Imperatives (Commands)

 

In the following, what's the subject???

I think you guessed it -- the subject is "you." The subject is not mentioned in the commands but is understood.

French has two words for "you," and they are: tu and vous; and, therefore, it stands for reason that there are
two ways of giving that command all depending upon to whom you give the command.

I  If you give a command to a relative, a friend, or a pet you use the familiar command and you use

      Examples:

      Jean, étudie!!!! (verb: étudier) - Study Jean!
      Pappa, ne chante pas! C'est horrible! (verb: chanter) - Don't sing Dad, it's tirrible
      Jeanne, finis tes devoirs! (verb: finir)   - Jeanne, finish your homework
      Ma petite, choisis quelque chose! - (verb: choisir) My little one, choose something
      Maria, va avec moi! (verb: irregular - aller) Maria, go with me!
      Mon garçon, ne fais pas de l'alpinisme! (verb: irregular - faire) My boy don't climb mountains!

II. If you give a command to more than one person or pet (plural) or to a peron whom you should address with
     "vous,"
you use the vous-form of the verb.

       Examples: (you can figure out what it means, I'm sure)

      Monsieur, étudiez!!!! (verb: étudier)
      Mes amis, ne chantez pas! C'est horrible! (verb: chanter)
      Jeanne et Maria , finissez vos devoirs! (verb: finir)
      Mes petites, choisissez quelque chose! (verb: choisir)
      Mesdames, allez avec moi! (verb: irregular - aller)
      Mes garçons, ne faites pas de l'alpinisme! (verb: irregular - faire)

III. Then there is the "suggestion," or the "indirect imperative/command." In English this is the "let us" command.
      (Let us study; let us eat; let us danse...).
      Since this addresses "us" (nous), it stand for reason that we use the "nous-form of the verb."

       Examples:

      Étudions!!!! (verb: étudier) Let us study!!!!
      Ne chantons pas! C'est horrible! (verb: chanter) Lete us not sing, It's terrible!
      Finissons nos devoirs! (verb: finir) Let's finish our homework
      Choisissons quelque chose! (verb: choisir) Let's pick something.
      Allons avec eux*! (verb: irregular - aller)  Let's go with them!        eux = them
      Ne faisons pas de l'alpinisme! (verb: irregular - faire) Let's not go mountian climbing.

IV. The verbs être, avoir and savoir have irregular imperatives:
              avoir:     aie, ayez, ayons
              être:       sois, soyez, soyons
              savoir:    sache, sachez, sachez