Learn Hardcore French: Mets la couverture sur le canapé; le chat dort dessus. - Put the blanket on the couch; the cat sleeps on it.

It’s the imperative (a command) of mettre addressed to tu. In French imperatives, the subject pronoun is dropped: (Tu) mets → Mets ! meaning “Put!”

Why does it end with an -s (Mets) if imperatives with tu often drop the -s?

The “drop the -s” rule applies to regular -er verbs (e.g., Parle ! from parler). Mettre is irregular (not an -er verb), and the tu form keeps the -s: tu mets → Mets !

Could it be Met without the -s?

No. Met is the third-person singular present (il/elle/on met). The imperative for tu is Mets !

How do I say it politely or to several people?

Use the vous imperative: Mettez la couverture sur le canapé.
For “let’s put,” use nous: Mettons la couverture sur le canapé.

If I replace la couverture with a pronoun, how do I write it?

Affirmative imperative: Mets-la sur le canapé. (Hyphen after the verb)
Negative imperative: Ne la mets pas sur le canapé. (Pronoun before the verb)

Why sur le canapé and not something like dans le canapé or au canapé?

sur = “on (top of), touching”: sur le canapé = “on the couch.”
dans = “in/inside.”
à/au doesn’t mean “on” here, so au canapé would be wrong.

What exactly does dessus refer to here?

Dessus means “on it/on top of it” and, in this sentence, it picks up the location just mentioned: sur le canapé. So: “Put the blanket on the couch; the cat sleeps on it (the couch).” Context makes this the natural reading.

Could dessus refer to the blanket instead?

Technically possible in other contexts, since dessus is gender‑neutral and can refer to a previously mentioned surface. But here, the logic is: put the blanket on the couch because the cat sleeps on the couch. If you meant “on the blanket,” you’d make it explicit: Le chat dort sur la couverture.

Can I use y instead of dessus?

Yes, but with a nuance:

Le chat y dort. = “The cat sleeps there” (neutral “there,” less specific).
Le chat dort dessus. = “The cat sleeps on it” (emphasizes being on top).

What’s the difference between sur, dessus, au-dessus (de), and par-dessus?

sur = on (in contact): sur le canapé
dessus = on it/on top (pronoun/adverb): Il dort dessus.
au-dessus (de) = above (no contact): au-dessus du canapé
par-dessus = over/across: sauter par-dessus le canapé

Where does dessus go in the sentence?

Usually at the end: Le chat dort dessus.
Fronting is possible but marked: Dessus, le chat dort.
Don’t mix it redundantly with y: avoid Le chat y dort dessus.

Is the semicolon ; normal here? Could I use something else?

A semicolon is fine to link two related clauses. Alternatives:

Period: Mets la couverture sur le canapé. Le chat dort dessus.
Conjunction: Mets la couverture sur le canapé, car le chat dort dessus. Note: in French typography, a (thin) space is placed before ;.

Why la couverture and le canapé (definite articles) and not une/un?

Definite articles (la/le) point to specific, known items in context (the blanket and the couch you both know). Une/Un would introduce an unspecified item.

What about the verb dort?

It’s the present tense of dormir, 3rd person singular: il/elle/on dort. French doesn’t use a special “-ing” form; il dort covers “he sleeps/he is sleeping.”

Is s’endormir interchangeable with dormir?

No. s’endormir = “to fall asleep.” dormir = “to sleep.”
Le chat s’endort = “The cat is falling asleep,” not “is sleeping.”

Any quick pronunciation tips?

Mets: the final -s is silent.
canapé: stress the last syllable; é sounds like “ay.”
chat: “sha,” silent -t.
dessus: roughly “duh-SÜ” (final -s silent; u = French front-rounded vowel).

Are there synonyms for canapé or couverture?

canapé ≈ sofa (also used in French) or divan.
couverture (bed blanket); for a throw, many say un plaid (common loanword).

Could I rewrite the sentence with a reason connector?

Yes: Mets la couverture sur le canapé parce que le chat dort dessus. (because)
More formal: … car le chat dort dessus.

How would I say the negative command?

Ne mets pas la couverture sur le canapé; le chat dort dessus. (Don’t put the blanket on the couch; the cat sleeps on it.)