Learn how to use the French impératif, give instructions and advice, make recommendations, and communicate more naturally in French.
What is “l’impératif”?
The impératif is a French verb form used to:
- give instructions
- give advice
- make suggestions
- give commands
- encourage someone to do something
Main idea of the Impératif
Think of the impératif as:
“Do this!”
It is used when speaking directly to someone.
When do we use the Impératif?
We use the impératif to:
- tell someone what to do
- give travel instructions
- give recommendations
- offer advice
- make polite suggestions
Common situations where the Impératif is used
Travel
Prenez le train à huit heures.
(Take the train at eight o’clock.)
Advice
Visitez ce musée.
(Visit this museum.)
Instructions
Tournez à gauche.
(Turn left.)
Recommendations
Essayez la cuisine locale.
(Try the local food.)
Formation of the Impératif
The impératif is usually formed using the:
- tu form
- nous form
- vous form
of the present tense.
BUT:
Subject pronouns are removed.
Step 1 — Start with the present tense
Example with parler:
- tu parles
- nous parlons
- vous parlez
Step 2 — Remove the subject pronoun
- parle
- parlons
- parlez
These become the imperative forms.
Important rule with -ER verbs
For regular -ER verbs:
The final “s” in the tu form disappears.
Example
Tu regardes → Regarde
Tu visites → Visite
Example — Parler
| Subject | Imperative |
|---|---|
| tu | parle |
| nous | parlons |
| vous | parlez |
Example — Finir
| Subject | Imperative |
|---|---|
| tu | finis |
| nous | finissons |
| vous | finissez |
Example — Prendre
| Subject | Imperative |
|---|---|
| tu | prends |
| nous | prenons |
| vous | prenez |
Important irregular verbs
Être
- sois
- soyons
- soyez
Avoir
- aie
- ayons
- ayez
Savoir
- sache
- sachons
- sachez
Travel theme examples
Directions
Tournez à droite.
(Turn right.)
Hotel
Réservez votre chambre à l’avance.
(Book your room in advance.)
Airport
Arrivez tôt à l’aéroport.
(Arrive early at the airport.)
Tourism
Visitez les monuments historiques.
(Visit the historical monuments.)
Negative imperative
To make the imperative negative:
Use:
ne + imperative + pas
Examples
Ne mange pas ici.
(Do not eat here.)
Ne prenez pas ce train.
(Do not take this train.)
Ne soyez pas en retard.
(Do not be late.)
Imperative with pronouns
In affirmative commands:
Pronouns usually come AFTER the verb.
Examples
Prenez-le.
(Take it.)
Mangez-en.
(Eat some.)
Allez-y.
(Go there.)
In negative commands
Pronouns return BEFORE the verb.
Examples
Ne le prenez pas.
(Do not take it.)
N’y allez pas.
(Do not go there.)
How to identify the Impératif
Ask yourself:
Is someone:
- giving instructions?
- giving advice?
- making a recommendation?
- telling another person what to do?
YES → Use the impératif
Common mistakes
Mistake 1
Incorrect: Tu regarde ce monument.
Why wrong?
Because the imperative removes the final “s” for regular -ER verbs.
Correct: Regarde ce monument.
Mistake 2
Incorrect: Ne allez pas à cet hôtel.
Why wrong?
Because “ne” and “pas” must surround the verb.
Correct: N’allez pas à cet hôtel.
Mini practice
Put the verbs in the impératif
- __________ (visiter) ce musée.
- __________ (prendre) le train.
- __________ (être) prudents.
- Ne __________ pas (oublier) votre passeport.
Answers
- Visitez
- Prenez
- Soyez
- oubliez
Speaking practice
Give advice using the impératif
- Que faire à Paris ?
- Comment voyager de manière responsable ?
- Quels conseils donner aux touristes ?
- Comment préparer un voyage ?
Try to use:
- visitez
- prenez
- respectez
- préparez
Writing practice
Write 5 travel recommendations using:
- l’impératif
- travel vocabulary
- transport vocabulary
- hotel vocabulary
Why is the Impératif important?
The impératif helps you:
- give advice clearly
- communicate instructions
- interact naturally
- improve speaking fluency
- sound more confident in French
It is important for:
- IB French ab initio
- oral interaction
- classroom communication
- role plays and dialogues
Continue your learning
After studying l’impératif, continue with these important grammar lessons:
➜ Le passé composé — learn how to talk about completed past actions and specific events
➜ Le plus-que-parfait — learn how to describe an action that happened before another past action
➜ Les connecteurs logiques — learn how to organize and connect ideas clearly in speaking and writing
➜ Raconter un voyage au passé — learn how to narrate travel experiences naturally in French
These grammar lessons will help you:
- improve oral fluency
- communicate more naturally
- write more structured paragraphs
- prepare for IB French ab initio assessments
The imperative lesson above is part of a complete travel and communication grammar sequence for beginner and intermediate French learners.
