Where does the object pronoun (me, te, nous, vous) go in an affirmative/positive command

If you speak or write French, one thing that trips people up is the imperative especially how pronouns behave in positive (affirmative) commands. The short answer: in an affirmative command the object pronouns come after the verb and are linked to it with hyphens. But there are a few important details you should know. Read on for clear rules, examples, and a quick cheat sheet.

The basic rules

• In affirmative commands, pronouns are placed after the verb and attached with a hyphen: Parle-moi. (Talk to me.)
• The pronouns me and te change to moi and toi when they follow the verb: Lve-toi. (Stand up.)
• When you have more than one pronoun, they follow a fixed order (see the order list below).

Order of pronouns after the verb (affirmative)

When several pronouns are used together in an affirmative command, the order is different from a normal sentence. A practical sequence to remember is:

le / la / les moi / toi / nous / vous lui / leur y en

That means direct object pronouns (le, la, les) come first, then the stressed forms (moi, toi, nous, vous), then indirect pronouns (lui, leur), and finally y and en.

Examples

• Donne-le-moi. Give it to me. (le before moi)
• Mets-les-y. Put them there. (les before y)
• Parle-lui-en. Talk to him/her about it. (lui before en)
• Montre-nous-les. Show them to us. (les before nous)
• Lve-toi. Stand up. (te toi after the verb)

Hyphens and small pronunciation notes

• Always connect pronouns to the verb with a hyphen in affirmative imperatives: Donne-le-moi, Asseyez-vous.
• For the tu form of -er verbs (and for aller), the final -s is normally dropped (parle) but is often reinserted when followed by y or en for euphony: e.g. Va vs Vas-y. A safe example to remember is Vas-y.
• Reflexive verbs follow the same affirmative pattern: Habille-toi, Asseyez-vous.

Contrast with negative commands

Be careful: in negative (imperative) commands, pronouns go before the verb as they do in normal sentences. Compare:

• Parle-moi. (affirmative) Talk to me.
• Ne me parle pas. (negative) Dont talk to me.
• Donne-le-moi. (affirmative) Give it to me.
• Ne me le donne pas. (negative) Dont give it to me. (me and le before the verb)

Quick cheat-sheet

• Affirmative: verb + hyphen + pronoun(s).
• Use moi / toi / nous / vous (not me/te) after the verb.
• Order for multiple pronouns: le/la/les moi/toi/nous/vous lui/leur y en.
• Negative commands: pronouns go before the verb (no hyphen).

Final tips

If youre learning French, practice by converting a few simple sentences from affirmative to negative and back, and watch where the pronouns move. Write and say examples out loud the hyphens and shifts to moi/toi will start to feel natural quickly.

Need a few more examples or a short exercise to practice? I can give 10 quick practice sentences and answers so you can test yourself.