An explanation of An explanation of Formal Commands Formal Commands in Spanish in Spanish
Mar 26, 2015
An explanation of An explanation of Formal CommandsFormal Commands in Spanish in Spanish
Commands in English…Commands in English…
… are pretty easy. You just use a base verb form (without a subject, since it’s always “you”) to tell people what they should do:– Stand up!
– Sit down!
– Do your homework!
– Take out the garbage!
– Be quiet!
Commands in Spanish…Commands in Spanish…
… are little more complicated because we have so many ways of saying “you”:– Tú: informal, singular– Vosotros: informal, plural– Ud.: formal, singular– Uds.: formal, plural
• However, we will concentrate on the formal commands only.
HableHable despacio, por favor. despacio, por favor.
• The speaker is talking to one person.
• Can you figure out how we got the form “hable”?
• Take the “yo” form of the present: HABLO
• Drop the –o: HABL-
• “Hablar” is an –AR verb, so add –E to form the command: HABLE
-AR verbs
RepitaRepita, por favor., por favor.
• The speaker is talking to one person.
• Can you figure out how we got the form “repita”?
• Take the “yo” form of the present: REPITO
• Drop the –o: REPIT-
• “Repetir” is an –IR verb, so add –A to form the command: REPITA
-ER/-IR Verbs
OppositeOpposite vowels vowels
• Think of the verb adding the
“opposite vowel”
• ARAR verbs add an –E.
• ER & IRER & IR verbs add an –A.
Let’s try a couple!Let’s try a couple!
• Comer: ¡______ Ud.!• Escribir: ¡_____ Ud.!• Tomar: ¡_____ Ud.!• Beber: ¡______ Ud.!
More thanMore than one person? one person? Uds…Uds…
• Coman Uds. la paella.
Right!
Just add an –N to the command form when you are talking to more than one person.
Let’s try a few more!Let’s try a few more!
• Comer: ¡______ Uds.!
• Escribir: ¡_____ Uds.!
• Tomar: ¡_____ Uds.!
Some irregulars…¿Qué Some irregulars…¿Qué pasa?pasa?
Haga la tarea. ~hacer=to do Hacer > yo hago > -o + -a
Tenga paciencia. ~tener=to haveTener > yo tengo > -o + -a
Salga ahora.~ salir=to leaveSalir > yo salgo > - o + -a
Vuelva a casa.~volver=to returnVolver > yo vuelvo > -o + -a
Piense bien.~pensar=to thinkPensar > yo pienso > -o + -e
These verbs follow the same formula: start with the yo form, drop the –o, and add the opposite vowel.
En la cocina, use the FORMAL SINGULAR COMMAND FORMS Usted
Cocinar- to cook, Cocine Medir-to measure, Mida
Agregar-to add, Agregue Freír-to fry, Fría
Hervir-to boil, Hierva Romper-to break, Rompa
Hornear-to bake, Hornee
Batir- to beat, Bata
Combinar-to combine/to blend, Combine
Mezclar-to mix, Mezcle
Picar-to chop, Pique
Cortar-to cut, Corte
Cubrir-to cover, Cubra
AhoraAhora, traduzcan usando los mandatos formales….
1.Blend a cup of milk! = __________________________
2. Beat two eggs! = __________________________
3. Boil three cups of water! = __________________________
4. Cut the chicken! = __________________________
5. Bake the cake! = __________________________