Basic invitations and shared action | Learn French in English

Sentence explanations

1. Allons-y maintenant.

   Let us go now.

   Allons-y

   Let’s go

   maintenant

   now

   More detail

   Allons-y means “let’s go there” or, in this sentence, simply “let’s go.” It combines allons, the first-person plural imperative of aller (“to go”), with y, a pronoun that can refer to a place or destination. The imperative form allons addresses a group that includes the speaker. Compare the useful pattern Allons-y ! — “Let’s go!” The -y is written after the verb with a hyphen in this expression. maintenant means “now.” It is an adverb and does not change form for person or number. Example: Nous partons maintenant. — “We are leaving now.” Together, Allons-y maintenant. says “Let’s go now.” The first part expresses a proposal or instruction for the speaker and others to go, while maintenant specifies that the action should happen at the present time.

2. Mangeons ensemble.

   Let us eat together.

   Mangeons

   let’s eat

   ensemble

   together

   More detail

   Mangeons comes from manger (“to eat”). In this utterance, the form is the first-person plural imperative: French uses the nous form to make a suggestion or invitation meaning “let’s …”. The subject pronoun is normally omitted in this imperative form. Compare Mangeons ! (“Let’s eat!”) with Mangez ! (“Eat!” addressed to you or to you all). The same written form can also be the present-tense statement “we eat,” so the exhorting meaning here comes from the utterance’s use as an invitation and from the fixed translation. ensemble is an adverb meaning “together.” It describes the manner or shared participation of the eating; it does not itself indicate how many people are involved. Together, Mangeons ensemble. means “Let’s eat together.” The invitation is expressed by the nous imperative form of manger, and ensemble adds the idea that the participants do the eating together. The sentence is a neutral, reusable way to suggest a shared action.

3. Commençons maintenant.

   Let us start now.

   Commençons

   let us start

   maintenant

   now

   More detail

   Commençons comes from commencer, “to start” or “to begin.” Here it is the first-person plural imperative: the speaker includes themself and addresses one or more others, giving the meaning “let us start.” The ending -ons marks this “we/us” command form. Compare the ordinary present form nous commençons (“we start”); the wording is similar, but the imperative invites or urges the group to act. Example: Commençons le travail. — “Let us start the work.” maintenant means “now” and places the action at the present time. It is an adverb, so it does not change form for person or number. Example: Commencez maintenant. — “Start now.” Here commencez addresses others rather than including the speaker. Together, Commençons maintenant. means “Let us start now.” The invitation to begin is expressed by the first-person plural imperative Commençons, and maintenant specifies that the beginning should happen at this time.

4. Arrêtons-nous ici.

   Let us stop here.

   Arrêtons-nous

   let’s stop

   ici

   here

   More detail

   Arrêtons-nous is the first chunk. It is the first-person plural imperative of s'arrêter (“to stop”), used to make a suggestion including the speaker and at least one other person: “let’s stop.” The written form combines arrêtons with the attached reflexive pronoun nous; the hyphen is standard in this affirmative imperative construction. Compare Arrêtons-nous ici. (“Let’s stop here.”) with Arrêtons maintenant. (“Let’s stop now.”), where the place or time expression can change while the suggestion pattern remains. ici means “here,” referring to the relevant place in the situation. It is an invariable place adverb, so it does not change for person or number. For contrast, là commonly means “there,” rather than “here.” Example: Restez ici. — “Stay here.” Together, Arrêtons-nous ici. means “Let us stop here.” The imperative expresses a joint suggestion, and ici specifies the place where the stopping should happen.

5. Viens avec moi.

   Come with me.

   Viens

   come

   avec moi

   with me

   More detail

   Viens is the informal singular imperative of venir (“to come”). It addresses one person and gives a direct instruction: Viens ! means “Come!” The present-tense form for “you come” is also tu viens, but the imperative omits tu here. avec moi means “with me.” Avec is the preposition “with,” and moi is the stressed form of the first-person pronoun used after a preposition. Compare avec toi (“with you”) in the same pattern. Together, Viens avec moi. means “Come with me.” The imperative supplies the instruction, and avec moi specifies that the movement should be in the speaker’s company.

6. Attends-moi.

   Wait for me.

   Attends

   wait

   moi

   me

   More detail

   Attends is the imperative form of attendre, “to wait.” It addresses one person informally: Attends ! means “Wait!” The final -s belongs to this imperative form; the infinitive is attendre, and the present form with tu is also tu attends. moi is the stressed first-person singular pronoun, “me.” Here it is the object of attendre, and French places it after an affirmative imperative with a hyphen: Attends-moi. Compare the ordinary non-imperative order: Tu m’attends. — “You are waiting for me.” The form moi is used in this imperative construction rather than the unstressed object form me. Together, Attends-moi. means “Wait for me.” It is an informal singular command: attendre expresses the waiting, and moi identifies the person to be waited for.