronoun is omitted.
Example:
parler – Parlons !
finir – Finissons !
vendre – Vendons !
2nd person plural (vous)
The imperative for the 2nd person plural form vous is the same as the present-tense form. This
means that for -er and -re verbs and irregular verbs we add ez, and for -ir verbs that are
conjugated like finir we add issez. The pronoun is omitted.
Example:
parler – Parlez !
finir – Finissez !
vendre – Vendez !
We also use this form in polite requests.
Example:
Attendez, madame.
Veuillez vous asseoir.
Reflexive Verbs
To form a positive imperative with a reflexive verb, we use the conjugated verb followed by a
reflexive stress pronoun (toi, vous, nous).
Examples:
Lève-toi!
Lève-nous!
In negative imperatives, however, the reflexive pronoun is unstressed and occupies its normal
position: after the ne and before the verb.
Example:
Ne te lève pas !
Ne nous levons pas !
Exceptions in the imperative
Some verbs have an irregular imperative form.
Infinitive Imperative
aller va, allons, allez
avoir aie, ayons, ayez
être sois, soyons, soyez
savoir sache, sachons, sachez
vouloir veuille, veuillons, veuillez
If the adverbial pronoun y comes after an imperative that ends with a vowel, we add an s to the
imperative verb to make pronunciation easier.
Example:
Vas-y !
Exercise
Complete the gaps with the imperative for the 2nd person singular (tu).
1. (parler/avec elle)
2. (finir/ton exercice)
3. (attendre/là)
4. (se perdre/ne pas)
5. (se dépêcher)
Complete the gaps with the imperative for the 1st person plural (nous).
1. (payer/l’addition) !
2. (prendre/le tram) !
3. (faire/du vélo) !
4. (s’endormir/ne pas)!
5. (se réjouir)!
Complete the gaps with the imperative for the 2nd person plural (vous).
1. (demander/à votre professeur)
2. (attendre/un instant)
3. (vouloir/venir à l’heure)
4. (ne pas/être/triste)
5. (se réveiller/à 6 heures)
