French Phrase
Ne déplace pas la personne si elle est blessée.
Meaning
Do not move the person if they are injured. The sentence is a direct command, often heard in emergency or first‑aid situations, stressing that moving a hurt individual can worsen injuries.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are giving first‑aid instructions, either as a by‑stander, a medical professional, or a safety trainer. It is appropriate in emergencies, at work safety briefings, or when teaching basic French medical vocabulary.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Nedéplacepaslapersonnesielleestblessée
Negation (Ne…pas)
In French, a basic negative sentence wraps the verb with ‘ne’ before the verb and ‘pas’ after it. In spoken French the ‘ne’ is often dropped, but in written or formal contexts it should be kept.
Déplacer (verb)
‘Déplacer’ means ‘to move’ (physically relocate). It is a regular -er verb conjugated here in the imperative (2nd person singular) without the final ‘s’ because it is followed by ‘pas’.
Article + Noun (la personne)
‘La personne’ is a feminine noun meaning ‘the person’. The article agrees in gender and number with the noun.
Conditional clause (si)
‘Si’ introduces a condition: ‘if’. The verb in the si‑clause is in the present indicative because the condition is real or possible.
Est blessée (être + past participle)
‘Est blessée’ uses the verb ‘être’ in the present tense plus the past participle ‘blessé(e)’ used as an adjective. The participle agrees with the subject’s gender (‑e for feminine).
🗨In Conversation
Ne déplace pas la personne si elle est blessée.
Don't move the person if they are injured.
D'accord, j'attends les secours.
Okay, I'll wait for the emergency services.
✕Common Mistakes
Ne déplaces pas la personne si elle est blessée.
The verb should be in the imperative without the final ‘s’ because it is followed by ‘pas’.
Ne déplace pas la personne si elle est blessé.
When referring to a female subject, add the feminine ending ‘‑e’.
Ne déplace pas la personne si elle était blessée.
Do not use ‘si’ with a past tense here; the present ‘est’ is correct for a real condition.
Ne pas déplace la personne si elle est blessée.
The correct order is ‘Ne … pas’ surrounding the verb.
↔Alternatives
Ne bougez pas la personne si elle est blessée.
Don't move the person if they are injured.
Ne touchez pas la personne tant qu'elle est blessée.
Don't touch the person as long as they are injured.
Laissez la personne sur place si elle est blessée.
Leave the person where they are if they are injured.
Cultural Tip
In French‑speaking countries, first‑aid protocols taught by the Croix‑Rouge (Red Cross) stress that an injured person should not be moved unless there is an immediate danger (e.g., fire). Using the formal imperative ‘Ne déplacez pas…’ is common in official safety signage, while the informal ‘Ne déplace pas…’ fits everyday spoken advice among friends or colleagues.