A2 Spanish GrammarImperative Mood
Master Spanish commands (el imperativo) for tú, usted, vosotros, and ustedes. Learn affirmative and negative forms, irregular verbs, and how to attach pronouns to commands.
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1Affirmative Tú Commands
Affirmative tú commands use the él/ella present tense form. Eight common verbs have irregular forms: ven, ten, pon, sal, di, haz, ve, sé. Pronouns attach to the end of affirmative commands.
Affirmative Tú Commands
| Verb | Command | English |
|---|---|---|
| hablar | habla | speak |
| comer | come | eat |
| escribir | escribe | write |
| venir | ven | come (irregular) |
| tener | ten | have (irregular) |
| poner | pon | put (irregular) |
| hacer | haz | do/make (irregular) |
| decir | di | say (irregular) |
Examples
Habla más despacio, por favor.
Speak more slowly, please.
regular -ar command
Ven aquí ahora mismo.
Come here right now.
ven - irregular
Dime la verdad.
Tell me the truth.
di + me attached
Hazlo rápido.
Do it quickly.
haz + lo attached
2Negative Commands
Negative commands use the present subjunctive for all persons. Tú negative uses -es (ar) or -as (er/ir). Pronouns go before the verb in negative commands, not attached.
Negative Tú Commands
| Verb | Affirmative | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| hablar | habla | no hables |
| comer | come | no comas |
| escribir | escribe | no escribas |
| venir | ven | no vengas |
| decir | di | no digas |
| hacer | haz | no hagas |
Examples
No hables tan alto.
Don't speak so loudly.
no + subjunctive
No vengas tarde.
Don't come late.
no vengas - irregular
No me digas eso.
Don't tell me that.
pronoun before verb
No lo hagas.
Don't do it.
lo before no hagas
3Usted and Ustedes Commands
Formal commands (usted/ustedes) use present subjunctive for both affirmative and negative. -ar verbs take -e/-en, -er/-ir verbs take -a/-an. Same form for affirmative and negative.
Usted/Ustedes Commands
| Verb | Usted | Ustedes |
|---|---|---|
| hablar | hable | hablen |
| comer | coma | coman |
| escribir | escriba | escriban |
| venir | venga | vengan |
| hacer | haga | hagan |
| ir | vaya | vayan |
Examples
Por favor, hable más despacio.
Please speak more slowly.
usted formal
Vengan a las ocho.
Come at eight (formal plural).
ustedes command
No vaya por ahí.
Don't go that way.
negative usted
Siéntense, por favor.
Sit down, please.
reflexive attached
4Vosotros Commands
Vosotros affirmative commands replace final -r of infinitive with -d. For reflexives, drop the -d before -os. Negative uses subjunctive -éis/-áis. Vosotros is used mainly in Spain.
Vosotros Commands
| Verb | Affirmative | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| hablar | hablad | no habléis |
| comer | comed | no comáis |
| escribir | escribid | no escribáis |
| levantarse | levantaos | no os levantéis |
| irse | idos | no os vayáis |
Examples
Hablad más bajo.
Speak more quietly (you all).
vosotros command
Sentaos aquí.
Sit down here.
sentad + os → sentaos
No hagáis ruido.
Don't make noise.
negative vosotros
Venid conmigo.
Come with me.
venir → venid
Practice Exercises
4 exercises
Complete: '¡___ la puerta!' (Open the door! - informal tú)
Complete: '¡___ aquí!' (Come here! - informal tú)
Complete: '¡No ___ eso!' (Don't do that! - informal tú)
Complete: '¡___ usted!' (Sit down! - formal)
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