I.    Usage

The imperative (or command) form of a verb is used to give instructions, to make requests, to make suggestions, or to give orders. 

II.    Structure

The regular imperative forms are easy to learn, since they are based on the present tense. French has three imperative forms, corresponding to the person or persons being addressed. 
-    tu (second-person familiar, singular)
-    vous (second-person polite, both singular and plural, and familiar plural)
-    nous (first-person plural, includes the group the speaker belongs to) 

Imperative forms do not use subject pronouns. 

III.    The Imperative of -er Verbs

The letter -s in the tu form of -er verbs is dropped in the spelling of the imperative. Pronunciation remains the same. 

-    parler (to speak) 

tu parles              Parle!        Speak!
vous parlez         Parlez!       Speak!
nous parlons       Parlons!     Let’s speak!

-    écouter (to listen to)

tu écoutes           Écoute!          Listen!
vous écoutez       Écoutez!        Listen!
nous écoutons     Écoutons!      Let’s listen!

•    Regarde cet oiseau-là! (Look at that bird!)
•    S’il vous plaît, parlez plus lentement. (Please speak more slowly.)
•    Nous avons le temps; écoutons cette chanson. (We have time; let’s listen to this song.)

IV.    The Imperative of -ir Verbs

The letter combination -iss- occurs in the nous and vous endings of regular -ir imperatives, just as it does in the present tense conjugation.

- choisir (to choose) 

tu choisis                 Choisis!             Choose! 
vous choisissez        Choisissez!       Choose! 
nous choisissons      Choisissons!     Let’s choose! 

- finir (to finish) 

tu finis                Finis!             Finish!
vous finissez       Finissez!       Finish! 
nous finissons     Finissons!     Let’s finish! 

•    Choisissons un film pour ce soir. (Let’s choose a movie for this evening.)
•    Réfléchissez bien à vos choix. (Consider your choices well.)
•    Finis tes légumes! (Finish your vegetables!)

V.    The Imperative of -re Verbs

Note that the final -s in the tu form of the present tense also appears in the imperative of regular -re verbs. 

- attendre (to wait for) 

tu attends              Attends!          Wait! 
vous attendez       Attendez!         Wait! 
nous attendons     Attendons!       Let’s wait! 

- descendre (to go down; to get off) 

tu descends              Descends!        Come down!/Go down!/Get off! 
vous descendez       Descendez!       Come down!/Go down!/Get off! 
nous descendons     Descendons!     Let’s go down!/Let’s get off! 

•    Attends! J’arrive! (Wait! I’m coming!)
•    Descendons à Odéon, d’accord? (Let’s get off at Odéon, O.K.?)
•    Vendez la bicyclette bleue; elle est trop petite. (Sell the blue bike; it’s too small.)

VI.    The Imperative of Irregular Verbs

The imperative forms of irregular verbs are usually identical to their present tense forms. However, note in the following chart that the letter -s in the tu form of aller (tu vas) is omitted in the imperative. Pronunciation remains the same.

faire (to make; to do)	Fais... !
	Faites... !
	Faisons... !
aller (to go)	Va... !
	Allez... !
	Allons... !

A verb in the imperative can also precede an infinitive. 

•    Faisons du jogging demain matin. (Let’s go jogging tomorrow morning.)
•    On sonne; va ouvrir! (Someone’s ringing; go open the door!)
•    Fais le ménage. Moi, je fais la cuisine. (You Clean up and I’ll cook.)
•    Allez chercher deux baguettes. (Go get two baguettes.) 

Être and Avoir have irregular imperative forms that differ from their present tense forms.

- être (to be) 

tu es                   Sois... ! 
vous êtes            Soyez... ! 
nous sommes     Soyons... ! 

- avoir (to have) 

tu as                Aie... ! 
vous avez        Ayez... ! 
nous avons     Ayons... ! 

•    Sois calme, il n’y a pas de danger. (Stay calm, there’s no danger.)
•    Soyez sages, les enfants! (Be good, children!)
•    Ayez confiance en vos amis. (Trust your friends.)

Savoir and Vouloir are also irregular.

Savoir (to know)	Sache...!
	Sachons... !
	Sachez... !
Vouloir (to want)	Veuille...!
	Veuillons...!
	Veuillez...!

VII.    The imperative in the negative

In negative commands, ne/n’ comes before the imperative verb form and pas follows it. 

•    N’achetez pas de tabac. (Don’t buy (any) tobacco.)
•    N’aie pas honte. (Don’t be ashamed.)
•    Ne faisons pas de bruit. (Let’s not make (any) noise.)
•    Ne parlez pas de ces difficultés. (Don’t talk about these problems.)
•    N’ayez pas peur. (Don’t be afraid.)

VIII.    The Imperative in Sentences 

As you have seen, the imperative (like other verbs), can be followed by adjectives, adverbs, direct object/indirect object nouns, prepositional phrases, and verb infinitives. 

Adjective:	Sois calme.	Be (Stay) calm.
Adverb:	Réfléchissez bien. Ne descends pas ici!	Think carefully. Don’t get off here!
Direct object noun:	Achète du beurre	Buy (some) butter
Indirect object noun:	Répondons au professeur.	Let’s answer the teacher.
Prepositional phrase:	Allons au cinéma!	Let’s go to the cinema!
Verb infinitive:	Va faire le marché	Go shopping.

IX.    The Imperative with an Object Pronoun 

Direct object pronouns, indirect object pronouns, and the pronouns en and y are attached to affirmative commands by a hyphen. However, in negative commands, the object pronouns precede the verb. 

•    Achète ces pommes! Achète-les! (Buy those apples! Buy them!)
•    Ne les achète pas! (Don’t buy them!)
•    Buvez de l’eau! Buvez-en! (Drink some water! Drink some!)
•    N’en buvez pas! (Don’t drink any!)
•    Allons au match! Allons-y! (Let’s go to the game! Let’s go there!)
•    N’y allons pas! (Let’s not go there!)
•    Me and te become moi and toi when they follow an affirmative command. 

•    Passe-moi le pain, s’il te plaît. (Pass me the bread, please.)
•    Non, ne me passe pas le pain. (No, do not pass me the bread.)