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Object Pronouns and the Imperative by Bruce Sallee and David Hebert

The imperative form of the verb can also be used with object pronouns. When there is only one, it is straightforward; you will have to pay closer attention when more than one is used, however. The pronouns follow a specific order, and each is tacked on to the end of the verb with a hyphen. The pronouns are added in the following order.

  • Direct object: When the imperative form is used with a direct object, the pronoun is placed after the verb and separated with a hyphen. This happens often with reflexive verbs, because the verb requires an object pronoun to complete its meaning. If the pronoun is te, the pronoun toi is used instead after the verb:

    Dépêchez-vous! or Dépêche-toi! Hurry up!

  • Indirect object: When the imperative form is used with an indirect object pronoun, the pronoun is placed after the direct object but still joined to the verb phrase with a hyphen. If the indirect object pronoun is me, the pronoun moi is used:

    <tgroup cols="2"> <colspec colname="col1" colnum="1" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="left"/> <colspec colname="col2" colnum="2" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="left"/> <tbody> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>Donne-moi le cahier</emphasis>.</p></td> <td><p>Give the notebook to me.</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>Donne-le-moi</emphasis>.</p></td> <td><p>Give it to me.</p></td> </tr> </tbody> </tgroup> </table> </li> <li><p>The pronoun <emphasis>y</emphasis>: When the pronoun <emphasis>y</emphasis> is used, it is placed after any direct or indirect object pronouns. Note that <emphasis>liaison</emphasis> is required when the verb preceding <emphasis>y</emphasis> ends with a vowel sound:</p> <table frame="none" width="100%"> <title/> <tgroup cols="2"> <colspec colname="col1" colnum="1" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="left"/> <colspec colname="col2" colnum="2" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="left"/> <tbody> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>Vas-y</emphasis>.</p></td> <td><p>Go there.</p></td> </tr> </tbody> </tgroup> </table> </li> <li><p>The pronoun <emphasis>en</emphasis>: When the pronoun <emphasis>en</emphasis> is used in the imperative construction, it appears last but is still joined to the other words with a hyphen:</p> <table frame="none" width="100%"> <title/> <tgroup cols="2"> <colspec colname="col1" colnum="1" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="left"/> <colspec colname="col2" colnum="2" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="left"/> <tbody> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>Donne-lui-en</emphasis>.</p></td> <td><p>Give some to him.</p></td> </tr> </tbody> </tgroup> </table> </li> </ul> <p>If the imperative verb is being used with an object pronoun that begins with a vowel, the “s” is kept at the end of the <emphasis>tu</emphasis> form. This assists in pronunciation:</p> <table frame="none" width="100%"> <title/> <tgroup cols="2"> <colspec colname="col1" colnum="1" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="left"/> <colspec colname="col2" colnum="2" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="left"/> <tbody> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>Manges-en</emphasis>.</p></td> <td><p>Eat some.</p></td> </tr> </tbody> </tgroup> </table> <p>A “t” is sometimes inserted in between an inverted verb and subject; that rule, however, applies only to inverted questions. When the imperative form appears with a pronoun, it will always be an object pronoun, so the rules for inverted questions do not apply.</p> <h2>Negative Imperatives</h2> <p>When the imperative is used with negative expressions, it follows the normal negative construction, despite the absence of a subject pronoun. The <emphasis>ne</emphasis> is placed before the verb, and the <emphasis>pas</emphasis> or other negative modifier immediately after it.</p> <table frame="none" width="100%"> <title/> <tgroup cols="2"> <colspec colname="col1" colnum="1" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="left"/> <colspec colname="col2" colnum="2" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="left"/> <tbody> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>Ne téléphone pas après minuit</emphasis>.</p></td> <td><p>Do not call after midnight.</p></td> </tr> </tbody> </tgroup> </table> <h2>Pronouncing Object Pronouns</h2> <p>In these sections, you learned about object pronouns. Listen to the CD for the pronunciation of some of the expressions you learned.</p> <div class="npmo"> <img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/np/french/track.jpg"> <div class="npcp"><p><B>TRACK 45</B></p></div> </div> <p><emphasis>Oui, je la conduis</emphasis>.</p> <p><emphasis>Non, nous ne l'avons pas vu</emphasis>.</p> <p><emphasis>Mon copain le lui donne</emphasis>.</p> <p><emphasis>Elle parle de lui</emphasis>.</p> <p><emphasis>Je ne l'ai pas vu, moi</emphasis>.</p> <p><emphasis>Je pense souvent à lui</emphasis>.</p> <p><emphasis>Oui, j'en ai beaucoup</emphasis>.</p> <p><emphasis>Oui, j'y suis allé</emphasis>.</p> <p><emphasis>Dépêchez-vous</emphasis>.</p> <p><emphasis>Vas-y</emphasis>.</p> <p><emphasis>Manges-en</emphasis>.</p> <p><emphasis>Ne lisez pas ce livre-là</emphasis>.</p> <p><emphasis>Ne téléphone pas après minuit</emphasis>.</p> <!--/gc--> <div id="pagination"><ul><li class="prev"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/french/objects-prepositions-and-pronouns/object-pronouns.htm" title="Object Pronouns">Object Pronouns</a></li><li class="next"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/french/objects-prepositions-and-pronouns/demonstrative-pronouns.htm" title="Demonstrative Pronouns">Demonstrative Pronouns</a> </li></ul></div></div> <div id="coda"> <div id="rel"><div class="n5">Related Articles</div><ul> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/french/objects-prepositions-and-pronouns/object-pronouns-and-the-imperative.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> Object Pronouns and the Imperative - French </a></li> <li><a href="http://french.about.com/od/grammar/a/adverb_negative.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> French Negative Adverbs - Adverbes négatifs </a></li> <li><a href="http://french.about.com/od/grammar/a/imperative_3.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> French Imperative - Impératif </a></li> <li><a href="http://french.about.com/od/grammar/a/pronouns_negative.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> French Negative Pronouns - Pronoms négatifs </a></li> <li><a href="http://french.about.com/od/grammar/a/negation_form_3.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> Formal Negation - Literary and formal negative structures </a></li> </ul></div> <div id="sec"><div class="n5">Read More Objects, Prepositions, and Pronouns</div><ul><ul class="col1"><li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/french/objects-prepositions-and-pronouns/direct-and-indirect-objects.htm">Direct and Indirect Objects</a></li> <li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/french/objects-prepositions-and-pronouns/prepositions.htm">Prepositions</a></li> <li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/french/objects-prepositions-and-pronouns/object-pronouns.htm">Object Pronouns</a></li> <li class="btO">Object Pronouns and the Imperative</li> </ul><ul class="col2"><li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/french/objects-prepositions-and-pronouns/demonstrative-pronouns.htm">Demonstrative Pronouns</a></li> <li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/french/objects-prepositions-and-pronouns/relative-pronouns.htm">Relative Pronouns</a></li> <li ><a 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