The imperative is an important fundamental aspect of the French language. It is used to express commands, instructions, and directions to other people. Therefore, it is essential to acquire and learn how to use the imperative accurately, fluently, and politely. This article will guide you through the process of forming the imperative in French, with some examples to help you understand and master this form.

The imperative is derived from both the present and the subjunctive tenses for different pronouns. In the present tense imperative, the first- and second-person singular pronouns are not used, as these are replaced by the infinitive form. However, for the plural, the imperative form is formed by adding the following endings to the stem of the present tense of the verb:

– For the first plural (nous), add -ons, eg. mangeons (let’s eat), buvons (let’s drink).
– For the second plural (vous), add -ez, eg. mangez (eat), buvez (drink).
– For the third plural (ils/elles), remove the -ent from the present tense, eg. mangent (they eat) becomes mange (eat), boivent (they drink) becomes bois (drink).

For instance, the verb ‘aller’ (to go) in the present tense forms, is ‘allons’ (let’s go) for the first plural, ‘allez’ (go) for the second plural, and ‘allez-y’ (go there) for the third plural.

However, the imperative does not only use the present tense, but also the subjunctive tense for singular pronouns. The subjunctive form of the imperative is used with the subject pronoun ‘tu’ (you) and the subject pronoun ‘nous’ (we). The formation of the subjunctive tense requires you to take the present tense conjugation of the verb and drop the final ‘s’ in the ‘tu’ form and the final ‘ent’ for the ‘nous’ form. This form includes using the subordinating conjunction ‘que’ (that) for the sentences.

– For the singular ‘tu’, the subjunctive form is formed by dropping ‘s’ from the present tense conjugation of the verb, eg. mange (eat), parle (speak).
– For the ‘nous’ form, the subjunctive form is formed by dropping ‘ent’ from the present tense conjugation, eg. parlons (let’s speak), allons (let’s go).

For instance, the sentence ‘manger’ (to eat) in the present tense forms is ‘tu manges’ (you eat) becomes ‘mange’ (eat) in the subjunctive form. Similarly, the sentence ‘parler’ (to speak) in the ‘tu’ form is ‘tu parles’ (you speak) becomes ‘parle’ (speak) in the subjunctive form.

It is crucial for learners to understand the different forms of the imperative tense as they are essential for everyday communication in French. For example, someone might ask you to ‘Apportez-moi le sel, s’il vous plaît’ (Bring me the salt, please.) in the second plural imperative form. Alternatively, you might ask someone according to the first plural imperative form, ‘Allons-y’ (Let’s go); which means ‘let’s go’ which is a casual invitation to join you in your endeavors.

In conclusion, the imperative tense is critical in the French language, and understanding how to form it correctly is essential for effective communication. Learning the different types of imperative tenses, including the present and subjunctive, and mastering their respective forms, can help you communicate fluently and effectively in various situations. With consistent practice, you will be able to use the imperative with confidence, making a significant impact when speaking French.

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