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    01 Imperative

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    Mercy Thandiwe Madhi

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    01 Imperative

    Uploaded by

    Mercy Thandiwe Madhi
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    01 Imperative

    Uploaded by

    Mercy Thandiwe Madhi

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 21

    THE IMPERATIVE MOOD

    Eighteenth lesson – Dix-huitième leçon


    CONTENTS

    1. Definition
    2. Uses
    3. Regular forms
    3.1 Overview of regular imperative patterns
    4. Forms : irregular verbs
    4.1 Overview of irregular forms
    5. Imperative negative
    5.2 Imperative negative of pronominal verbs
    1. DEFINITION

     The imperative mood (le mode impératif) is


    used to express commands: making a request,
    giving an order, expressing a desire, offering
    advice, giving a recommendation.
    2. USES

    2.1 Informal & formal commands

     To make an informal command, use the familiar


    tu form of the verb:

     Entre! Come in!


    2. USES

     To make a formal command, use the polite form


    vous (one or more persons) form of the verb:

     Entrez! Come in!


    2. USES

    2.2. The subject pronoun is not used with the


    imperative mood

     Entrer (to enter)

     Entre! Enter! (talking to « you » informally)

     Entrez! Enter! (talking to « you » formally –


    or to more persons – formally.
    2. USES

     Except with pronominal verbs:

     Se lever (to get up)

     Levons-nous! Let’s (us) get up!

     Ne nous levons pas! Let’s not get up!

     In both the above sentences the use of the subject


    pronoun is compulsory.
    3. REGULAR FORMS

    There are only three grammatical persons that can


    be conjugated in the imperative: tu, nous, and
    vous, and their conjugations are quite simple.

     Entre!
     Entrons!
     Entrez!
    3. REGULAR FORMS

    i) –ir and –re verbs

     In regular and most irregular -ir and -re verbs


    the forms of the imperative are the same as the
    corresponding persons in the indicative
    present tense.
    3. REGULAR FORMS

     Example:

     Tu finis ton travail. → Finis ton travail!


     You finish your work. → Finish your work!
    3. REGULAR FORMS

    ii) Verbs like ouvrir and souffrir are conjugated


    like -er verbs, thus, in the indicative the tu form
    ends in -es.

     Nous and vous of the imperative are the same


    as the indicative form.
    3. REGULAR FORMS

     For example when conjugating manger in the


    imperative mood, the tu form drops the final -s.

     Tu manges vite. → Mange vite!


     You eat quickly. → Eat quickly!
    3.1 OVERVIEW OF REGULAR IMPERATIVE PATTERNS

    Parler (to speak) Finir (to finish) Attendre (to


    wait)

    Tu parle finis attends

    Nous parlons finissons attendons

    Vous parlez finissez attendez


    4. FORMS : IRREGULAR VERBS

    There are four verbs with irregular forms in the


    imperative mood.

     Avoir to have
     Être to be
     Savoir to know/to be familiar with
     Vouloir to want
    4.1 OVERVIEW OF IRREGULAR FORMS

    Avoir Être Savoir (to Vouloir


    (to have) (to be) know) (to want)

    Tu aie sois sache veuille

    Nous ayons soyons sachons voulons

    Vous Ayez soyez sachez veuillez


    Examples:

     Sois courageux! Be brave!


     Ayons du courage! Let’s be brave!
    5. IMPERATIVE NEGATIVE OF VERBS

    To form a negative imperative place ne before


    the verb and pas (or another adverb, e.g. jamais,
    plus, encore) after it.

     Ne parle pas! Don’t speak


     N’ayez jamais peur! Never be afraid!
    6. IMPERATIVE OF PRONOMINAL VERBS

    6.1 In the affirmative imperative the reflexive subject


    pronoun te changes to toi and is linked by a hyphen to
    the verbal form. See the following example:

     Present tense: Tu te lèves.


    You are getting up.

     Imperative mood: Lève-toi!


    Get up!
    6. IMPERATIVE OF PRONOMINAL VERBS

    6.2 In the negative imperative sentences however the


    reflexive subject pronoun te remains te and must be
    placed before verbal form.

     Present tense: Tu ne te lèves pas?


    Aren’t you getting up?

     Imperative mood: Ne te lève pas!


    Don’t get up!
    7. PARTICULARITIES

    Using the pronouns y or en

     Note that when a tu command is followed by


    the pronouns y or en, the final -s is kept in order
    to aid pronunciation.

     Vas-y! Go (away)!
     Parles-en! Talk about it!
    C’est tout pour aujourd’hui!

    Au revoir!

    Merci!

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