B1 Pronouns 7 min read Medium

French Imperative with Pronouns: Give Commands (Regarde-moi)

In positive French commands, pronouns follow the verb with hyphens; in negative ones, they precede it.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

In affirmative commands, pronouns follow the verb with hyphens; in negative commands, they return to their normal position before the verb.

  • Affirmative: Verb + Hyphen + Pronoun (e.g., 'Regarde-moi!')
  • Negative: Ne + Pronoun + Verb + Pas (e.g., 'Ne me regarde pas!')
  • Special case: 'Me' and 'Te' become 'Moi' and 'Toi' in affirmative commands.
Affirmative: [Verb] - [Pronoun] | Negative: Ne + [Pronoun] + [Verb] + Pas

Overview

Mastering the French imperative with pronouns is essential for intermediate learners (CEFR B1) aiming for natural and fluent communication. The imperative mood serves to express commands, advice, or prohibitions. While forming the imperative verb itself is straightforward, the integration of object or adverbial pronouns (le, la, les, lui, leur, y, en, me, te, nous, vous) introduces distinct placement rules.

These rules differ significantly between affirmative (positive) and negative commands, often challenging learners accustomed to standard pronoun placement in declarative sentences. Understanding these variations is crucial for giving clear instructions, making polite requests, or responding effectively in daily interactions.

How This Grammar Works

The unique behavior of pronouns in the French imperative stems from a fundamental linguistic distinction between clitic and stressed (tonic) pronouns. In most French sentence structures, object pronouns are clitic, meaning they are phonologically dependent on the verb and precede it, forming a single prosodic unit. For example, in Tu me regardes (You look at me), me is a clitic pronoun.
However, the positive imperative disrupts this standard order. When a verb is in the affirmative imperative, and followed by a pronoun, the pronoun becomes enclitic (attaching after the verb). In this position, first and second person singular direct and indirect object pronouns (me, te) shift to their stressed (tonic) forms: moi and toi.
This change ensures proper phonetic stress distribution, as clitic pronouns cannot stand alone or be stressed. The hyphen linking the verb and pronoun (Regarde-moi !) visually represents this close enclitic relationship. The verb is primary, and the pronoun serves as its complement, requiring a more independent, stressed form when post-verbal.
Conversely, the negative imperative maintains the typical clitic pronoun placement. The negation particles (ne...pas) create a linguistic environment where the pronoun can precede the verb, nestled between ne and the verb. This re-establishes the conditions for clitic pronouns, allowing me and te to revert to their unstressed forms and follow the standard pronoun order observed in declarative negative sentences.
The presence of ne effectively shields the pronoun from the post-verbal position that triggers the stressed form. Consequently, understanding the syntactic environment — whether a positive or negative command — dictates the form and placement of the pronoun.

Formation Pattern

1
The formation of the imperative with pronouns depends critically on whether the command is affirmative (positive) or negative, and the type and number of pronouns involved. This section outlines the precise rules and patterns.
2
1. Single Pronoun Placement
3
A. Positive Imperative
4
For affirmative commands, the pronoun is placed after the imperative verb and connected by a hyphen. The pronouns me and te change to their stressed forms, moi and toi, respectively.
5
| Original Pronoun | Stressed Form (Positive Imperative) |
6
|:-----------------|:------------------------------------|
7
| me | moi |
8
| te | toi |
9
| le | le |
10
| la | la |
11
| les | les |
12
| lui | lui |
13
| leur | leur |
14
| y | y |
15
| en | en |
16
Verb + Hyphen + Pronoun (Stressed form for me/te)
17
Regarde-moi ! (Look at me!) - From Tu me regardes
18
Donne-le ! (Give it!) - From Tu le donnes
19
Pense-y ! (Think about it!) - From Tu y penses
20
B. Negative Imperative
21
For negative commands, the pronouns precede the verb and retain their unstressed forms (me, te). The entire structure is enveloped by the negation particles ne...pas (or ne...plus, ne...jamais, etc.). This placement mirrors standard declarative sentence structure.
22
Ne + Pronoun (Unstressed) + Verb + Pas
23
Ne me regarde pas ! (Don't look at me!) - From Tu ne me regardes pas
24
Ne le donne pas ! (Don't give it!) - From Tu ne le donnes pas
25
N'y pense pas ! (Don't think about it!) - From Tu n'y penses pas
26
C. Special Case: Adding an -s to -er Verbs (and aller)
27
When an imperative verb ending in -e (most -er verbs in the tu form, e.g., regarde, parle, mange, and va from aller) is immediately followed by the pronouns y or en, an -s is added to the verb ending. This is a phonetic rule to facilitate pronunciation and prevent a hiatus (vowel clash).
28
Va ! (Go!) becomes Vas-y ! (Go there! / Go on!)
29
Parle ! (Speak!) becomes Parles-en ! (Speak about it!)
30
Mange ! (Eat!) becomes Manges-en ! (Eat some of it!)
31
2. Double Pronoun Placement
32
When two pronouns are used with an imperative verb, their relative order is critical and also differs between positive and negative commands.
33
A. Positive Imperative (Verb + P1-P2)
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The order of pronouns after the verb is generally: Direct Object (le/la/les) before Indirect Object (moi/toi/lui/leur/nous/vous) or y or en. The order of y and en is y then en.
35
| Order 1 | Order 2 | Order 3 | Order 4 |
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|:--------------------------|:-----------------------|:---------|:--------|
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| le, la, les | moi, toi, nous, vous | lui, leur | y |
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| | | | en |
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Specific Combinations:
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Donne-le-moi ! (Give it to me!) - From Tu me le donnes
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Prête-la-lui ! (Lend her it! / Lend it to her!) - From Tu la lui prêtes
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Apporte-nous-y ! (Bring us there!) - From Tu nous y apportes
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Menez-les-y ! (Take them there!) - From Vous les y menez
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Vas-y-en ! (Go take some from there!) - A rare but grammatically possible combination where -s is added to va before y, and then en follows.
45
B. Negative Imperative (Ne + P1 + P2 + Verb + Pas)
46
In negative commands with double pronouns, the order is largely consistent with declarative sentences. The pronouns precede the verb and are placed within the ne...pas structure. This order does not use the stressed forms moi or toi.
47
| Order 1 | Order 2 | Order 3 | Order 4 |
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|:-----------------|:------------------|:----------------|:--------|
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| me, te | le, la, les | lui, leur | y |
50
| nous, vous | | | en |
51
Specific Combinations:
52
Ne me le donne pas ! (Don't give it to me!) - From Tu ne me le donnes pas
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Ne le lui prête pas ! (Don't lend it to her!) - From Tu ne la lui prêtes pas
54
Ne nous y menez pas ! (Don't take us there!) - From Vous ne nous y menez pas
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N'y en mange pas ! (Don't eat any of it from there!) - From Tu n'y en manges pas
56
3. Reflexive Verbs in the Imperative
57
Reflexive verbs follow similar patterns, but their reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nous, vous) behave as direct or indirect objects.
58
A. Positive Imperative (Reflexive)
59
The reflexive pronoun comes after the verb.
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te becomes toi.
61
Lève-toi ! (Get up!) - From Tu te lèves
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Habillez-vous ! (Get dressed!) - From Vous vous habillez
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Amusez-vous bien ! (Have fun!) - From Vous vous amusez bien
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B. Negative Imperative (Reflexive)
65
The reflexive pronoun comes before the verb, retaining me and te.
66
Ne te lève pas ! (Don't get up!) - From Tu ne te lèves pas
67
Ne vous inquiétez pas ! (Don't worry!) - From Vous ne vous inquiétez pas

When To Use It

The imperative mood with pronouns is deployed in any situation requiring direct, concise communication of actions, whether spoken or written. It is a fundamental aspect of giving instructions, offering advice, expressing prohibitions, or making polite requests.
  • Giving Instructions: From culinary recipes to assembly guides, the imperative is indispensable. For example, Mélangez-le bien ! (Mix it well!) in a recipe, or Connectez-les ici ! (Connect them here!) in an assembly manual. This is its most common and literal application, streamlining commands without explicit subjects.
  • Offering Advice or Suggestions: Beyond strict commands, the imperative softens into advice. Pensez-y avant d'agir ! (Think about it before acting!) or Parle-lui directement ! (Speak to him/her directly!) guides actions while still retaining a directive tone. This is particularly common in professional contexts or mentorship.
  • Polite Requests (often with s'il vous plaît/s'il te plaît): Despite its

Imperative Pronoun Placement

Type Structure Example (Affirmative) Example (Negative)
Direct Object
Verb-Pronoun
Regarde-le
Ne le regarde pas
Indirect Object
Verb-Pronoun
Parle-lui
Ne lui parle pas
Reflexive
Verb-Pronoun
Lave-toi
Ne te lave pas
Double Pronoun
Verb-Pronoun-Pronoun
Donne-le-moi
Ne me le donne pas
Y/En
Verb-Pronoun
Vas-y
N'y va pas

Pronoun Transformations

Standard Affirmative Imperative
me
moi
te
toi

Meanings

The imperative mood is used to give orders, advice, or instructions. When object pronouns are involved, their placement changes based on whether the command is affirmative or negative.

1

Direct Command

Giving a direct instruction to someone using pronouns.

“Écoute-moi.”

“Prends-le.”

2

Negative Command

Prohibiting an action using pronouns.

“Ne me parle pas.”

“Ne le mange pas.”

3

Reflexive Command

Giving a command involving oneself or the listener reflexively.

“Dépêche-toi.”

“Lave-toi les mains.”

Reference Table

Reference table for French Imperative with Pronouns: Give Commands (Regarde-moi)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Verb-Pronoun
Donne-le
Negative
Ne-Pronoun-Verb-Pas
Ne le donne pas
Affirmative (Reflexive)
Verb-Toi
Dépêche-toi
Negative (Reflexive)
Ne-Te-Verb-Pas
Ne te dépêche pas
Double (Affirmative)
Verb-Pronoun-Pronoun
Donne-le-moi
Double (Negative)
Ne-Pronoun-Pronoun-Verb-Pas
Ne me le donne pas

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Donnez-le-moi, s'il vous plaît.

Donnez-le-moi, s'il vous plaît. (Requesting an object)

Neutral
Donne-le-moi.

Donne-le-moi. (Requesting an object)

Informal
File-le-moi.

File-le-moi. (Requesting an object)

Slang
Balance-le-moi.

Balance-le-moi. (Requesting an object)

Imperative Pronoun Flow

Imperative

Affirmative

  • Verb-Pronoun Follows verb

Negative

  • Pronoun-Verb Precedes verb
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Examples by Level

1

Regarde-moi.

Look at me.

2

Prends-le.

Take it.

3

Ne me regarde pas.

Don't look at me.

4

Donne-le-moi.

Give it to me.

1

Dépêche-toi !

Hurry up!

2

Ne le mange pas.

Don't eat it.

3

Écoutez-nous.

Listen to us.

4

Donnez-le-lui.

Give it to him/her.

1

Envoie-le-moi par email.

Send it to me by email.

2

Ne nous oubliez pas.

Don't forget us.

3

Va t'en !

Go away!

4

Apportez-le-nous demain.

Bring it to us tomorrow.

1

Ne lui en parle pas.

Don't talk to him/her about it.

2

Laisse-les-y aller.

Let them go there.

3

Montre-le-moi tout de suite.

Show it to me right away.

4

Ne vous en faites pas.

Don't worry about it.

1

Explique-le-lui clairement.

Explain it to him/her clearly.

2

Ne nous en donnez pas trop.

Don't give us too much of it.

3

Fais-le-lui savoir.

Let him/her know about it.

4

Ne t'en occupe pas.

Don't worry about it.

1

Raconte-le-nous en détail.

Tell it to us in detail.

2

Ne le lui dites surtout pas.

Above all, don't tell him/her.

3

Offre-le-lui pour son anniversaire.

Give it to him/her for his/her birthday.

4

Ne t'y habitue pas trop.

Don't get too used to it.

Easily Confused

French Imperative with Pronouns: Give Commands (Regarde-moi) vs Indicative vs Imperative

Learners mix up pronoun placement in statements vs commands.

French Imperative with Pronouns: Give Commands (Regarde-moi) vs Me vs Moi

Learners use 'me' in affirmative commands.

French Imperative with Pronouns: Give Commands (Regarde-moi) vs Negative Imperative vs Indicative

They look the same (pronoun before verb).

Common Mistakes

✗

Me regarde

✓

Regarde-moi

Pronouns must follow the verb in affirmative commands.
✗

Ne regarde-moi pas

✓

Ne me regarde pas

In negative commands, the pronoun stays before the verb.
✗

Donne-le-me

✓

Donne-le-moi

Me becomes moi in the affirmative imperative.
✗

Ne le donne-moi pas

✓

Ne me le donne pas

Negative commands do not use the hyphenated form.
✗

Donne-lui-le

✓

Donne-le-lui

The direct object (le) comes before the indirect object (lui).
✗

Vas-y-le

✓

Vas-y

Y and En have specific placement rules.
✗

Ne me le donne pas

✓

Ne me le donne pas (Wait, this is correct, but learners often mess up the order)

Double pronoun order is strict: me/te/nous/vous + le/la/les + lui/leur.

Sentence Patterns

___-le-moi !

Ne ___ pas.

___-le-lui.

Ne ___ en parle pas.

Real World Usage

Cooking constant

Ajoute-le à la sauce.

Texting very common

Envoie-le-moi !

Directions common

Prends-la à droite.

Job Interview occasional

Envoyez-le-nous par mail.

Travel common

Ne le touchez pas.

Food Delivery occasional

Apportez-le-moi ici.

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💡

The Hyphen Rule

Always use hyphens in affirmative commands. It's the visual key to the imperative.
⚠️

Negative Trap

Don't use hyphens in negative commands! The pronoun goes back to the front.
🎯

Moi/Toi

Remember that 'me' and 'te' become 'moi' and 'toi' only in affirmative commands.
💬

Politeness

Use 's'il vous plaît' to soften your commands, even if the grammar is correct.

Smart Tips

Think 'Hyphen!'

Donne le moi → Donne-le-moi

Think 'Wall!' (Ne...Pas)

Ne le donne-pas → Ne le donne pas

Change to 'moi' or 'toi' in affirmative commands

Donne-le-me → Donne-le-moi

Follow the order: me/te/nous/vous + le/la/les + lui/leur + y + en

Donne-lui-le → Donne-le-lui

Pronunciation

Re-gar-de-moi

Hyphenation

The hyphen indicates that the pronoun and verb are pronounced as a single rhythmic unit.

Command

Regarde-moi ↓

Falling intonation indicates a firm command.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Affirmative is 'After', Negative is 'Near' (the verb).

Visual Association

Imagine a magnet. In affirmative commands, the verb is a magnet pulling the pronoun behind it. In negative commands, the 'Ne...Pas' is a wall that keeps the pronoun in front.

Rhyme

Affirmative, put it after the verb. Negative, keep it before, don't disturb.

Story

You are a chef. You tell your assistant: 'Ajoute-le!' (Add it!). Then, you see them adding too much and shout: 'Ne l'ajoute pas!' (Don't add it!). You notice the pronoun jumping back and forth like a ping-pong ball.

Word Web

Regarde-moiDonne-le-moiNe me parle pasDépêche-toiVas-yNe le fais pas

Challenge

Write 5 commands you give to your pet or a friend, alternating between affirmative and negative.

Cultural Notes

Using 'tu' vs 'vous' is crucial. 'Donne-le-moi' is for friends, 'Donnez-le-moi' is for strangers.

In Quebec, the imperative is often used with 'donc' for politeness.

The imperative is often softened with 's'il te plaît' to avoid sounding rude.

The imperative mood in French evolved from the Latin imperative, maintaining the post-verbal cliticization for affirmative commands.

Conversation Starters

“

Peux-tu me donner ton stylo ?

“

Dois-je lui envoyer le message ?

“

Il est stressé, que dois-je faire ?

“

Je ne sais pas où mettre ces dossiers.

Journal Prompts

Write a list of instructions for a friend visiting your city.
Describe a time you had to give someone a firm instruction.
Write a dialogue between a boss and an employee.
Write a short story where a character is trying to hide a secret.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

___-le-moi ! (Give)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Donne
Affirmative imperative for tu.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Me regarde pas.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ne me regarde pas
Negative commands keep the pronoun before the verb.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

___-toi !

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Dépêche
Affirmative imperative for tu.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Donne-le-moi
Direct object comes before indirect object.
Translate to French. Translation

Don't tell him.

Answer starts with: Ne ...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ne lui dis pas
Negative command structure.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Je veux le livre. B: ___ !

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Prends-le
Affirmative command.
Build the sentence. Sentence Building

Donner / le / à moi (Affirmative)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Donne-le-moi
Correct pronoun order and transformation.
Sort into Affirmative or Negative. Grammar Sorting

Regarde-le

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Affirmative
Pronoun follows verb.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

___-le-moi ! (Give)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Donne
Affirmative imperative for tu.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Me regarde pas.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ne me regarde pas
Negative commands keep the pronoun before the verb.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

___-toi !

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Dépêche
Affirmative imperative for tu.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

le / donne / moi

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Donne-le-moi
Direct object comes before indirect object.
Translate to French. Translation

Don't tell him.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ne lui dis pas
Negative command structure.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Je veux le livre. B: ___ !

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Prends-le
Affirmative command.
Build the sentence. Sentence Building

Donner / le / à moi (Affirmative)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Donne-le-moi
Correct pronoun order and transformation.
Sort into Affirmative or Negative. Grammar Sorting

Regarde-le

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Affirmative
Pronoun follows verb.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Put the words in order: 'Don't go there!' Sentence Reorder

pas / y / N' / va

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: N'y va pas
Translate 'Tell it to them' (formal) Translation

Dites-le-leur.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Dites-le-leur.
Match the English to French Match Pairs

Match the phrases:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eat some | Manges-en
Fill in: 'Help them!' Fill in the Blank

Aidez-___ !

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: les
Correct this: 'Ne m'envoie-le pas.' Error Correction

Ne m'envoie-le pas.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ne me l'envoie pas.
Which is the correct 'Call me!' (informal)? Multiple Choice

Choose one:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Appelle-moi !
Translate 'Finish them!' Translation

Finis-les !

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Finis-les !
Fill in: 'Take it!' Fill in the Blank

Prends-___ !

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: le
Order the words: 'Give some to her!' Sentence Reorder

Donne / - / en / - / lui

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Donne-lui-en
Correct way to say 'Don't do it'? Multiple Choice

Choose one:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ne le fais pas.

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

It's to maintain the tonic stress of the command. 'Moi' is a stronger form than 'me'.

Yes, the rule applies to both. 'Donne-le-moi' (tu) and 'Donnez-le-moi' (vous).

They follow the same rule: 'Vas-y' (Go there), 'Donne-m'en' (Give me some).

Yes, in affirmative commands, all pronouns must be hyphenated to the verb.

The order is fixed: me/te/nous/vous + le/la/les + lui/leur + y + en.

Yes, it is standard in all registers of French.

Because it's a negative command, so the pronoun stays before the verb.

Very few. The rules are quite consistent across the language.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

Dámelo

Spanish doesn't have the 'ne...pas' structure for negative commands.

German low

Gib es mir

German word order is different.

Japanese none

Kure

Japanese is agglutinative.

Arabic partial

A'tini

Arabic is a Semitic language with a different root system.

Chinese none

Gei wo

Chinese has no verb conjugation.

Italian high

Dammelo

Italian uses different pronoun forms.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
French Pronoun Order: Before the Infinitive
Next
French Double Object Pronouns (me le, le lui)

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