Introduction to the Imperative
The imperative mood is used to give commands, make requests, offer advice, or express instructions. In Spanish, the imperative forms vary depending on the person being addressed (tú, usted, vosotros, ustedes) and whether the command is affirmative or negative.
Understanding the imperative is essential for everyday communication, from telling someone to "sit down" to politely asking someone to "please wait."
Affirmative Commands
Affirmative commands tell someone to do something. The forms differ depending on whether you are addressing a friend, a group, or someone formally.
For tú (informal singular), the affirmative command usually uses the third person singular form of the present indicative.
Habla más despacio.
AH-blah mas dehs-PAH-syo
Speak more slowly.
For usted (formal singular), the command uses the third person singular of the present subjunctive.
Hable más despacio, por favor.
AH-bleh mas dehs-PAH-syo por fah-VOR
Speak more slowly, please.
Here is a quick conjugation table for the verb hablar (to speak) in affirmative commands:
| Person | Affirmative Command |
|---|---|
| tú | habla |
| usted | hable |
| vosotros | hablad |
| ustedes | hablen |
Negative Commands
Negative commands are used to tell someone not to do something. In Spanish, all negative commands use the present subjunctive forms.
No hables tan rápido.
No AH-bles tan RAH-pee-doh
Don’t speak so fast.
Notice that for tú, the negative command differs from the affirmative form. Also, the word no always precedes the verb.
Here is the conjugation of hablar in negative commands:
| Person | Negative Command |
|---|---|
| tú | no hables |
| usted | no hable |
| vosotros | no habléis |
| ustedes | no hablen |
Formal vs. Informal Imperatives
Spanish differentiates between formal and informal commands. Use tú and vosotros forms for informal situations, and usted and ustedes for formal or plural polite commands.
For example, the verb comer (to eat) in affirmative commands:
Come la fruta.
KOH-meh lah FROO-tah
Eat the fruit. (informal)
Coma la fruta, por favor.
KOH-mah lah FROO-tah por fah-VOR
Eat the fruit, please. (formal)
The formal commands use subjunctive forms, and the plural commands take the plural subjunctive endings.
Irregular Verbs in the Imperative
Many common Spanish verbs have irregular imperative forms, especially in the tú affirmative. Here are some important irregular verbs:
| Verb | Tú Affirmative | Tú Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Decir (to say) | di | no digas |
| Hacer (to do/make) | haz | no hagas |
| Ir (to go) | ve | no vayas |
| Poner (to put) | pon | no pongas |
| Salir (to leave/go out) | sal | no salgas |
| Ser (to be) | sé | no seas |
| Tener (to have) | ten | no tengas |
| Venir (to come) | ven | no vengas |
Haz la tarea ahora.
Az lah tah-REH-ah ah-OH-rah
Do the homework now.
No vengas tarde.
No BEN-gas TAR-deh
Don’t come late.
Using Pronouns with the Imperative
When using object pronouns with commands, their placement depends on whether the command is affirmative or negative.
- Affirmative commands: Attach pronouns directly to the end of the verb.
- Negative commands: Place pronouns before the verb.
Dime la verdad.
DEE-meh lah behr-DAHD
Tell me the truth.
No me digas mentiras.
No meh DEE-gas men-TEE-rahs
Don't tell me lies.
Notice that in affirmative commands, pronouns cause the verb to carry an accent to maintain the original stress.
Léelo con atención.
LEH-eh-loh kon aten-SYON
Read it carefully.
Practice Examples
Try to identify the imperative forms and whether they are affirmative or negative. Translate the sentences and pay attention to pronouns.
¡Ven aquí!
Ben ah-KEE
Come here!
No toques la mesa.
No TOH-kes lah MEH-sah
Don't touch the table.
Escríbenos una carta.
Es-KREE-beh-nos OO-nah KAR-tah
Write us a letter.
No nos digas mentiras.
No nos DEE-gas men-TEE-ras
Don't tell us lies.
Answers:
- ¡Ven aquí! – tú affirmative imperative of venir
- No toques la mesa. – tú negative imperative of tocar
- Escríbenos una carta. – ustedes affirmative imperative of escribir + pronoun
- No nos digas mentiras. – tú negative imperative of decir + pronoun
Tips for Remembering Rules
- Always use the present subjunctive for all negative commands.
- For affirmative tú commands, use the third person singular of the present indicative, but watch out for irregular verbs.
- Attach pronouns to affirmative commands but place them before negative commands.
- Practice irregular imperative verbs frequently, as they are common in daily speech.
- Remember that vosotros affirmative commands end in -d, but negative commands use the subjunctive ending -éis/-áis.