Practice Makes Perfect

Implied subject of the verb in the imperative clause

In English and French imperative clauses, the subject is implied. However, in the English clause, 

it may not always be clear whether one person or several persons are targeted in the command, 

whereas in the French sentence, the form of the verb makes it clear who is targeted in the 

command.

Va à la maison! 

Go home! (you, one person)

Cherche tes lunettes! 

Look for your glasses! (you, one person)

Allez à la maison! 

Go home! (you, several persons, or you, one person in 

 

 

formal address)

Finissez le diner! 

Finish dinner! (you, several persons, or you, one  

 

 

person in formal address)

Allons à la maison! 

Let’s go home! (both of us or all of us)

Laissons nos affaires ici! 

Let’s leave our things here! (both of us or all of us)

In an English imperative clause, there are two possible subjects that are implied:

◆

  You, talking to one person or several people

◆

  We, talking to at least one other person while including oneself

In a French imperative clause, however, there can be three implied subjects:

◆

  Tu, talking to one person in a familiar situation

◆

  Vous, talking to one person in a formal situation or talking to several people

◆

  Nous, talking to at least one other person while including oneself

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5/29/18   9:10 AM

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Exclamations and commands