French conjugation explanation

Imperative pronouns and hyphens

<p>When giving an affirmative command (the affirmative

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/31/" target="_blank">Imperative</a>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">1. The Mandatory Hyphen</div>

<p>You must always place a <strong>hyphen</strong> between the verb and the pronoun that follows it.</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"> <span class="green_emphasis">Donne-le</span> à ton frère. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Give it to your brother.</span>) </div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"> <span class="green_emphasis">Allons-y</span> maintenant ! (<span style="font-style: italic;">Let's go now!</span>) </div>

<p>If there are two pronouns, hyphens are used between all elements:</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"> <span class="green_emphasis">Donne-le-moi</span> tout de suite ! (<span style="font-style: italic;">Give it to me right away!</span>) </div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">2. Me/Te becomes Moi/Toi</div>

<p>Because the pronouns are moved to the end of the sentence, they receive the tonic stress. Consequently, the weak form pronouns <span style="font-style: italic;">me</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">te</span> must change to their strong forms <strong>moi</strong> and <strong>toi</strong>.</p>

<ul>

<li><span style="font-style: italic;">me</span> &#8594; <span class="green_emphasis">-moi</span></li>

<li><span style="font-style: italic;">te</span> &#8594; <span class="green_emphasis">-toi</span></li>

</ul>

<p>This is extremely common with reflexive verbs involving specific actions:</p>

<ul>

<li>

<div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/se%20lever/" title="Click to see conjugations for se lever" target="_blank">se lever</a>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Lève-toi</span> ! (<span style="font-style: italic;">Get up!</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">Not <span class="red_emphasis">Lève-te</span>.</div>

</li>

<li>

<div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/se%20souvenir/" title="Click to see conjugations for se souvenir" target="_blank">se souvenir</a>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Souviens-toi</span> de ce jour. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Remember this day.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/s%27asseoir/" title="Click to see conjugations for s'asseoir" target="_blank">s'asseoir</a>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Assieds-toi</span> ici. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Sit down here.</span>)</div>

</li>

</ul>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Strict Comparison: Affirmative vs. Negative</div>

<p>Learners often make mistakes because they apply the rules of the negative imperative to the affirmative one. In the negative form (

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/french_imperative_affirmative_vs_negative/" target="_blank">affirmative vs. negative commands</a>

<ul>

<li>

<div><strong>Affirmative:</strong> <span class="green_emphasis">Lève-toi</span> !</div>

<div><strong>Negative:</strong> Ne <span class="brown_emphasis">te lève</span> pas !</div>

</li>

<li>

<div><strong>Affirmative:</strong> <span class="green_emphasis">Calme-toi</span> !</div>

<div><strong>Negative:</strong> Ne <span class="brown_emphasis">te calme</span> pas !</div>

</li>

<li>

<div><strong>Affirmative:</strong> <span class="green_emphasis">Écoute-moi</span> !</div>

<div><strong>Negative:</strong> Ne <span class="brown_emphasis">m'écoute</span> pas !</div>

</li>

</ul>