A comprehensive guide to forming negative commands in French using the imperative mood, including rules and examples.
In French, negative commands are formed by placing ne before the verb and pas after it. This structure is used with the imperative mood to tell someone not to do something.
Forming Negative Commands
Here’s how to form negative commands in French:
Structure:
ne + [verb] + pas (around the verb)
Example:
- Parle → Ne parle pas (Don’t speak)
- Finis → Ne finis pas (Don’t finish)
- Prends → Ne prends pas (Don’t take)
Pronouns and Placement
One-person commands (tu, nous, vous)
- Answer: Use the verb alone without a subject pronoun.
- In negative commands, the verb is not inverted and no hyphen is used.
- Example: Ne mange pas. (Don’t eat.) — not Ne manges pas.
Examples by Person
Tu (you – singular, informal)
| French Command | English Command | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ne parle pas | Don’t speak | Ne parle pas trop fort. | Don’t speak too loudly. |
Nous (we)
| French Command | English Command | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ne finissons pas | Let’s not finish | Ne finissons pas ce repas. | Let’s not finish this meal. |
Vous (you – plural or formal)
| French Command | English Command | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ne prenez pas | Don’t take | Ne prenez pas le chemin dangereux. | Don’t take the dangerous path. |
Reflexive Verbs
In affirmative commands, the reflexive pronoun follows the verb (e.g., Lave-toi!). In negative commands, the reflexive pronoun comes before the verb, inside the negation:
Structure:
ne + [reflexive pronoun] + [verb] + pas
Examples:
- Lave-toi → Ne te lave pas (Don’t wash yourself)
- Réveille-toi → Ne te réveille pas (Don’t wake up)
- Dépêche-toi → Ne te dépêche pas (Don’t hurry)
Avoiding Common Mistakes
. Don’t add a hyphen in negative commands:
- Ne parle pas.
- Ne parle-pas.
. Use the correct reflexive pronoun before the verb:
- Ne te lève pas.
- Ne lève-toi pas.
. Don’t use subject pronouns:
- Ne mange pas.
- Ne tu mange pas.
Summary
- Use ne + verb + pas to form a negative command.
- No hyphens or subject pronouns in negative commands.
- Reflexive pronouns go before the verb inside the negation.
- Works with tu, nous, and vous forms.
With these rules, you can confidently tell someone not to do something in French!
Flashcards (1 of 3)
- English Command: Don’t speak
- English Example: Don’t speak too loudly.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
