Forming simple negative commands with the imperative mood in French (L'Impératif)

Written by Qualified French Expert Aurélie Drouard HKH, Licence d'anglais LLCE

Last updated: 2022-12-02

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You've already seen how to make affirmative commands using L'Impératif in French (See Conjugate regular verbs in the imperative mood in French (L'Impératif))

Learn how to make negative commands in L'Impératif Présent in French

Ne mange pas ça!Don't eat that!

N'écoutez pas! Don't listen!

Ne faisons pas ça!Let's not do that!

To make a command negative, put ne or n' before the verb in L'Impératif Présent and pas after it.

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Examples and resources

Ne romps pas !Don't break up!

En avril, ne quitte pas ton domicileIn April, don't leave your home

N'oublie pas la Saint-Valentin !Don't forget Valentine's Day!

N'arrive pas en retard au rendez-vous !Don't be late to the rendez-vous!