# Imperative: parle, parlons, parlez

https://langs123.com/en/french/futur-imperatif/imperatif/
CEFR A0–A2 · 2026-10-24 · CC BY 4.0, langs123 contributors (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

> The imperative gives an order, advice or an invitation to **tu**, **nous** and **vous**, with no subject pronoun. The **tu** form of **-er** verbs drops its **s**: **Parle** plus lentement. **Parlez** plus lentement.

## Summary

| Point | Rule | Example |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Set phrases | **écoutez** / **répétez** / **regardez** / **excusez-moi** | **Répétez**, s’il vous plaît. | Please repeat. |
| Form | **tu**, **nous**, **vous**: the present, without the subject | **Prends** ton manteau. | Take your coat. |
| Form | **nous**: an invitation to do something together | **Allons** au cinéma ! | Let's go to the cinema! |
| The verb être | **être**: **sois** / **soyons** / **soyez** | **Sois** à l’heure ! | Be on time! |
| The verbs avoir and savoir | **avoir**: **aie** / **ayons** / **ayez** ; **savoir**: **sache** / **sachons** / **sachez** | N’**aie** pas peur ! | Don't be afraid! |
| Negation | **ne** + verb + **pas** | **Ne mange pas** ça. | Don't eat that. |
| Reflexive verbs | affirmative: verb-**toi**; negative: **ne te** + verb + **pas** | **Lève-toi** ! | Get up! |
| Pronouns | after the verb: **le** / **la** / **les**, then **moi** / **lui** | Donne-**le-moi**. | Give it to me. |
| Y and en | before **y** and **en**, the **s** of **tu** comes back | **Penses-y**. | Think about it. |
| Use | an order, an instruction, advice, an invitation; **s’il vous plaît** softens it | **Ouvrez** la fenêtre, s’il vous plaît. | Open the window, please. |
| Trap | **-er** verbs: no **s** in the **tu** form | **Écoute** ! | Listen! |

## Overview

- The imperative has three persons: **tu**, **nous** and **vous**. **Viens** ici. / **Mangeons** ensemble. / **Venez** ici. (Come here. / Let's eat together. / Come here.)
- The verb stands without a subject pronoun: the ending shows who is addressed. **Écoute**. / **Écoutez**. (Listen. / Listen.)
- When to say **tu** and when **vous**: Forms of Address: tu and vous.

## Form: regular verbs

| Person | parler | finir | attendre |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| tu | **parle** | **finis** | **attends** |
| nous | **parlons** | **finissons** | **attendons** |
| vous | **parlez** | **finissez** | **attendez** |

- The imperative takes the present forms, without the subject pronoun. **Finis** ton café. / **Attendez** un instant. (Finish your coffee. / Wait a moment.)
- **-er** verbs drop the **s** of **tu**: **tu parles** → **parle**. **Mange** ta soupe. / **Regarde** ! (Eat your soup. / Look!)
- Verbs like **ouvrir** and **offrir** follow the same pattern: no **s** for **tu**. **Ouvre** la porte. / **Offre** des fleurs à ta mère. (Open the door. / Give your mother some flowers.)
- **Aller** follows the same rule: **va**, **allons**, **allez**. **Va** à l’école. / **Allez** tout droit. (Go to school. / Go straight on.)

## Form: être, avoir, savoir

| Person | être |
| --- | --- |
| tu | **sois** |
| nous | **soyons** |
| vous | **soyez** |

| Person | avoir | savoir |
| --- | --- | --- |
| tu | **aie** | **sache** |
| nous | **ayons** | **sachons** |
| vous | **ayez** | **sachez** |

- **Être** has three forms of its own: learn them by heart. **Sois** gentil. / **Soyez** à l’heure. (Be kind. / Be on time.)
- **Avoir** and **savoir** also have forms of their own, with no **s** for **tu**. N’**aie** pas peur. / **Ayez** de la patience. (Don't be afraid. / Be patient.)

## Form: the negative

| Form | Example |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **ne** + verb + **pas** | **Ne parle pas** si fort. / **Ne partez pas**. | Don't speak so loudly. / Don't leave. |
| **ne** + **te** + verb + **pas** | **Ne te lève pas**. / **Ne vous inquiétez pas**. | Don't get up. / Don't worry. |
| **ne** + verb + **jamais** | **Ne dis jamais** ça. / **N’y va plus**. | Never say that. / Don't go there any more. |

- Before a vowel, **ne** becomes **n’**. **N’oublie pas** tes clés. / **N’attendez pas**. (Don't forget your keys. / Don't wait.)
- In the negative, **-er** verbs keep the form without **s**. **Ne mange pas** trop vite. (Don't eat too fast.)
- All the negatives: Negation.

## Pronouns with the imperative

- In the affirmative, a pronominal verb takes **toi**, **nous** or **vous** after it, with a hyphen. **Dépêche-toi** ! / **Asseyez-vous**, s’il vous plaît. (Hurry up! / Please sit down.)
- In the negative, the pronoun goes back before the verb: **ne te** + verb + **pas**. **Ne te dépêche pas**. / **Ne vous asseyez pas** ici. (Don't hurry. / Don't sit here.)
- An object pronoun follows the verb, with a hyphen; **me** and **te** become **moi** and **toi**. **Aide-moi**. / **Écoutez-moi**. / **Dis-lui** merci. (Help me. / Listen to me. / Say thank you to him.)
- With two pronouns, **le**, **la** or **les** comes first: **le-moi**, **le-lui**. Donne-**le-moi**. / Dites-**le-lui**. (Give it to me. / Tell him.)
- Before **y** and **en**, **-er** verbs take back the **s** of **tu**. **Vas-y** ! / **Manges-en** un peu. (Go ahead! / Have some.)
- All the object pronouns: Object Pronouns; **y** and **en**: The Pronouns y and en.
- Reflexive verbs: Reflexive Verbs: se lever.

## Use

| Use | Example |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| In class | **Écoutez**, puis **répétez**. | Listen, then repeat. |
| Apologising, getting attention | **Excusez-moi**, où est la gare ? | Excuse me, where is the station? |
| An order, an instruction | **Ouvrez** votre livre à la page dix. | Open your book at page ten. |
| A polite request, with **s’il te plaît** or **s’il vous plaît** | **Passe-moi** le sel, s’il te plaît. | Pass me the salt, please. |
| Advice | **Dors** bien et **bois** de l’eau. | Sleep well and drink water. |
| An invitation, a suggestion with **nous** | **Allons** au cinéma ce soir ! | Let's go to the cinema tonight! |
| Directions | **Tournez** à gauche, puis **allez** tout droit. | Turn left, then go straight on. |
| A recipe, instructions for use | **Coupez** les oignons, puis **ajoutez** le sel. | Chop the onions, then add the salt. |
| A wish | **Amuse-toi** bien ! | Have a good time! |

## Typical errors

| ✗ | ✓ |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Parles plus lentement. | **Parle** plus lentement. | for **tu**, **-er** verbs have no **s** |
| Lève-te ! | **Lève-toi** ! | **te** → **toi** |
| Ne lève-toi pas. | **Ne te lève pas**. | in the negative, the pronoun goes back before the verb: **ne te** + verb + **pas** |
| N’as pas peur ! | N’**aie** pas peur ! | **avoir** has the form **aie** for **tu** |
| Va-y ! | **Vas-y** ! | before **y**, **va** takes its **s** back: **vas-y** |