Imperative clauses
Imperative clauses are used to give orders, commands, and sometimes instructions. This type of clause ends in an exclamation mark and excludes a subject of the verb.
Word order
The entire clause may consist of a single verb in the imperative mood, or it may consist of the predicate (verb in the imperative mood and complement). The imperative clause does not have an explicit subject. The subject of the verb is implied.
Imperative clause = verb in imperative mood
Consider the following examples of imperative clauses consisting of a single verb in the imperative mood. Note that the implied subject of each verb is tu (you) and that the conjugated form of the verb is in the second person of the present indicative (although -s has been dropped from the ending for regular -er verbs and for the irregular verb aller).
Imperative clause = verb in imperative mood + complement
Consider the following examples of imperative clauses consisting of a verb in the imperative mood and a complement.
Note that the negative form of a verb in the imperative mood requires the use of ne and pas hugging the verb.
Change each declarative sentence into an exclamatory imperative clause. Add appropriate punctuation.
1. Tu regardes un bon film. _______________________________________________________________________
2. Tu viens à onze heures. _______________________________________________________________________
3. Tu prends un café. _______________________________________________________________________
4. Tu vas chez Paul. _______________________________________________________________________
5. Tu finis cet exercice. _______________________________________________________________________
6. Tu descends au premier étage. _______________________________________________________________________
Answer each question with an affirmative or negative imperative clause.
1. Je pars maintenant? —Oui, ________________________________________tout de suite!
2. Je fais la vaisselle d’abord? —Non, ________________________________________la vaisselle!
3. Je prends la voiture? —Oui, ________________________________________la voiture!
4. Je téléphone plus tard? —Non, ________________________________________! Ce n’est pas la peine.
5. Je rentre vers six heures? —Oui, ________________________________________tôt!
Implied subject of the verb in the imperative clause
In English and French imperative clauses, the subject is implied. However, in the English clause, it may not always be clear whether one person or several persons are targeted in the command, whereas in the French sentence, the form of the verb makes it clear who is targeted in the command.
In an English imperative clause, there are two possible subjects that are implied:
You,talking to one person or several people
We, talking to at least one other person while including oneself
In a French imperative clause, however, there can be three implied subjects:
Tu, talking to one person in a familiar situation
Vous, talking to one person in a formal situation or talking to several people
Nous, talking to at least one other person while including oneself
Imperative clauses in which a third person is the subject of the verb are presented in Unit 8.
For each of the following sentences, write 1 if Mr. Lemus addresses one student and + if he addresses more than one.
1. ________ Écris cette lettre!
2. ________ Finis ce rapport!
3. ________ Prenez des vacances!
4. ________ Fermez la porte!
5. ________ Approchez!
6. ________ Réponds!
Instruct your little brother to do the following actions by translating each imperative clause into French.
1. Listen to your mommy! ________________________________________
2. Choose your movie! __________________________________________
3. Come down! _______________________________________________
4. Finish your homework! _______________________________________
5. Do not look at your sister! _____________________________________
6. Go to your room! ___________________________________________
Instruct the children you are baby-sitting to do as you say by translating the following commands into French.
1. Do not scream! ______________________________________________
2. Turn off the TV! _____________________________________________
3. Go out into the garden! ________________________________________
4. Do not soil the couch! _________________________________________
5. Give me this towel! ___________________________________________
6. Stay in your room! ___________________________________________
You are among friends and make suggestions for weekend activities. Translate the following suggestions into French.
1. Let’s eat at the restaurant! ________________________________________
2. Let’s invite Jeanine! _____________________________________________
3. Let’s check the movie times! ______________________________________
4. Let’s go! _____________________________________________________
5. Let’s take a cab! _______________________________________________