Language/French/Grammar/Imperative-mood

When to use?

We use the imperative (or Imératif in French) to order someone to:

• give an order,
• express a desire,
• offer advice,
• recommend something,
• make a request.

Examples

The imperative only exists for the present tense tu, vous, or nous forms:

• Parle ! = speak!
• Parlez ! = speak!
• Parlons ! = let's speak
• Range ta chambre s'il te plait ! = Tidy up your room please!
• Ne va pas au jardin ! = Don't go to the garden!
• Ne buvons plus de lait = Let's not drink any more milk
• N'oubliez jamais ce qu'il vous a dit = Never forget what he has told you
• Va faire les courses ! = Go run the errands!
• Sois sage ! = Be wise!

Use the "vouloir" forms to politely ask someone to do something. It's not really an order.

• Veuillez vous asseoir! = Please sit down.
• Veuillez attacher votre ceinture! = Please fasten your seat belt.

Tell someone not to do something by negating the verb:

• Ne sois pas en retard ! = Don't be late!

Related Lessons

• Abstract versus concrete nouns
• Choice of some time adverbs relative to the moment of speaking
• Combinations of adjectives
• Meaning of tout à l'heure
• Impersonal vs Personal
• Past Tense
• Agreement with a preceding direct object pronoun when the participle is followed by infinitives
• Reflexive pronouns
• "se faire" and "se laisser"
• Confusions English and French direct object