Imperative & Polite Requests in French: A1 flashcards

Question 1

Rule: How do you form the imperative (giving an instruction)?

Accepted Answer

Use the present tense form of « tu », « nous » or « vous », without the subject. / Tu prends → Prends ! (You take → Take!) / Nous prenons → Prenons ! / Vous prenez → Prenez !

Question 2

Give a polite instruction with « s'il vous plaît »: Vous attendez ici.

Accepted Answer

Attendez ici, s'il vous plaît. / (You wait here. → Wait here, please.)

Question 3

Make a suggestion with « nous »: Nous partons.

Accepted Answer

Partons ! / (We're leaving. → Let's go!)

Question 4

Give an instruction to a friend: Tu viens ici.

Accepted Answer

Viens ici ! / (You come here. → Come here!)

Question 5

Make a suggestion with « nous »: Nous mangeons ensemble.

Accepted Answer

Mangeons ensemble ! / (We eat together. → Let's eat together!)

Question 6

Give a polite instruction with « s'il vous plaît »: Vous tournez à droite.

Accepted Answer

Tournez à droite, s'il vous plaît. / (You turn right. → Turn right, please.)

Question 7

Give an instruction to a friend: Tu prends le bus.

Accepted Answer

Prends le bus ! / (You take the bus. → Take the bus!)

Question 8

Give a polite instruction with « s'il vous plaît »: Vous lisez la question.

Accepted Answer

Lisez la question, s'il vous plaît. / (You read the question. → Read the question, please.)

Question 9

Rule: What normally happens to the final -s of -er verbs and « aller » with « tu » in the imperative?

Accepted Answer

The final -s is dropped. / Tu regardes → Regarde ! (You look → Look!) / Tu vas → Va ! (You go → Go!)

Question 10

Make a suggestion with « nous »: Nous allons au cinéma.

Accepted Answer

Allons au cinéma ! / (We go to the cinema. → Let's go to the cinema!)

Question 11

Give an instruction to a friend: Tu fermes la porte.

Accepted Answer

Ferme la porte ! / (You close the door. → Close the door!)

Question 12

Give an instruction to a friend: Tu écoutes.

Accepted Answer

Écoute ! / (You listen. → Listen!)

Question 13

Give an instruction to a friend: Tu vas à la boulangerie.

Accepted Answer

Va à la boulangerie ! / (You go to the bakery. → Go to the bakery!)

Question 14

Rule: How do you make an imperative negative?

Accepted Answer

Put « ne » (« n' » before a vowel) before the verb and « pas » after it. / Fermez la porte ! → Ne fermez pas la porte ! (Close the door! → Don't close the door!)

Question 15

Make this instruction negative: Tournez à gauche !

Accepted Answer

Ne tournez pas à gauche ! / (Turn left! → Don't turn left!)

Question 16

Make this instruction negative: Attends ici !

Accepted Answer

N'attends pas ici ! / (Wait here! → Don't wait here!)

Question 17

Rule: How do you ask for something politely?

Accepted Answer

« Je voudrais » (I would like) and « j'aimerais » (I'd like) are both polite and often equivalent here. « Je veux » (I want) is more direct.
Learn « je voudrais » and « j'aimerais » as set phrases.
Je voudrais un renseignement. (I'd like some information.)

Question 18

Make it more polite: Je veux visiter le musée.

Accepted Answer

Je voudrais visiter le musée. / J'aimerais visiter le musée. / (I want to visit the museum. → I'd like to visit the museum.)

Question 19

Make it more polite: Je veux un thé.

Accepted Answer

Je voudrais un thé. / J'aimerais un thé. / (I want a tea. → I'd like a tea.)

Question 20

Make it more polite: Je veux réserver une table.

Accepted Answer

Je voudrais réserver une table. / J'aimerais réserver une table. / (I want to book a table. → I'd like to book a table.)

Question 21

Rule: How do you ask someone very politely to do something?

Accepted Answer

« Pourriez-vous » (could you) + infinitive. Learn it as a set phrase. / Pourriez-vous m'aider ? (Could you help me?)

Question 22

Ask politely with « pourriez-vous »: Vous parlez plus fort.

Accepted Answer

Pourriez-vous parler plus fort ? / (You speak louder. → Could you speak louder?)

Question 23

Ask politely with « pourriez-vous »: Vous répétez.

Accepted Answer

Pourriez-vous répéter ? / (You repeat. → Could you repeat that?)

Question 24

Ask politely with « pourriez-vous »: Vous fermez la fenêtre.

Accepted Answer

Pourriez-vous fermer la fenêtre ? / (You close the window. → Could you close the window?)

Imperative & Polite Requests in French A1

The rules

How do you form the imperative (giving an instruction)?

What normally happens to the final -s of -er verbs and « aller » with « tu » in the imperative?

How do you make an imperative negative?

How do you ask for something politely?

How do you ask someone very politely to do something?

Common mistakes

19 exercises

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