L'impératif

Question 1

What is l’impératif

Answer 1

L’impératif is used to give orders to one or more people. Imperative only exists for tu, nous and vous for logical reasons.

When to use:
→ To give a suggestion to one or more people
→ Sometimes we include ourselves in the l’impératif with nous, like the english “let’s”

Question 2

How to conjugate the l’impératif

Answer 2

We conjugate the imperative form of the verb in the present tense based on vous, nous or tu. However, the subject pronoun is omitted.

Tu:
Parler → Parle
Finir → Finis
Vendre → Vends

Nous:
Parler → Parlons
Finir → Finissions
Vendre → Vendons

Vous:
Parler → Parlez
Finir → Finissez
Vendre → Vendez

Example:
Mettez votre ceinture, s’il vous plaît! → Put on your belt, please!

Question 3

L’impératif with reflexive

Answer 3

In a normal sentence, we use…
Conjugated Verb + - + Stressed Reflexive pronoun (toi, vous, nous)
Examples:
Lève-toi! (Get up!)
Lève-nous! (Let’s get up!)

In a negated sentence the reflexive is normal…
Examples:
Ne te lève pas ! (Don’t get up!)
Ne nous levons pas ! (Let’s not get up!)