Distinction between Ayons (nous) and Ayez(vous), so please do not tell me that nous is relevant to 'nous" etc etc. I am talking about L'imperitif

Question

I am confused. Sometimes Ayez is used sometimes Ayons is used.

For example "Ayez confiance mes amis" I was corrected from Ayons

But here is one example Ayons foi en notre force .

Is there a rule or we just have to know, like vocabulary

Accepted Answer

Hi Shankar,
If you are talking to your friends (mes amis) and asking them to have faith,  you are not including yourself in the group 
Have faith, my friends! = Ayez confiance, mes amis !
In other words, 'Trust me, my friends!'
But if you had said -
Ayons confiance, mes amis ! = Let's have faith, my friends!
You include yourself in the comment.
Hope this helps!

Answer

Bonjour Shankar,I hope that I am understanding your query correctly.Présent subjonctif "que nous ayons" and "que vous ayez"These are the only conjugations that I am aware of for nous and vous présent subjonctif.L'imperitif is the same as above as I understand it (without que)Ayez confiance mes amis  --  the l'imperitif address is to mes amis (vous) so, as written is correctAyons foi en notre force . Here the clue is in "notre" therefore "nous" is the correct imperative conjugation.   "Let us have faith ...."Bonne journéeJim

Answer

Ayez confiance! -- Have faith! (Talking to a group of people not including yourself.)Ayons confiance! -- Let's have faith! (Including yourself.)

Answer

thank you Chris and Cecile for clarifying. Oh wow. I would not have known. But from answering a test in this context. People like me will not know what the question meant. whether it means to include myself or just asking the friends "to have faith", like "Ayez confiance mes amis".

Answer

I think "Ayez confiance mes amis" is an Imperative, translating as "Have confidence, my friends", whereas "Ayons foi en notre force" would translate as "Let's have faith in our strength" (more an exhortation or encouragement than an imperative.