Grammar – AS Level: Commands — WJEC A-Level French

In French grammar, commands (l'impératif) are used to give orders, instructions, advice, or requests. At AS Level (WJEC), you need to master the imperative forms for regular and common irregular verbs in the tu, nous, and vous forms. The imperative is formed by taking the present tense conjugation of the verb and dropping the subject pronoun. For -er verbs, the tu form loses the final -s (e.g., 'parle' instead of 'parles'), except when followed by 'y' or 'en' (e.g., 'parles-en'). Understanding commands is essential for everyday communication and for writing instructions, recipes, or giving directions in your exam.

The imperative is a key grammatical structure that appears in both the oral and written components of the WJEC A-Level French exam. You may be asked to transform sentences into commands, use them in role-plays, or identify them in reading passages. Mastering commands also helps with other topics like giving advice (using 'il faut' + infinitive) or expressing wishes. A solid grasp of the imperative will improve your fluency and accuracy, especially in the speaking test where you might need to give instructions or persuade someone.

Commands are not just about grammar rules; they reflect cultural nuances. In French, the choice between 'tu' and 'vous' in commands is crucial for politeness and formality. For example, 'Ferme la porte' (tu, informal) vs. 'Fermez la porte' (vous, formal/plural). At AS Level, you should be able to use both registers appropriately. Additionally, reflexive verbs in the imperative require the reflexive pronoun to be placed after the verb and attached with a hyphen (e.g., 'Lève-toi'). This topic builds on your knowledge of present tense conjugations and pronoun placement.

• →Formation of the imperative: use the present tense tu, nous, vous forms without the subject pronoun. For -er verbs, drop the final -s from the tu form (e.g., 'parle' not 'parles'), except before 'y' or 'en' (e.g., 'parles-en').
• →Irregular imperative forms: avoir (aie, ayons, ayez), être (sois, soyons, soyez), savoir (sache, sachons, sachez), and vouloir (veuille, veuillons, veuillez – used for polite requests).
• →Reflexive verbs in the imperative: place the reflexive pronoun after the verb with a hyphen (e.g., 'Lève-toi', 'Asseyons-nous', 'Levez-vous').
• →Negative commands: use 'ne' before the verb and 'pas' after (e.g., 'Ne parle pas', 'Ne nous levons pas'). For reflexive verbs, the pronoun stays before the verb (e.g., 'Ne te lève pas').
• →Object pronouns with commands: in affirmative commands, pronouns are attached to the end with hyphens (e.g., 'Donne-le-moi'), but in negative commands, they precede the verb (e.g., 'Ne me le donne pas').

• Award credit for correctly conjugating regular -er verbs, dropping the -s in the tu form (e.g., 'Parle!' not 'Parles!').
• In negative commands, credit for placing ne before the verb and pas after (e.g., 'Ne parle pas!').
• For reflexive verbs, credit for correct reflexive pronoun placement in affirmative commands (e.g., 'Lève-toi!') and negative commands ('Ne te lève pas!').
• Award credit for using the correct imperative forms of irregular verbs like 'être' (sois, soyons, soyez), 'avoir' (aie, ayons, ayez).
• When using object pronouns with affirmative commands, credit for linking with hyphens and correct word order (e.g., 'Donne-le-moi!').
• In written tasks, credit for appropriate and consistent use of imperative to meet task requirements (e.g., giving instructions, advice).

• 💡In written tasks, vary command forms (tu, vous, nous) to address different audiences appropriately.
• 💡When translating commands from English to French, identify the subject (you singular/plural) to choose tu or vous form.
• 💡Practice rewriting affirmative commands as negative commands, paying close attention to pronoun placement.
• 💡For speaking assessments, drill common command phrases with pronouns (e.g., 'Donne-m'en!') to sound more natural.
• 💡Check for liaison and elision in commands: e.g., 'Vas-y!' (s becomes z) and 'Donne-t'en!' (with -t-).
• 💡In essays that require giving advice, use the nous form for inclusive suggestions ('Allons-y!').
• 💡In the writing exam, using a variety of command forms (tu, nous, vous) can demonstrate your grammatical range. For example, in a letter of advice, switch between 'Fais attention' (tu) and 'Soyez prudents' (vous) to show control.
• 💡Pay attention to the context: if the question involves a formal situation (e.g., writing to a teacher), always use the vous form. In informal contexts (e.g., a note to a friend), use tu. Mixing them up can lose marks for register.
• 💡When using object pronouns with commands, remember the word order: in affirmative commands, pronouns are attached to the verb (e.g., 'Donne-leur'), but in negative commands, they come before the verb (e.g., 'Ne leur donne pas'). Practice this to avoid common errors.

• Confusing the tu form of -er verbs: retaining the -s (e.g., writing 'Parles!').
• Incorrectly placing the pronoun before the verb in affirmative commands (e.g., 'Le donne!' instead of 'Donne-le!') or hyphenating in negative commands (e.g., 'Ne donne-le pas!').
• Forgetting to change the reflexive pronoun position in negative commands, producing errors like 'Ne lève-toi pas!' instead of 'Ne te lève pas!'.
• Using the imperative form where the subjunctive is needed, e.g., after certain conjunctions like 'bien que'.
• Overgeneralizing irregular imperative forms, e.g., using 'voullez' instead of 'veuillez' for vouloir.
• Omitting the pronoun entirely in commands with verbs like être and avoir, causing ambiguity.
• Students often forget to drop the -s from -er verbs in the tu form. For example, they write 'Parles!' instead of 'Parle!'. Remember: for regular -er verbs, the tu imperative has no -s, except when followed by 'y' or 'en' (e.g., 'Vas-y' is an exception).
• Another common mistake is using the subject pronoun with the imperative, e.g., 'Tu parles!' instead of 'Parle!'. The imperative never includes the subject pronoun.
• With reflexive verbs, students sometimes place the reflexive pronoun incorrectly in negative commands. For example, they might write 'Ne lève-toi pas' instead of 'Ne te lève pas'. In negative commands, the pronoun comes before the verb, not after.