A1 Pronouns 13 min read Easy

French Imperative Pronouns: (Moi) and (Toi)

In positive French commands, me and te move after the verb and transform into moi and toi.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'moi' and 'toi' instead of 'me' and 'te' when giving a command in the affirmative.

  • In positive commands, 'me' becomes 'moi' (e.g., 'Donne-moi').
  • In positive commands, 'te' becomes 'toi' (e.g., 'Lave-toi').
  • In negative commands, revert to 'me' and 'te' (e.g., 'Ne me donne pas').
Verb + - + moi/toi

Overview

In French, the way you give a direct, positive command—known as the affirmative imperative—has a unique grammatical structure that differs significantly from standard statements. The most notable change involves the pronouns for "me" and "you" (informal). In a typical sentence, these are the object pronouns me (or m') and te (or t'), and they appear before the verb.

For example, Tu me parles (You speak to me). However, when you issue a command, this pattern is inverted and the pronouns themselves are transformed.

Specifically, me becomes moi and te becomes toi. These new forms are called stressed pronouns or tonic pronouns (pronoms toniques). They are placed after the verb and connected to it with a hyphen.

The command Parle-moi ! (Speak to me!) is the imperative counterpart to the statement Tu me parles. This shift in word order and pronoun form is a core feature of the imperative mood. It signals a switch from observation to instruction.

Getting this right is fundamental to sounding natural when making requests, giving directions, or interacting in daily French life.

This rule applies only to affirmative (positive) commands. For negative commands, the structure reverts to the standard pronoun placement before the verb, and the weak forms me and te are used. For instance, the negative command is Ne me parle pas (Don't speak to me).

Understanding this distinction between affirmative and negative commands is critical. This guide will provide a thorough foundation for mastering the use of moi and toi in commands, explaining the logic behind the rule, its formation, and its use in real-world contexts.

How This Grammar Works

The transformation from me/te to moi/toi is rooted in a core principle of French phonetics and rhythm: emphasis and prosody. In a French sentence, unstressed elements are typically grouped before the verb, while the most prominent, stressed syllable often falls at the end of a word group or clause. The pronouns me and te are atonic, meaning they are phonetically weak and cannot bear stress.
They are designed to blend in before a verb and cannot grammatically stand on their own or comfortably end a phrase.
When you form an affirmative command, the pronoun moves to the end of the verb-pronoun unit. This final position is one of phonetic emphasis. To handle this stress, the language substitutes the weak me and te with their corresponding tonic (stressed) pronouns: moi and toi.
These forms are phonetically 'stronger' and can carry the weight of a phrase's final position. Think of Regarde-moi ! (Look at me!). The emphasis naturally falls on moi, giving the command its punch.
The weak form me would sound weak and incomplete here.
The hyphen (-) is not merely a punctuation mark; it is a grammatical connector. It visually and syntactically fuses the verb and the post-posed pronoun into a single, cohesive command unit. Omitting it in standard writing is a grammatical error.
For instance, Lève-toi (Get up) functions as one conceptual block. Without the hyphen, Lève toi would read as two separate words, losing the tight imperative link.
It is also important to note that this specific transformation is unique to the first-person singular (me → moi) and second-person singular informal (te → toi). Other object pronouns also move after the verb in an affirmative command, but they do not change their form. For example, the direct object le (it/him) in Prends-le ! (Take it!) or the indirect object lui (to him/her) in Parle-lui ! (Speak to him/her!) remain the same.
The pronouns nous (us) and vous (you, formal/plural) are already stressed forms, so they also do not change: Écoutez-nous (Listen to us).

Formation Pattern

1
To construct an affirmative command with moi or toi, you follow a precise, three-step formula. The starting point is the imperative form of the verb. For most verbs, this is identical to the present tense (présent de l'indicatif) form for tu, nous, and vous, simply without the subject pronoun.
2
One crucial exception exists for regular -er verbs (and aller): in the tu form of the imperative, the final -s is dropped. For example, the present tense is tu parles, but the imperative is parle.
3
Here is the formation rule:
4
Select the imperative verb form (tu, nous, or vous). Remember to drop the -s for -er verbs in the tu form.
5
Add a hyphen (-) immediately after the verb.
6
Append the appropriate stressed pronoun: moi or toi.
7
The following table illustrates this pattern across different verb types, contrasting standard sentences with their corresponding affirmative commands.
8
| Verb Type | Standard Sentence (tu) | Affirmative Command (-moi/-toi) | Standard Sentence (vous) | Affirmative Command (-moi/-vous) |
9
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
10
| -er Verbs | Tu m'écoutes. (You listen to me.) | Écoute-moi ! (Listen to me!) | Vous m'écoutez. | Écoutez-moi ! |
11
| Reflexive -er | Tu te lèves. (You get up.) | Lève-toi ! (Get up!) | Vous vous levez. | Levez-vous ! |
12
| -ir Verbs | Tu me suis. (You follow me.) | Suis-moi ! (Follow me!) | Vous me suivez. | Suivez-moi ! |
13
| -re Verbs | Tu m'attends. (You wait for me.) | Attends-moi ! (Wait for me!) | Vous m'attendez. | Attendez-moi ! |
14
| Irregular Verbs | Tu me dis la vérité. (You tell me the truth.) | Dis-moi la vérité ! (Tell me the truth!) | Vous me dites. | Dites-moi ! |
15
Four common verbs have irregular imperative forms you must memorize:
16
| Verb | tu imperative | nous imperative | vous imperative |
17
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
18
| être (to be) | sois | soyons | soyez |
19
| avoir (to have) | aie | ayons | ayez |
20
| savoir (to know) | sache | sachons | sachez |
21
| vouloir (to want) | veuille | veuillons | veuillez |
22
These irregular forms combine with moi and toi in the same way. For example: Aie confiance en moi. (Have faith in me.) or Sois sympa avec moi. (Be nice to me.).
23
A more advanced but related rule involves the pronouns y and en. When moi or toi would be followed by en or y in a double pronoun command, they elide to m' and t' for euphonic reasons (to sound better). The hyphen remains. For example, Donne-moi + en (some) becomes Donne-m'en (Give me some). While this is a more complex structure, it is useful to recognize as it follows the same foundational imperative logic.

When To Use It

The choice between moi/toi (with the tu-form verb) and moi (with the vous-form verb) is entirely dependent on social context and register. Using the incorrect form can sound overly familiar or strangely distant.
Informal Commands (tu form): Parle-moi, Lève-toi
This is the default for informal, everyday interactions. You use it when speaking to people you would normally address with tu.
  • Friends and Family: This is the most common context. A text message might read Appelle-moi ce soir (Call me tonight), or a parent might say to a child, Brosse-toi les dents (Brush your teeth).
  • Peers and Young People: Among colleagues of a similar age or in casual social settings, tu is standard. Passe-moi le sel (Pass me the salt) at a dinner table with friends is perfectly normal.
  • Social Media and Online: The tu form dominates digital communication. A YouTuber will end a video with Abonne-toi ! (Subscribe!), and a gamer might shout Aide-moi ! (Help me!).
  • Casual Service Encounters: In places like a boulangerie or a market, it's common to hear customers use direct commands like Donne-moi deux croissants, s'il vous plaît (Give me two croissants, please). The s'il vous plaît softens the directness.
Formal/Plural Commands (vous form): Dites-moi, Levez-vous
This form is used when addressing someone you would normally call vous, which includes situations requiring politeness, respect, or when speaking to multiple people.
  • Professional Settings: In the workplace, especially when speaking to a superior or a client, vous is essential. For example, Envoyez-moi le rapport avant midi (Send me the report before noon).
  • With Strangers or Elders: As a sign of respect, vous is the only appropriate choice. If you're asking for directions, you would say Excusez-moi, montrez-moi le chemin sur cette carte, s'il vous plaît (Excuse me, show me the way on this map, please).
  • Customer Service: When you are the customer seeking help, Expliquez-moi la procédure (Explain the procedure to me) is a polite and standard way to make a request.
  • To a Group: When addressing more than one person, vous is always used. A fitness instructor might say, Regardez-moi et répétez le mouvement (Watch me and repeat the movement).

Common Mistakes

Learners often stumble on a few predictable hurdles when first mastering imperative pronouns. Being aware of these common errors is the first step to avoiding them.
1. The Negative Command Trap
The most frequent error is applying the affirmative Verb-moi structure to negative commands. This is incorrect. In a negative command, the pronoun order reverts to the standard ne + pronoun + verb + pas structure, and the weak pronoun forms (me, te) are used.
  • Error: Ne regarde-moi pas.
  • Correction: Ne me regarde pas. (Don't look at me.)
  • Rule: The moi/toi transformation and post-verb position are exclusively for affirmative commands.
| Command Type | Correct Structure | Example |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Affirmative | Verb-moi / Verb-toi | Écoute-moi ! |
| Negative | Ne me/te + Verb + pas | Ne m'écoute pas ! |
2. Forgetting the Pronoun Transformation
Many beginners remember to move the pronoun but forget to change its form from weak to stressed.
  • Error: Donne-me un stylo. or Lève-te maintenant.
  • Correction: Donne-moi un stylo. (Give me a pen.) / Lève-toi maintenant. (Get up now.)
  • Rule: If the pronoun is after the verb in a command, it must be the stressed form (moi, toi). The forms me and te cannot end the verb-pronoun unit.
3. The Missing Hyphen
In written French, the hyphen is not optional. It grammatically links the verb and pronoun into a single imperative unit.
  • Error: Dis moi la réponse.
  • Correction: Dis-moi la réponse. (Tell me the answer.)
  • Rule: While you might see the hyphen dropped in very fast, informal texting, it is a grammatical error in any standard form of writing. As a learner, always use the hyphen.
4. The Extra 'S' on -er Verbs
Learners often forget to drop the -s from the tu imperative of -er verbs before adding -moi or -toi.
  • Error: Parles-moi.
  • Correction: Parle-moi. (Talk to me.)
  • Rule: The tu imperative of all -er verbs (like parler, écouter, regarder) and the verb aller loses its final -s. This rule does not apply to verbs from other groups, like finir (finis) or prendre (prends).

Real Conversations

Seeing these commands in context helps clarify their natural use. Here are a few mini-dialogues illustrating the rule in different situations.

S

Scenario 1

Two friends making plans via text message.

- Juliette: Salut, je suis un peu en retard pour le ciné. Tu peux entrer ?

(Hey, I'm a bit late for the movie. Can you go in?)

- Léo: Pas de problème. Garde-moi une bonne place !

(No problem. Save me a good seat!)

Analysis*: Léo uses the tu form (garde) and moi. It's a friendly, direct request.

S

Scenario 2

In a professional setting.

- Manager: Bonjour Madame Fournier. Pourriez-vous me faire un résumé de la réunion ?

(Good morning, Ms. Fournier. Could you give me a summary of the meeting?)

- Employee: Bien sûr. Donnez-moi juste une heure et je vous l'envoie.

(Of course. Just give me an hour and I'll send it to you.)

Analysis*: The employee uses the vous form (donnez) and moi. This is a polite, formal imperative appropriate for the workplace.

S

Scenario 3

A parent talking to a child.

- Parent: Il est l'heure de partir pour l'école. Dépêche-toi !

(It's time to leave for school. Hurry up!)

- Child: J'arrive ! Attends-moi !

(I'm coming! Wait for me!)

Analysis*: Both commands use the informal tu form. Dépêche-toi is a reflexive command, and Attends-moi is a standard one. Both are extremely common in daily family life.

S

Scenario 4

A YouTube creator's call to action.

- Si cette vidéo t'a aidé, laisse-moi un pouce bleu et abonne-toi pour ne rien manquer !

(If this video helped you, give me a thumbs up and subscribe so you don't miss anything!)

Analysis*: laisse-moi and abonne-toi are classic examples of the informal tu imperative used online to build a direct connection with the viewer.

Quick FAQ

Q: Why do me and te change to moi/toi, but other pronouns like le or nous do not?

This is due to the difference between atonic (weak) and tonic (stressed) pronouns. Me and te are exclusively atonic and cannot be stressed. Nous and vous serve as both atonic and tonic forms, so they don't need to change. Le, la, and les are also atonic, but their tonic counterparts (lui, elle, eux, elles) are already used for other grammatical functions (e.g., as stressed pronouns for people or as indirect object pronouns). To avoid ambiguity, le, la, les remain unchanged when they follow the verb in a command.

Q: Is the hyphen in Donne-moi really mandatory? I see it omitted in texts.

In any form of standard French (emails, essays, professional communication), the hyphen is absolutely mandatory. Its omission is a grammatical error. While it is true that in very informal, rapid messaging (like SMS or live chat) native speakers sometimes omit it, you as a learner should always include it to build correct grammatical habits.

Q: Can I ever use moi or toi in a negative command?

No, never. The structure of negative commands is rigid: ne + [weak pronoun me/te] + verb + pas. The stressed pronouns moi and toi have no place in this pattern. The correct form is always Ne me parle pas, not Ne parle-moi pas.

Q: Should I say Dis-moi or Dites-moi to be polite?

For politeness with a stranger, an elder, or in a formal context, you must use the vous form: Dites-moi. Dis-moi uses the tu form and is strictly informal, reserved for friends, family, and peers.

Q: Does this rule work for reflexive verbs?

Yes, it works exactly the same way. The reflexive pronoun te is simply a specific use of the second-person object pronoun. It follows the same rule, transforming into toi in an affirmative command. For example, the statement Tu te reposes (You are resting) becomes the command Repose-toi ! (Rest!).

Q: I've seen Donne-m'en. Why does moi become m' there?

This is a rule of elision for sound harmony. When the pronoun moi (or toi) is immediately followed by the pronoun en or y in a command, moi/toi contract to m'/t' to create a smoother sound. So, Donne-moi + en becomes Donne-m'en (Give me some). This is a more advanced topic, but it is an extension of the same imperative structure.

Imperative Pronoun Transformation

Pronoun (Standard) Imperative (Affirmative) Imperative (Negative) Example (Affirmative)
me
moi
me
Donne-moi
te
toi
te
Lave-toi

Meanings

These are tonic (stressed) pronouns used specifically in affirmative imperative sentences to replace object pronouns.

1

Affirmative Command

Used when directly requesting an action involving the speaker or listener.

“Regarde-moi.”

“Dépêche-toi.”

2

Reflexive Command

Used for reflexive verbs in the imperative.

“Assieds-toi.”

“Lave-toi.”

Reference Table

Reference table for French Imperative Pronouns: (Moi) and (Toi)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Verb + - + moi/toi
Regarde-moi
Negative
Ne + me/te + Verb + pas
Ne me regarde pas
Reflexive Affirmative
Verb + - + toi
Assieds-toi
Reflexive Negative
Ne + te + Verb + pas
Ne t'assieds pas
Double Pronoun
Verb + - + le/la + - + moi
Donne-le-moi
Short Answer
Moi
Moi !

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Donnez-moi le stylo.

Donnez-moi le stylo. (Requesting an object)

Neutral
Donne-moi le stylo.

Donne-moi le stylo. (Requesting an object)

Informal
Donne-moi le stylo.

Donne-moi le stylo. (Requesting an object)

Slang
File-moi le stylo.

File-moi le stylo. (Requesting an object)

Imperative Pronoun Flow

Imperative Mood

Affirmative

  • moi me
  • toi yourself

Negative

  • me me
  • te you
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Examples by Level

1

Donne-moi le livre.

Give me the book.

2

Regarde-moi !

Look at me!

3

Assieds-toi ici.

Sit down here.

4

Lave-toi les mains.

Wash your hands.

1

Écoute-moi bien.

Listen to me carefully.

2

Dépêche-toi, on est en retard !

Hurry up, we are late!

3

Donne-le-moi tout de suite.

Give it to me right away.

4

Calme-toi, tout va bien.

Calm down, everything is fine.

1

Souviens-toi de ce moment.

Remember this moment.

2

Explique-moi la situation.

Explain the situation to me.

3

Montre-moi ton projet.

Show me your project.

4

Habille-toi chaudement.

Dress warmly.

1

Fie-toi à ton instinct.

Trust your instinct.

2

Raconte-moi tout ce qui s'est passé.

Tell me everything that happened.

3

Prépare-toi pour l'entretien.

Prepare yourself for the interview.

4

Offre-moi un verre.

Buy me a drink.

1

Concentre-toi sur tes objectifs.

Focus on your goals.

2

Laisse-moi tranquille.

Leave me alone.

3

Imagine-toi dans cette situation.

Imagine yourself in this situation.

4

Pardonne-moi cette erreur.

Forgive me for this mistake.

1

Rappelle-toi de tes racines.

Remember your roots.

2

Confie-moi tes secrets.

Confide your secrets to me.

3

Détrompe-toi, ce n'est pas vrai.

Think again, that's not true.

4

Exprime-toi librement.

Express yourself freely.

Easily Confused

French Imperative Pronouns: (Moi) and (Toi) vs Tonic vs. Clitic

Learners confuse 'moi' (tonic) with 'me' (clitic).

French Imperative Pronouns: (Moi) and (Toi) vs Affirmative vs. Negative

Learners use 'moi' in negative commands.

French Imperative Pronouns: (Moi) and (Toi) vs Imperative vs. Indicative

Learners use imperative forms in normal sentences.

Common Mistakes

✗

Regarde me

✓

Regarde-moi

Missing the tonic form and hyphen.
✗

Ne moi regarde pas

✓

Ne me regarde pas

Using tonic pronoun in negative.
✗

Lave toi

✓

Lave-toi

Missing the hyphen.
✗

Donne moi

✓

Donne-moi

Missing the hyphen.
✗

Ne te lave pas

✓

Ne te lave pas

Actually correct, but learners often try to add 'toi'.
✗

Donne-le-me

✓

Donne-le-moi

Incorrect pronoun form in double object.
✗

Assieds-te

✓

Assieds-toi

Using wrong pronoun form.
✗

Ne me donne-le pas

✓

Ne me le donne pas

Wrong word order in negative.
✗

Souviens-te

✓

Souviens-toi

Incorrect reflexive form.
✗

Laisse-me

✓

Laisse-moi

Using weak pronoun in imperative.
✗

Ne me le donne pas

✓

Ne me le donne pas

Actually correct, but learners often try to force 'moi'.
✗

Donne-moi-le

✓

Donne-le-moi

Wrong order of pronouns.
✗

Ne te lave-toi pas

✓

Ne te lave pas

Redundant pronoun usage.

Sentence Patterns

Donne-___ le livre.

___-toi maintenant !

Ne ___ donne pas le livre.

___-moi ton projet.

Real World Usage

Texting constant

Réponds-moi vite !

Social Media very common

Abonnez-vous à moi.

Job Interview common

Expliquez-moi votre parcours.

Travel common

Aidez-moi, s'il vous plaît.

Food Delivery occasional

Apportez-moi la commande.

Classroom constant

Écoutez-moi bien.

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💡

The Hyphen Rule

Always use a hyphen when attaching a pronoun to a verb in the imperative.
⚠️

Negative Trap

Never use 'moi' or 'toi' in a negative command. It's a common trap!
🎯

Double Pronouns

If you have two pronouns, the tonic one always comes last: 'Donne-le-moi'.
💬

Politeness

Use 'vous' forms for strangers, even with 'moi'.

Smart Tips

Always check if you need to use 'moi' or 'toi'.

Regarde me. → Regarde-moi.

Revert to 'me' and 'te' immediately.

Ne moi regarde pas. → Ne me regarde pas.

Always use 'toi' for 'tu' commands.

Lave te. → Lave-toi.

Remember the order: Verb-Direct-Indirect.

Donne-moi-le. → Donne-le-moi.

Pronunciation

Donne-moi [don-mwa]

Hyphenation

The hyphen indicates that the pronoun is attached to the verb.

Command

Regarde-moi! ↓

Falling intonation for a firm command.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Moi and Toi are the stars of the show when the command is a 'Go!'

Visual Association

Imagine a 'Stop' sign that turns into a 'Go' sign. When it's 'Go' (affirmative), the pronoun gets a 'moi' or 'toi' hat. When it's 'Stop' (negative), the hat falls off and it's just 'me' or 'te'.

Rhyme

When you say 'do it', use 'moi' or 'toi', but if you say 'don't', keep 'me' and 'te' shy.

Story

A teacher tells a student: 'Regarde-moi!' (Look at me!). The student is shy and says 'Ne me regarde pas' (Don't look at me). The teacher insists: 'Écoute-moi!' (Listen to me!).

Word Web

moitoidonne-moilave-toiregarde-moiassieds-toi

Challenge

Write 5 positive commands using 'moi' and 5 using 'toi' in the next 5 minutes.

Cultural Notes

Using 'moi' and 'toi' is standard and expected in all social classes.

The usage is identical, though pronunciation of 'moi' may vary slightly.

French is the official language and this rule is strictly followed in schools.

These pronouns evolved from Latin tonic forms, which were used for emphasis.

Conversation Starters

“

Peux-tu me donner ton numéro ?

“

Comment puis-je t'aider ?

“

Que dois-je faire ?

“

As-tu un conseil ?

Journal Prompts

Write a list of 5 things you tell your friend to do.
Describe a morning routine using reflexive verbs.
Write a dialogue where someone is giving instructions.
Write a persuasive paragraph using commands.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

Donne-___ le stylo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: moi
Affirmative command requires tonic pronoun.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Ne moi regarde pas.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ne me regarde pas
Negative command requires weak pronoun.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

___-toi maintenant !

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Lave
Imperative form for 'tu'.
Transform to negative. Sentence Transformation

Donne-moi le livre.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ne me donne pas le livre
Negative command reverts to weak pronoun.
Match the command. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Regarde-moi
Correct matching.
Order the words. Sentence Building

le / donne / moi

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Donne-le-moi
Correct order for double pronouns.
Conjugate in imperative. Conjugation Drill

Se laver (tu)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Lave-toi
Correct reflexive imperative.
Is this rule correct? True False Rule

Use 'moi' in negative commands.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Negative commands use 'me'.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

Donne-___ le stylo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: moi
Affirmative command requires tonic pronoun.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Ne moi regarde pas.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ne me regarde pas
Negative command requires weak pronoun.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

___-toi maintenant !

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Lave
Imperative form for 'tu'.
Transform to negative. Sentence Transformation

Donne-moi le livre.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ne me donne pas le livre
Negative command reverts to weak pronoun.
Match the command. Match Pairs

Match the verb to the pronoun.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Regarde-moi
Correct matching.
Order the words. Sentence Building

le / donne / moi

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Donne-le-moi
Correct order for double pronouns.
Conjugate in imperative. Conjugation Drill

Se laver (tu)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Lave-toi
Correct reflexive imperative.
Is this rule correct? True False Rule

Use 'moi' in negative commands.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Negative commands use 'me'.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Fill in the blank Fill in the Blank

___ (Listen to me) quand je parle !

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Écoute-moi
Which sentence is correct? Multiple Choice

Choose the correct negative command:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ne me regarde pas.
Translate the phrase Translation

Translate: 'Give me'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Donne-moi
Fill in the blank Fill in the Blank

S'il te plaît, ___ (sit down).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Assieds-toi
Find and fix the mistake Error Correction

Réponds-me vite.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Réponds-moi vite.
Reorder the words Sentence Reorder

Reorder: moi / attends / !

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Attends-moi !
Which sentence is correct? Multiple Choice

Choose the correct formal command:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Dites-moi la vérité.
Translate the sentence Translation

Translate: 'Stop there' (informal)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Arrête-toi là.
Fill in the blank Fill in the Blank

___ (Excuse me), je suis en retard.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Excuse-moi
Reorder the words Sentence Reorder

Reorder: toi / tais / !

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tais-toi !

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

It provides emphasis and phonetic stability in the imperative mood.

Yes, all verbs in the imperative follow this rule.

The tonic pronoun always comes last, e.g., 'Donne-le-moi'.

It is standard French, used in all registers.

No, only in commands or after prepositions.

It shows that the pronoun is part of the verb phrase.

Look for 'ne...pas' around the verb.

No, this is a strict rule in standard French.

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 uses enclitics for all pronouns, French only for tonic ones.

German low

gib mir

German does not change pronoun forms based on mood.

Japanese none

kure

Japanese has no pronoun-based imperative system.

Arabic partial

a'tini

Arabic suffixes are not tonic pronouns.

Chinese low

gei wo

Chinese has no verb conjugation or pronoun transformation.

French high

donne-moi

N/A

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
French Negative Commands: Pronoun Order (Ne me le pas)
Next
French Commands: Giving and Asking (m'en & t'en)

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