Using object and adverbial pronouns in negative commands (L'Impératif)

In: Level B1, Negative Words & Constructions, Pronom d'objet direct, Pronom d'objet indirect, Impératif, Mode impératif, Pronom adverbial, Pronom d'objet
Questions: 9

Look at these negative imperatives:

Tu ne me le donnes pas -  Ne me le donne pas!
You don't give it to me - Don't give it to me!

-> See Conjugate regular verbs in L'Impératif (imperative)

Nous n'en faisons pas. - N'en faisons pas!
We're not making any (of it). - Let's not make any (of it)!

Tu ne la lui écris pas. - Ne la lui écris pas!
You don't write it to her. - Don't write it to her!

Vous n'y allez pas. - N'y allez pas!
You don't go there. - Don't go there!

When you use the negative imperative with object pronouns or adverbial pronouns (y, en), you keep the same order as in the normal negative sentence.
Note that you drop the subject pronoun tu/nous/vous

 

Learn more about these related French grammar topics

Pronom d'objet direct

Pronom d'objet indirect

Impératif

Mode impératif

Pronom adverbial

Pronom d'objet

Examples and resources

Nous n'en faisons pas. - N'en faisons pas!
We're not making any (of it). - Let's not make any (of it)!

Tu ne la lui écris pas. - Ne la lui écris pas!
You don't write it to her. - Don't write it to her!

Vous n'y allez pas. - N'y allez pas!
You don't go there. - Don't go there!

Tu ne me le donnes pas -  Ne me le donne pas!
You don't give it to me - Don't give it to me!

Q&A

Scott

Kwiziq community member

18 November 2018

2 replies

Isn't the imperative of aller 'va' instead of 'vas'?

One of the questions on the quiz was: "N'y vas pas !" means: ...

Shouldn't it be instead: "N'y va pas !" means: ... ?

regards, Scott

Cécile

Kwiziq language super star

19 November 2018

19/11/18

Hi Scott,

Can you use the "Report it " button in your correction board as it links directly to the specific quiz you're referring to and makes it easier to make any correction.

Aurélie

Kwiziq language super star

27 November 2018

27/11/18

Bonjour Scott !

Indeed, you're correct, this was quite a bad typo on our part :(

Thanks to you, it's now been rectified!

Merci beaucoup et bonne journée !

Shabbir

Kwiziq community member

25 June 2018

2 replies

Which one is the correct way to say 'do not forget': 'n'oublie pas' or 'ne pas oublier' ?

Somtimes I have seen imperative sentences with ne+pas+infinitive but I dont know the rule behind..

Cécile

Kwiziq language super star

25 June 2018

25/06/18

Hi Shabbir,

The difference is who it is adressed to -you use ne pas + infinitive when it is aimed at everyone, as a general request/caution. e.g.

Ne pas se pencher par la fenêtre (Don't lean out of the window)

Ne pas fumer (No smoking)

If you say "n'oublie pas d'emporter ton passport !" you are reminding the person you are talking to only. In contrast to the following general caution-

Ne pas oublier son passeport est important si on va l'étranger.

 

Hope this helps!

 

 

Shabbir

Kwiziq community member

25 June 2018

25/06/18

Great! its clear, thanks.

Clare

Kwiziq community member

31 December 2016

2 replies

Pourquoi on change la fin du verbe pour l'impératif avec "tu"? Tu me la donnES - Ne me la donnE pas

Aurélie

Kwiziq language super star

3 January 2017

3/01/17

Bonjour Clare ! This has to do with how to conjugate -ER verbs in L'Impératif. Thanks to you, I've now added a link to the relevant lesson into that lesson: https://kwiziq.learnfrenchwithalexa.com/revision/grammar/conjugate-regular-verbs-in-l-imperatif-imperative I hope that's helpful! Bonne Année !

Clare

Kwiziq community member

3 January 2017

3/01/17

Merci!

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