The imperative — giving directions and instructions

CEFR A1Taught in Module 08, Se déplacer · Module 09, La santé

To tell someone to do something, use the present tense without the subject pronoun. Only three forms exist.

FormUse
tuTourne à droite.one person you say tu to
vousTournez à droite.one person you say vous to, or several people
nousTournons."let's …"

For -er verbs, the tu form drops the final s: tu tournesTourne ! (This does not happen to other verbs: tu prendsPrends !)

Directions you will actually hear: "Allez tout droit." (Go straight on.) · "Tournez à gauche." (Turn left.) · "Prenez la deuxième rue." (Take the second street.) · "Continuez jusqu'au feu." (Carry on to the lights.)

To make it negative, wrap it as usual: "Ne tournez pas ici."

Knowing the rule is not the same as producing it.

This page explains the pattern. The track drills it: the point arrives inside a mini-dialogue, then production marked against a CEFR descriptor, then a module test that returns you to your two weakest sessions if you miss it.