The imperative mood is used to give commands, instructions, or requests. When combined with the pronoun me (me), these expressions are extremely useful in everyday conversation. This guide provides 30 common French imperatives with me, including both regular and irregular verbs.
Note: In the affirmative imperative, me becomes moi and is attached to the end of the verb with a hyphen.
Imperatives Examples
- Suis-moi – Follow me
- Raconte-moi – Tell me (a story)
- Crois-moi – Believe me
- Aide-moi – Help me
- Fais-moi confiance – Trust me
- Écoute-moi – Listen to me
- Regarde-moi – Watch me / Look at me
- Appelle-moi – Call me
Additional Common Imperatives with 'me' (Added)
- Excuse-moi – Excuse me (informal)
- Pardonne-moi – Forgive me
- Laisse-moi – Leave me alone / Let me
- Attends-moi – Wait for me
- Rejoins-moi – Join me
- Réponds-moi – Answer me
- Épouse-moi – Marry me
- Prends-moi – Take me
- Cherche-moi – Look for me
- Trouve-moi – Find me
- Rappelle-moi – Remind me / Call me back
- Montre-moi – Show me
- Donne-moi – Give me
- Prête-moi – Lend me
- Dis-moi – Tell me (information)
- Vois-moi – See me
- Comprends-moi – Understand me
- Oublie-moi – Forget me
- Protège-moi – Protect me
- Soutiens-moi – Support me
- Respecte-moi – Respect me
- Crois-moi (already listed) – Believe me
Negative Imperatives with 'me'
In negative commands, me stays before the verb and ne...pas wraps around both.
- Ne me suis pas. – Don't follow me.
- Ne me raconte pas d'histoires. – Don't tell me stories.
- Ne me regarde pas comme ça. – Don't look at me like that.
- Ne m'appelle pas trop tard. – Don't call me too late.
- Ne me laisse pas tomber. – Don't let me down.
- Ne m'oublie pas. – Don't forget me.
Grammar Rules for Imperatives with 'me'
- Affirmative: Verb + moi (attached with a hyphen). Examples: Donne-moi, Regarde-moi.
- Before a vowel sound: moi shortens to m'? No – in affirmative, it stays moi (e.g., Appelle-moi, not Appelle-m').
- Negative: Ne + me + verb + pas. Example: Ne me regarde pas.
- With two pronouns: e.g., Donne-le-moi (Give it to me).
Examples in Context
- Suis-moi, je connais un raccourci. – Follow me, I know a shortcut.
- Dis-moi la vérité. – Tell me the truth.
- Laisse-moi réfléchir. – Let me think.
- Attends-moi devant le cinéma. – Wait for me in front of the cinema.
- Prête-moi ton stylo, s'il te plaît. – Lend me your pen, please.
- Excuse-moi, je suis en retard. – Excuse me, I'm late.
- Rappelle-moi demain matin. – Call me back tomorrow morning.
- Montre-moi tes photos de vacances. – Show me your vacation photos.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Saying Écoute me instead of Écoute-moi – the pronoun must be attached with a hyphen.
- Using me instead of moi in affirmative commands: Donne me ❌ → Donne-moi ✓.
- Forgetting the hyphen between the verb and moi.
- In negative commands, forgetting that me becomes m' before a vowel (e.g., Ne m'oublie pas).
Practice Exercise
Translate the following into French using imperatives with me:
- Call me tonight.
- Help me with my homework.
- Show me your new car.
- Don't forget me.
- Tell me the time.
- Wait for me at the station.
Answers: Appelle-moi ce soir. / Aide-moi avec mes devoirs. / Montre-moi ta nouvelle voiture. / Ne m'oublie pas. / Dis-moi l'heure. / Attends-moi à la gare.
Final Tips
- Practice these commands out loud to get used to the sound and stress patterns.
- Remember that affirmative imperatives with moi are very common in spoken French, especially in close relationships (friends, family).
- For formal situations (vous), replace toi forms with vous forms: Excusez-moi, Suivez-moi, etc.
With these 30 imperatives, you'll be able to express requests, commands, and advice naturally in French conversation.