Imperatives in French

• The imperative is a form of a verb that is used to order or instruct someone to do something.

• Use the tu (informal singular) and vous (formal singular or plural) forms of verbs to give orders or instructions.

• For the tu form of the imperative for regular -er verbs, remove the s.

• For the tu form for regular -ir and -re verbs, keep the verb form the same.

• For the vous form for regular verbs, use the usual vous verb form.

• Higher Tier only – Use the nous verb form to say ‘Let’s (do)!’

• Higher Tier only – être (to be) is irregular in the imperative and uses sois, soyez and soyons to mean 'be (eg good)'.

The imperative is used to order or instruct someone to do something.

It is only used in the tu ('you' informal singular) and vous ('you' formal singular or plural) forms. It is usually formed using the present tense of the verb.

For example:

Ferme la porte. – Close the door.

Tournez à droite. – Turn right.

• For the imperative tu form of regular -er verbs, remove the s from the present tense verb.

For example:

Tu manges becomes Mange. – Eat.

• For the imperative tu form of regular -ir and -re verbs, there is no need to change anything.

For example:

Tu finis (you finish) is Finis. – Finish.

Tu réponds (you reply) is Réponds. – Reply.

• For the imperative vous form of regular -er, -ir and -re verbs, use the verb in the present tense vous form.

For example:

Vous mangez (you eat) becomes Mangez. – Eat.

Vous finissez (you finish) becomes Finissez. – Finish.

Vous répondez (you reply) becomes Répondez. – Reply.

Further examples:

Prends une pomme ! - Take an apple! ('you' informal singular)

Prenez une pomme ! Take an apple! ('you' formal singular/plural)

Ouvre la porte ! - Open the door! ('you' informal singular)

Ouvrez la porte ! - Open the door! ('you' formal singular/plural)

More information on useful verbs that can help with learning conjugation patterns can be found in this regular present tense verbs in French guide.

With a negative imperative, the ne and pas (or ne … jamais, ne … que, etc) are placed either side of the verb.

For example:

Ne mangez pas trop de chocolat ! – Don’t eat too much chocolate!

Aller (to go) and faire (to do/make) are two irregular verbs that are used frequently in French. The imperative forms for these verbs is formed in the same way as for other verbs:

For example:

Fais tes devoirs ! (Do your homework!)

Allez à droite. (Go right.)

Ne va jamais dans ce café, il est horrible ! (Don’t ever go to this café, it’s terrible!)

Practise what you've learned about imperatives in French with this quiz.

The imperative can also be used in the nous form to say ‘Let’s …’

For example:

Mangeons ce gâteau ! – Let’s eat this cake!

Allons à la plage ! – Let’s go to the beach!

This is formed by taking the nous form of the verb for regular -er, -ir, and -re verbs and irregular verbs such as aller (to go) and faire (to do/make).

Être (to be) is irregular in the imperative and takes a different form:

For example:

Sois sage ! – Be well-behaved!

Soyez heureux ! – Be happy!

Soyons vite ! – Let’s be quick!

Practise what you've learned about imperatives in French with this Higher Tier quiz.

Now you’ve learned about imperatives in French, why not explore the imperfect tense?