Impératif à la troisième personne
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Most orders are given with the imperative in the second person (you) or first person plural (we). But it is possible to give orders in the third person, by using a special subjunctive construction.
Que + subjunctive, with no preceding main clause, is used for giving orders in the third person: indirect commands, wishes, concessions, suppositions, and exclamations. These are generally equivalent to "let" or "may" in English.
Par exemple…
| Que Dieu vous bénisse. | (May) God bless you. | |
| Que la Force soit avec toi ! | May the Force be with you! | |
| Que la lumière soit. | Let there be light. | |
| Qu’il repose en paix. | May he rest in peace. | |
| Qu’il y réussisse cette fois ! | Let him succeed this time! I hope he succeeds this time! |
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| Qu’ils mangent de la brioche ! | Let them eat brioche! |
Note: It may help to think about a main clause expressing a command, desire, or wish that you could add to get the meaning across.
(On veut) Que Dieu vous bénisse.
(Nous souhaitons) Qu’il reponse en paix.
(J’ordonne) Qu’ils mangent de la brioche !
In a few fixed phrases, it’s possible to give indirect commands without que – see Special uses of the subjunctive.
More French subjunctive
Related lessons
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