Published October 20, 2014 • Updated June 19, 2026 — By French teacher David Issokson, teaching French online since 2014
The French imperative mood (l’impératif) is used for giving commands, instructions, advice, suggestions, and invitations. Imperative forms are based on the tu (you singular, informal), nous (we), and vous (you plural, formal) forms of the present tense but are used without subject pronouns. For most regular -er verbs, the final -s is dropped in the tu form.
French imperative chart
Regular verbs and aller
| Verb | Tu | Nous | Vous |
|---|---|---|---|
| parler (to speak) | parle ! (speak!) | parlons ! (let’s speak!) | parlez ! (speak!) |
| finir (to finish) | finis ! (finish!) | finissons ! (let’s finish!) | finissez ! (finish!) |
| vendre (to sell) | vends ! (sell!) | vendons ! (let’s sell!) | vendez ! (sell!) |
| ouvrir (to open) | ouvre ! (open!) | ouvrons ! (let’s open!) | ouvrez ! (open!) |
| aller (to go) | va ! (go!) | allons ! (let’s go!) | allez ! (go!) |
The basic rule
French imperative verbs use only the tu, nous, and vous forms. Subject pronouns are omitted.
Parle plus lentement !
Speak more slowly!
Finissons ce travail !
Let’s finish this work!
Attendez ici !
Wait here!
Imperative example sentences
Prends un taxi !
Take a taxi!
Partez avant midi !
Leave before noon!
Faites quelque chose !
Do something!
Allons en France !
Let’s go to France!
Sortons ce soir !
Let’s go out tonight!
Être, avoir and savoir
The verbs être (to be), avoir (to have), and savoir (to know) have irregular imperative forms.
| Verb | Tu | Nous | Vous |
|---|---|---|---|
| être | sois ! (be!) | soyons ! (let’s be!) | soyez ! (be!) |
| avoir | aie ! (have!) | ayons ! (let’s have!) | ayez ! (have!) |
| savoir | sache ! (know!) | sachons ! (let’s know!) | sachez ! (know!) |
These forms are identical to the corresponding subjunctive forms.
Sois prudent !
Be careful!
Ayons confiance !
Let’s have confidence!
Sachez que je suis prêt.
Know that I am ready.
Negative imperative
To make a command negative, place ne…pas around the imperative verb.
| Affirmative | Negative |
|---|---|
| parle ! (speak!) | ne parle pas ! (don’t speak!) |
| finissez ! (finish!) | ne finissez pas ! (don’t finish!) |
| va ! (go!) | ne va pas ! (don’t go!) |
| allons ! (let’s go!) | n’allons pas ! (let’s not go!) |
| ouvrez ! (open!) | n’ouvrez pas ! (don’t open!) |
Ne parle pas !
Don’t speak!
N’allez pas là-bas !
Don’t go there!
Ne vendons pas la voiture !
Let’s not sell the car!
Object pronouns in the imperative
In affirmative commands, object pronouns follow the verb and are connected with a hyphen. In negative commands, object pronouns return before the verb.
| Affirmative | Negative |
|---|---|
| attends-moi ! (wait for me!) | ne m’attends pas ! (don’t wait for me!) |
| donne-moi ! (give me!) | ne me donne pas ! (don’t give me!) |
| aidons-nous ! (let’s help each other!) | ne nous aidons pas ! (let’s not help each other!) |
| prêtez-moi ! (lend me!) | ne me prêtez pas ! (don’t lend me!) |
Attends-moi !
Wait for me!
Donne-moi le livre !
Give me the book!
Ne me donne pas ça !
Don’t give me that!
Reflexive verbs in the imperative
Reflexive verbs follow the same pattern. In affirmative commands, toi, nous, and vous follow the verb with a hyphen. In negative commands, reflexive pronouns precede the verb.
| Verb | Tu | Nous | Vous |
|---|---|---|---|
| se lever | lève-toi ! (get up!) | levons-nous ! (let’s get up!) | levez-vous ! (get up!) |
| se coucher | couche-toi ! (go to bed!) | couchons-nous ! (let’s go to bed!) | couchez-vous ! (go to bed!) |
| se marier | marie-toi ! (get married!) | marions-nous ! (let’s get married!) | mariez-vous ! (get married!) |
Negative forms
| Affirmative | Negative |
|---|---|
| lève-toi ! (get up!) | ne te lève pas ! (don’t get up!) |
| couchons-nous ! (let’s go to bed!) | ne nous couchons pas ! (let’s not go to bed!) |
| mariez-vous ! (get married!) | ne vous mariez pas ! (don’t get married!) |
Keeping the -s before y and en
Normally, regular -er verbs drop the final -s in the tu imperative form. However, keep the -s before y and en to create a smoother pronunciation. (See object pronouns y and en.)
Vas-y !
Go ahead!
Manges-en !
Eat some!
Penses-y !
Think about it!
Profites-en !
Take advantage of it!
Ouvres-en !
Open some!
Achètes-en !
Buy some!
📚 Related lessons
- French Present Tense
- Passé Composé
- French Imperfect Tense
- French Future Tense
- French Conditional
- French Subjunctive
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