Practice Makes Perfect

Imperative clause = verb in imperative mood

Consider the following examples of imperative clauses consisting of a single verb in the impera-

tive mood. Note that the implied subject of each verb is tu (you) and that the conjugated form of 

the verb is in the second person of the present indicative (although -s has been dropped from the 

ending for regular -er verbs and for the irregular verb aller).

DECLARATIVE CLAUSE 

IMPERATIVE CLAUSE 

VERB GROUP

Tu écoutes.  You listen. 

Écoute! 

Listen! 

-er verb

Tu choisis.  You choose. 

Choisis!  Choose! 

-ir verb

Tu réponds.  You answer. Réponds! 

Answer! 

-re verb

Tu prends.  You take. 

Prends! 

Take! 

irregular verb

Tu vas. 

You go. 

Va! 

Go! 

irregular verb  

 

 

 

 

  and  irregular 

 

 

 

 

  imperative form

Imperative clause = verb in imperative mood + complement

Consider the following examples of imperative clauses consisting of a verb in the imperative 

mood and a complement.

Écoute cette nouvelle chanson! 

Listen to this new song! 

Choisis ta couleur préférée! 

Choose your favorite color!

Réponds vite à la question! 

Quickly answer the question!

Va à la maison! 

Go home!

Note that the negative form of a verb in the imperative mood requires the use of ne and pas 

hugging the verb.