The Imperative tense: Commands Spanish 3, Textbook pages 227-229
Mar 27, 2015
The Imperative tense: Commands
Spanish 3, Textbook pages 227-229
Commands allow you to give a direct order. There are several kinds of commands:
Formal (Usted and Ustedes) Informal (Tú and Vosotros/as) Nosotros/as
Here we will only focus on Tú, Ud and Uds, positive and negative.
Formation: Affirmative and Negative formal commands
are derived from the present subjunctive so they are formed by starting with the yo form of the present tense, and interchanging the –AR and –ER/ -IR endings. Él/ella/Ud endings will work for the formal UD command, and ellos/ellas/Uds endings will work for the Uds (or you plural) command. Present tense stem changes apply as well as any present tense verb that has an irregularity in the yo form.
Infinitive Yo form Present
Alt. Ending UD command Uds. command
Hablar Hablo -e/-en Hable Ud. Hablen Uds
Comer Como -a/-an Coma Ud. Coman Uds
Cerrar Cierro -e/-en Cierre Ud. Cierren Uds
Tener Tengo -a/-an Tenga Ud. Tengan Uds
Conducir Conduzco -a/-an Conduzca Conduzcan
Dormir Duermo -a/-an Duerma Ud Duerman Uds
Formation of Negative Commands: To make the command negative, just add
the word “no” before the conjugated command.
Example: ¡No hablen Uds. cuando la maestra está
enseñando! (Don’t talk when the teacher is
teaching!)
Infinitive Ud. Command Uds. Command
Ir (to go) Vaya Ud. Vayan Uds.
Ser (to be) Sea Ud. Sean Uds.
Estar (to be) Esté Ud. Estén Uds.
Dar (to give) Dé Ud. Den Uds.
Saber (to know) Sepa Ud. Sepan Uds.
Spelling change: *Note that the following verbs are regular,
but they have a spelling change in the command form.
Infinitive Ud Command Uds. Command
Tocar Toque Ud. Toquen Uds.
Picar Pique Ud. Piquen Uds.
Jugar Juegue Ud. Jueguen Uds.
Pagar Pague Ud. Paguen Uds.
Agregar Agregue Ud. Agreguen Uds.
Empezar Empiece Ud. Empiecen Uds.
1. Negative informal commands for tú and vosotros are derived from the present subjunctive. This means you start in the yo form of the present indicative, drop the “o” and add opposite endings.
Examples:
Tú Vosotros
No compres más. No compréis más.
No digas eso. No digáis eso.
The endings for tú are: AR verbs- es ER and IR verbs- as The endings for the vosotros are: AR verbs- éis ER and IR verbs- áis
There are 6 irregular negative familiar commands:
Ir – no vayas Dar- no des Ser – no seas Estar-no estés Saber- no sepas
The Affirmative informal commands for tú and vosotros(as) have their own endings. The affirmative informal commands are derived from the present indicative tú form minus the person ending –s.
Present Ind. Command Meaning
Contestas el teléfono. Contesta el teléfono. Answer the phone.
The endings are: AR verbs- a ER and IR verbs- e
The irregular affirmative tú commands are Decir – Di Poner - Pon Tener – Ten Ser – Sé Venir – Ven Hacer- Haz Ir – Ve Salir- Sal
Pronouns (reflexive, indirect or direct) must be placed at the end and attached to an affirmative command. Watch your accents
Siéntate= sit down. Dámelo= give it to me
Pronouns (reflexive, indirect or direct) must be placed before a negative command and is not attached.
No te sientes. = Don’t sit down No me lo des. = Don’t give it to me.
Infinitive + Tú Command - Tú CommandAprender
Abrir
Pensar
Decir
Tener
Venir
Empezar
Ser
Cortar
Ir
Infinitive Usted Ustedes
Servir
Querer
Venir
Doblar
Escuchar
Comer
Poner
Hacer
Dormir
Conocer
*How would you make these commands negative?
1.Textbook pages 227-229, EX 4-11