Spanish Commands
Spanish Commands
A. FORMS OF THE IMPERATIVE / FORMAS DEL IMPERATIVO
All commands –except the affirmative tú and vosotros forms– use part of the present subjunctive in what is called the imperative mood (el imperativo):
afirmativo negativo
usted(es) use present subjunctive
hable(n), coma(n), viva(n)
ponga(n), vaya(n), sea(n) use present subjunctive
no hable(n), no coma(n), no viva(n)
no ponga(n), no vaya(n), no sea(n)
tú use 3rd person present indicative
habla, come, vive
trae, juega, oye use present subjunctive
no hables, no comas, no vivas
no pongas, no vayas, no seas
vosotros -ad, -ed, -id
hablad, comed, vivid
poned, id, sed use present subjunctive
no habléis, no comáis, no viváis
no pongáis, no vayáis, no seáis
• Usted(es) commands use third person of present subjunctive: vivan; no hagan; vuelva; etc.
The pronoun Ud(s). is sometimes used as a way of softening the imperative:
Pasen ustedes, por favor. Please come in.
No sea usted tan difícil. Please don't be so difficult.
Ustedes is the only plural form used in America, whereas in Spain it is reserved for formal situations.
• Affirmative tú commands use the third person singular of the present indicative: vuelve; piensa;
The following verbs are exceptions:
decir => di
hacer => haz
ir => ve
salir => sal
ser => sé
tener => ten
poner => pon
venir => ven
• Negative tú commands use the tú form of the present subjunctive: no tengas miedo; no salgas.
• Vosotros commands, used only in Spain now, simply change the –r from the infinite into a –d ending for the affirmative (poner --> poned), and use the vosotros form of the present subjunctive for the negative (no pongáis).
• Object pronouns are attached to the end of the affirmative command forms. This almost always involves the placing of a written accent:
Escríbale usted; cómelo; dígamelo; mándamelos, etc. But hazlo; dime; etc.
• Object pronouns are placed immediately before the negative command forms:
No me hables; ni me lo digas; tampoco se lo pidas; nunca te levantes;
jamás se duerma usted; no se te olvide; etc.
B. OTHER EXHORTATIONS/ OTRAS EXHORTACIONES
The present subjunctive is also used in the following expressions:
1. Comamos.
Let's eat. Cantemos otra cosa.
Let's sing something else. Sigamos durmiendo.
Let’s go on sleeping.
• Common exception: vamos let's go.
• Personal pronouns follow their usual pattern of being joined to the end.
Escribámosle. Let's write to him. Prestémoselo. Let's lend it to him/her.
• When a se or nos is used, as in prestémoselo, the verb drops the final –s:
Sentémonos. Let's sit down. Vámonos. Let's leave.
2. Que vaya Pedro.
Let Pedro go (not me) Que lo hagan ellos.
Let them do it, have them do it (I don't want to)
3. Wishes: ¡Que te diviertas!
Que disfruten (de) la película.
Que se mejore.
Que te vaya bien. Have fun!
Enjoy the movie. (you all)
Get better (health).
May you do well / Be well.