Rules and usage
The Impératif (Imperative) is the mood used to give commands, make requests, or issue invitations. It addresses the person or people you are speaking to directly, without using the subject pronoun. The imperative exists only for three subject forms: tu (one person, informal), nous (let's do something), and vous (multiple people or formal singular).
When to Use the Imperative
- Giving direct commands or orders
- Making polite requests or suggestions
- Offering invitations
- Giving instructions or recipes
- Descends les escaliers. (Come down the stairs.)
- Passe-moi le sel, s'il te plaît. (Pass me the salt, please.)
- Venez nous voir demain. (Come see us tomorrow.)
✅ Positive sentence examples
| French | English |
|---|
| Parle plus lentement. | Speak more slowly. |
| Fermez la porte. | Close the door. |
⛔ Negative sentence examples
| French | English |
|---|
| Ne parle pas si fort. | Don't speak so loud. |
| Ne fermez pas la fenêtre. | Don't close the window. |
❓ Question sentence examples
| French | English |
|---|
| Peux-tu m'aider? | Can you help me? |
| Pourriez-vous appeler un taxi? | Could you call a taxi? |