What is l'impératif? The imperative tense in French:
L’impératif is the tense used in French when giving orders, advice, instructions, or expressing wishes.
The imperative tense (a.k.a l’impératif) is quite simple to use since you can only conjugate it at the 2nd person singular (tu), 1st person plural (nous) and the 2nd person plural (vous).
L'impératif Examples
2nd person singular (tu)
Mange tes légumes.
Eat your vegetables.
1st person plural (nous)
Courons dans notre jardin.
Run in our garden.
2nd person plural (vous)
Finissez vos devoirs.
Finish your homework.
Using the Imperative:
As explained above, the present tense of the imperative is only conjugated in 3 persons: the second person singular, the first person plural, and the second person plural.
When using the imperative remember that: pronouns are left out and the verb is never preceded by a subject.
Conjugating the Imperative:
1st group Aimer | 2nd group Finir | 3rd group (radical + ____) | |
2nd person singular | aime | finis | -s courir= cour+s |
1st person plural | aimons | finissons | -ons courir= cour+ons |
2nd person plural | aimez | finissez | -ez courir= cour+ez |
Important tip:
Most of the verbs ending in -er, will follow the verb AIMER. Many verbs ending in -ir, will follow the verb FINIR. The other verbs are in the 3rd group.
Irregular Verb Conjugation of the Imperative
Some verbs are irregular because their radical changes. Here are 4 of these verbs.
Irregular verbs | |||
Avoir (to have) | Être (to be) | Savoir (to know) | Vouloir (to want) |
2nd p. s. -aie 1st p. pl. -ayons 2nd p. pl. -ayez | 2nd p. s. -sois 1st p. pl. –soyons 2nd p. pl. -soyez | 2nd p. s. -sache 1st p. pl. -sachons 2nd p. pl. -sachez | 2nd p. s. -veuille (polite)/ veux 1st p. pl. -voulons 2nd p. pl. -veuillez (polite)/voulez |
The Imperative: Free Practice Worksheets
Now that you’ve learned how to use the imperative, here are some free printable worksheets to practice:
