The imperative. Introduction to the imperative The imperative is used to give orders, recommendations or advice and to express requests, encouragement.

Présentation au sujet: "The imperative. Introduction to the imperative The imperative is used to give orders, recommendations or advice and to express requests, encouragement."— Transcription de la présentation:

1 The imperative

2 Introduction to the imperative The imperative is used to give orders, recommendations or advice and to express requests, encouragement or wishes: Asseyez-vous Allons-y Fais attention! Allez la France! The imperative has only three forms: tu (to address one person) : Choisis une activité vous (to address more than one person) : Faites attention! nous (to say let’s…) : Allons au centre sportif

3 How to form the imperative Take the present tense form of the verb but without the subject pronoun. Delete the -s from tu form of -er verbs: -er verbs inc.aller-ir verbs-re verbs jouerallerfinirvendre tujouevavafinisvends vousjouezallezfinissezvendez nousjouonsallonsfinissonsvendons Irregular forms: avoirêtresavoirvouloir tuaiesoissacheveuille vousayezsoyezsachezveuillez nousayonssoyonssachonsveuillons

4 Pronouns and the imperative Pronominal verbs drop their subjects but keep their object pronouns which move to the end and attach with a hyphen: Tu te lèvesLève-toi Vous vous levezLevez-vous Nous nous levonsLevons-nous Tu te sersSers-toi Vous vous servezServez-vous Nous nous servonsServons-nous Tu te tais Vous vous taisez Nous nous taisons

5 Location of pronouns with the imperative In affirmative imperatives, direct/indirect pronouns, y and en come immediately after the verb and attach with hyphens: Prends-les Suivez-moi Ecoutez-moi Tais-toi *Note: Pronouns governed by an infinitive are not linked with a hyphen: Monte les chercher Courez lui téléphoner When the verb is followed by y or en the -s of -er verbs reappears: Vas-yManges-enParles-en

6 Location of pronouns with the imperative When more than one pronoun is present the order is: verb - direct object - indirect object - y/en Donne-le-moiDonnez-le-lui moi and toi become m’ and t’ before y and en: Donne-m’enAccroche-t’y In negative imperatives pronouns precede the verb and follow the order as in non-imperative sentences: Ne me le donne pasNe m’en donne pas Ne le lui donnez pasNe t’y accroche pas

7 Toning down imperatives 1) Use veuillez (equivalent of s’il vous plaît): Asseyez-vous-Veuillez vous asseoir 2) Use the future tense instead: Vous fermerez la porte, s’il vous plaît Vous me donnerez deux baguettes 3) Use the infinitive: RalentirOuvrir doucement Third person imperatives (let him/her/them…) are formed with que + subjunctive in French: Qu’il s’asseye Qu’elle descende me commander une bière Qu’ils te le donnent