5.3 The Imperative (Commands)

Giving commands

The impératif gives orders using the tu, nous, or vous form without the subject pronoun: 'Parle!' (Speak!), 'Parlons!' (Let's speak!), 'Parlez!' (Speak! — formal/plural).

-er verbs drop the -s

For -er verbs, the tu command drops the final -s: 'tu parles' → 'Parle!' For -ir/-re verbs, keep it: 'Finis!,' 'Vends!'

Irregulars

être → sois, soyons, soyez; avoir → aie, ayons, ayez. Negative commands wrap around: 'Ne parle pas!' (Don't speak!).

Key terms

impératif

commands using tu/nous/vous without the pronoun

-er tu command

drops the -s: Parle ! Mange !

-ir/-re tu command

keeps the -s: Finis ! Vends !

nous / vous

Parlons ! (Let's speak) / Parlez !

Negative

Ne parle pas ! (Don't speak!)

Try an AP-style question

The tu imperative of "parler" is…

1. Parles !
2. Parle !
3. Parlez !
4. Parlons !