Commands

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To order someone around, use the present tense tu, vous, or nous forms. If the form ends in es, or as drop the final s.

Infinitive	Present Tense	Command Form	Definition
parler	tu parles	Parle !	speak
	vous parlez	Parlez !	speak
	nous parlons	Parlons !	let's speak
finir	tu finis	Finis !	finish
	vous finissez	Finissez !	finish
	nous finissons	Finissons !	let's finish
aller	tu vas	Va !	go
	vous allez	Allez !	go
	nous allons	Allons !	let's go

Chantez-moi une chanson.
Sing me a song!

Range ta chambre !
Tidy up your room!

Va faire les courses !
Go run the errands!

Ouvrons la fenêtre. Ça pue.
Let's open the window. It stinks!

Orders using the following verbs, however, are formed with subjunctive forms.

Infinitive	Definition	tu form	vous form	nous form
être	to be	Sois	Soyez	Soyons
savoir	to know	Sache	Sachez	Sachons
avoir	to have	Aie	Ayez	Ayons
vouloir	to want	Veuille*	Veuillez*	—

Sois sage !
Be wise!

Aie pitié de moi !
Have mercy on me!

Ayons le courage de dire la vérité.
Let's have the courage to tell the truth.

Sachez apprécier les petits bonheurs de la vie.
Learn to appreciate the little joys of life.

*The vouloir forms are used to politely ask someone to do something. They aren't really orders.

Veuillez vous asseoir.
Please sit down.

When the verb is reflexive, use a disjunctive pronoun rather than a regular reflexive pronoun.

Réveillez-vous.
Wake up.

Levez-vous.
Get yourself up.

Taisez-vous.
Shut up.

When a pronoun like y or en follows one of the verbs that drops the final s, don't drop the s.

Vas-y.
Go on.

Parles-en.
Speak about it.

Allons-y.
Let's go on.

Tell someone not to do something by negating the verb in the customary way.

Ne sois pas en retard !
Don't be late. (formal)

Sois pas en retard !
Don't be late. (informal)