Verbs - imperative Flashcards
When is the imperative used?
What tense does it use?
Which person can be in the imperative?
It is a form of a verb used when giving orders and instructions.
By definition it is always in the present tense.
As it is an instruction or order, the imperative is always in either:
1.the second person singular
(Wait!)
2. the second person plural
(Wait!)
3. the first person plural
(Let’s wait!)
How is the imperative formed for regular verbs?
It is the same as the present tense form except:
- you do not say the pronouns
- in tu forms of -er verbs, the final s is dropped
E.g. Attendre
Attends - Wait! (to 1 person)
Attendez - Wait! (to > 1 person, or the formal vouz)
Attendons - Let’s wait
What is an object pronoun?
An object pronoun is a word like:
- me/moi (me)
- la (her/it)
- leur (to them)
that is used instead of a noun as the object of a sentence.
What are direct and indirect object pronouns?
Direct: words such as me, him, us and them used (in place of a noun) to stand for the person or thing most directly affected by the action.
E.g. Give it to me
It is the direct object pronoun
Indirect: when a verb has 2 objects, the indirect object pronoun is used (in place of a noun) to indicate the person or thing the action is intended to benefit or harm
E.g. Give it to me
Me is the direct object pronoun
Where does the object pronoun (direct or indirect) go if you are telling someone to do something?
It goes AFTER the verb and the 2 words are joined with a hyphen
E.g.
Excusez-moi!
Aide-nous!
Attendons-la! (Let’s wait for it/her)
For the imperative, what is the convention regarding the order if there is both a direct and an indirect object pronoun in the instruction?
This is very common - e.g give it to me.
Both go after the verb, with the direct going before the indirect
Direct = le/la/les
Indirect = moi/toi/lui/nous/vouz/leur
Note in English it can be either way - Give them to me or Give me them.
E.g. Donnez-la-nous! = Give it to us!
Prête-les-moi! = Lend them to me!
Note 2 hyphens, one for each of the object pronouns
Where does the object pronoun (direct or indirect) go if you are telling someone NOT to do something?
What is the order if there are both direct and indirect object pronouns in the instruction?
Either/both go BEFORE the verb
Ne me dérange pas - Don’t disturb me
Ne leur parlons pas - Let’s not speak to them
Note indirect goes before direct if both are in the sentence:
Don’t give it to me! - Ne me le donne pas !
The imperative of which 3 verbs is irregular?
Which verb form do these 3 use in the imperative?
Etre
Sois! Soyons! Soyez!
Avoir
Aie! Ayons! Ayez!
Savoir
Sache! Sachons! Sachez!
How do you form the affirmative imperative of reflexive verbs?
The reflexive pronoun follows the verb and is joined to it by a hyphen.
E.g. Levons-nous! Lève-toi!
How do you form the negative imperative of reflexive verbs?
Place ne or n’ before the imperative form of the verb and pas after it, and place the refelxive pronoun BEFORE the verb
E.g. Ne te réveille pas!
Ne vous réveillez pas!
