French/Grammar/Tenses/Imperative

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Usage of the Imperative

This tense is used to give commands, express requests or make suggestions.

Formation of the Imperative

The imperative is used in tu, nous and vous forms; the nous and vous forms are the same as the indicative in both regular and irregular verbs (except the 3 irregulars shown below). The tu form is also the same unless it comes from an infinitive that ends in -er, in which case the tu form would drop the 's' (e.g.: parles -> parle).

You could also drop the 's' when an -ir verb has the same endings as an er verb.

The infinitive can also be used as the imperative, but only for impersonal commands, e.g.: mettre la ceinture.

Regular Conjugations

• danser, perdre & finir are regular verbs that can be used in the imperative.

Danser

Subject	Ending
(Tu)	danse
(Nous)	dansons
(Vous)	dansez

Perdre

Subject	Ending
(Tu)	perds
(Nous)	perdons
(Vous)	perdez

finir

Subject	Ending
(Tu)	finis
(Nous)	finissons
(Vous)	finissez

Irregular Verbs in their Imperative Conjugations

• faire, aller, venir, sortir, and partir

Faire

Subject	Ending
(Tu)	fais
(Nous)	faisons
(Vous)	faites

Aller

Subject	Ending
(Tu)	va
(Nous)	allons
(Vous)	allez

Venir

Subject	Ending
(Tu)	viens
(Nous)	venons
(Vous)	venez

Sortir

Subject	Ending
(Tu)	sors
(Nous)	sortons
(Vous)	sortez

Irregular Conjugations

• Être, Avoir, Savoir, & Vouloir are the only verbs that are irregular in the imperative.

Être

Subject	Ending
(Tu)	sois
(nous)	soyons
(vous)	soyez

Avoir

Subject	Ending
(Tu)	aie
(nous)	ayons
(vous)	ayez

Savoir

Subject	Ending
(Tu)	sache
(nous)	sachons
(vous)	sachez

Vouloir

Subject	Ending
(Tu)	veuille
(nous)	veuillons
(vous)	veuillez

Tenses and moods

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