For l'imperatif
if the verb is se lever, the nous form would be nous nous levons. How about its l'imperatif, would it be nous levons, or only levons?
And also, how do you say the negative of nous nous levons?
Like "nous nous ne levons pas"??
Bonjour, Miche!
l'impératif de se lever
lève-toi / ne te lève pas
levez-vous / ne vous levez pas
levons-nous / ne nous levons pas
You'll love the negative! nous ne nous levons pas. (Remember to keep the Reflexive Pronoun as close to the verb as you can.)
NOTES on Reflexive Verbs:
1. The reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nous, vous) like other pronoun objects, normally pecede the verb.
2. In the affirmative imperative, they follow the verb and are connected to it with a hyphen. After the verb, "toi" is used instead of te (and "soi" instead of se)
3. (Me, te, se) become (m', t', s') before a verb beginning with a vowel or silent "h:" = je m'amuse / elle s'habille
4. The reflexive pronoun is not always a direct object. It may be an indirect object, while some other word in the sentence is the direct object.
EXAMPLES: Je me brosse les dents. = I brush my teeth. "les dents" is the direct object"
Il se lavait la figure. = He was washing his face. "la figure" is the direct object
5. A verb that is reflexive in French need not be reflexive in English.
Nous nous dépêchons. = We hurry (ourselves)
Ils se lèvent. = They get (themselves) up.
Let's look at the transitive verb (lever = which must take a direct object) and the Reflexive verb (se lever, where the reflexive pronoun is the dirct object.)
EXAMPLES: lève le livre = lift the book
lève-toi = get (yourself) up
lave la voiture = wash the car
lave-moi la voiture = wash the car for me ("moi" being indirect object here)
lave-toi = wash (yourself) up
Mme
To form the imperative of a reflexive verb like "se lever" (to get up), you first need to remove the reflexive pronoun. Therefore, the correct form is "Levons !" (Get up!) rather than "Nous levons !"
The imperative form is used to give commands or make requests, typically in the second person (vous, tu) or the first person plural (nous). Since the subject pronoun is not included in the imperative, the reflexive pronoun "nous" is dropped in the imperative form.
Here's how you can remember the imperative form for reflexive verbs:
1. Start with the present tense form of the verb:
- For "se lever," the present tense form is "nous nous levons" (we get up).
2. Remove the reflexive pronoun "nous":
- "Nous nous levons" becomes "Levons" (Get up!).
Remember, when using the imperative form, it is important to understand the context and use the appropriate subject pronoun, such as "vous" or "tu," to whom you are giving the command or making the request.