Affirmative Commands
Informal affirmative commands use the imperative mood. The imperative is used to give orders or instructions to one or more persons in a direct form.
The imperative form for tĂş (informal, singular you) is the same as the present tense form of the 3rd person singular:
Mezcla bien los ingredientes.
Mix the ingredients well.
Habla más despacio.
Speak more slowly.
The imperative form for vosotros (informal, plural you) is formed as follows:
- Remove the -r of the verb in infinitive (e.g: escribir → escribi)
- Add -d instead: escribid
Escribid vuestros nombres aquĂ, por favor.
Write your names here, please.
Comprad las frutas para la receta.
Buy the fruit for the recipe.
| Base form | Imperative (tĂş) | Imperative (vosotros) | Command in English |
|---|---|---|---|
| decir | di | decid | say, tell |
| hacer | haz | haced | do, make |
| ir | ve | id | go |
| poner | pon | poned | put |
| salir | sal | salid | leave, go out |
| ser | sé | sed | be |
| tener | ten | tened | take, have |
| venir | ven | venid | come |
Pon los platos en la mesa.
Put the plates on the table.
Note that the vosotros imperative forms of these verbs are regular:
Poned los platos en la mesa.
Put the plates on the table.
In formal affirmative commands, the subjunctive is used. The command for singular formal address (usted) is expressed using the 3rd person singular form of the subjunctive:
Coma esa manzana si quiere.
Eat that apple if you want to.
The command for plural formal address (ustedes) is expressed using the 3rd person plural form of the subjunctive:
Vengan aquĂ tan pronto como puedan.
Come here as soon as you can.
More on the formation of the subjunctive in chapter 3.11.
In affirmative commands, the pronoun is attached to the end of the verb. The pronoun can be reflexive, dative, or accusative:
DĂganme sus nombres. (dative pronoun)
Tell me your names.
Levántate más temprano mañana. (reflexive pronoun)
Get up earlier tomorrow.
¡Hazlo pronto! (accusative pronoun)
Do it soon!
If a reflexive pronoun is attached to the verb, the -d of the vosotros imperative is omitted:
Levantaos más temprano mañana.
Get up earlier tomorrow.
Duchaos antes de salir.
Take a shower before going out.
With other pronouns, the -d ending remains unchanged:
Decidnos la verdad.
Tell us the truth.
Leedlo antes de la reuniĂłn.
Read it before the meeting.
Negative Commands
The negative commands of all personal forms are expressed with the negation no and the subjunctive.
| tú | ¡No comas! | Don’t eat! (informal, singular) |
| usted | ¡No coma! | Don’t eat! (formal, singular) |
| vosotros/-as | ¡No comáis! | Don’t eat! (informal, plural) |
| ustedes | ¡No coman! | Don’t eat! (formal, plural) |
More on the formation of the subjunctive in chapter 3.11.
In negative commands, the pronoun is placed before the verb:
No te preocupes.
Don’t worry.
No lo hagáis todavĂa.
Don’t do it yet.
No nos llamen hoy, no podemos hablar.
Don’t call us today, we can’t talk.