Être, avoir, savoir, vouloir: fully suppletive forms
The Impératif Présent — The Four Irregular Verbs
The imperative usually follows regular present tense endings, but a few verbs are special—they completely change their forms. These four irregulars are essential because they’re used all the time.
There are some of the four most important irregular verbs, and are based on the subjunctive.
The Four Irregulars
| Verb | Tu Form | Nous Form | Vous Form |
|---|---|---|---|
| Être | sois | soyons | soyez |
| Avoir | aie | ayons | ayez |
| Savoir | sache | sachons | sachez |
| Vouloir | veuille | veuillons | veuillez |
👉 They appear frequently in instructions, advice, and polite requests.
Examples:
- Sois patient ! → Be patient!
- Ayons confiance ! → Let’s have confidence!
- Sache la vérité ! → Know the truth!
- Veuillez patienter. → Please wait.
Important Note 1
Technically, Vouloir has three forms, but in 99% of cases, you will only ever use "Veuillez." It is the standard way to say "Please" in formal writing or announcements.
Key Takeaways
- Only four verbs have totally irregular imperative forms: Être, Avoir, Savoir, Vouloir
- Their forms are based on the subjunctive
- No subject pronoun is used
- Essential for commands, advice, and polite instructions
In the app, you will find interactive exercises and quizzes tailored for this intermediate level.
Practice French conjugation for free in the Croissant Verbs app
Quizzes and spaced repetition for every tense, for free on your phone—plus short grammar guides on our Learn hub.
