Forming French imperative: how to do it?

The French imperative is used to give commands or orders, and it’s formed by using the present tense 2nd person singular (tu) or plural (vous) form of the verb, without a subject pronoun.

Here are some tips on how to use the French imperative:

1. For informal commands with tu: Drop the -s from the present tense tu form of the verb.

Example: “Parle!” (Speak!)

2. For formal commands with vous: Use the present tense vous form of the verb.

Example: “Parlez!” (Speak!)

3. For negative commands with tu: Use “ne” + the verb + “pas”.

Example: “Ne parle pas.” (Don’t speak.)

4. For negative commands with vous: Use “ne” + the verb + “pas”.

Example: “Ne parlez pas.” (Don’t speak.)

5. For reflexive verbs in the imperative: Use the reflexive pronoun + the verb.

Example: “Lave-toi!” (Wash yourself!)

Note: The imperative is not used in polite requests, instead the subjunctive mood is used.

The use of tu or vous depends on the level of formality desired in the communication.

Tags: French imperative, imperatifs french, french imperative examples, forming french imperative

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