Spanish Commands (the Imperative)
Commands tell someone to do something. In Spanish, the form depends on whether you speak to tú or usted, and on whether the command is positive or negative. Once you know the pattern, you can give instructions, advice, and polite requests.
Quick answer
- Affirmative tú: use the él form of the present: Habla. Come. Escribe.
- Negative tú: use the subjunctive: No hables. No comas. No escribas.
- Usted: use the subjunctive in both: Hable. Coma. No hable.
Affirmative commands with tú
For regular verbs, the affirmative tú command is the same as the él, ella form of the present tense: habla, come, escribe.
Examples
- Habla más despacio, por favor.Speak more slowly, please.Hablar.
- Come tus verduras.Eat your vegetables.Comer.
- Escribe tu nombre aquí.Write your name here.Escribir.
Irregular tú commands
Eight verbs have irregular affirmative tú commands. They are short and very common.
| Verb | Command |
|---|---|
| decir | di |
| hacer | haz |
| ir | ve |
| poner | pon |
| salir | sal |
| ser | sé |
| tener | ten |
| venir | ven |
Examples
- Di la verdad.Tell the truth.Decir.
- Haz la tarea ahora.Do your homework now.Hacer.
- Ven aquí, por favor.Come here, please.Venir.
- Sé amable con todos.Be kind to everyone.Ser.
Negative commands and usted commands
Negative commands with tú and all commands with usted use the subjunctive. Take the yo form of the present, drop the -o, and add the opposite ending: -e for -ar verbs, -a for -er/-ir verbs.
| Verb | No + tú | Usted |
|---|---|---|
| hablar | no hables | hable |
| comer | no comas | coma |
| escribir | no escribas | escriba |
| hacer | no hagas | haga |
| decir | no digas | diga |
Examples
- No hables tan fuerte.Do not talk so loudly.Negative tú.
- Pase, por favor.Come in, please.Usted.
- No se preocupe.Do not worry.Negative usted.
- Siéntese aquí, señora.Sit here, ma’am.Usted with a reflexive pronoun.
Where pronouns go
In affirmative commands, pronouns attach to the end: dímelo, siéntate. In negative commands, pronouns go before the verb: no me lo digas. You may need an accent mark to keep the stress in the same place.
Examples
- Dímelo ahora.Tell it to me now.Pronouns attached.
- No me lo digas.Do not tell me.Pronouns before the verb.
- Siéntate, por favor.Sit down, please.Reflexive attached.
- Cómpralo hoy.Buy it today.Lo attached with an accent.
Spanish around the world
- In Argentina, Uruguay, and parts of Central America, vos has its own commands, like hablá, comé, and vení. In Spain, vosotros uses hablad and comed.
Common mistakes
Incorrect: No habla tan fuerte.
Correct: No hables tan fuerte.
Negative tú commands use the subjunctive.
Incorrect: Hace la tarea.
Correct: Haz la tarea.
Hacer is irregular: haz.
Incorrect: Dime lo.
Correct: Dímelo.
Pronouns attach to the end, with an accent.
Incorrect: No me dímelo.
Correct: No me lo digas.
In negatives, pronouns come before the verb.
Remember the pattern
- Affirmative tú: the él form. Eight irregulars: di, haz, ve, pon, sal, sé, ten, ven.
- Negative tú and all usted commands: subjunctive.
- Pronouns attach to affirmative commands and go before negative ones.
Mini practice
5 quick questions. You get feedback right after each answer.
Frequently asked questions
How do I give a polite command?
Use usted and add por favor: Pase, por favor. Or soften it with ¿Podría…?.
Why do I need a subjunctive for negative commands?
It is simply the pattern. Spanish uses the subjunctive when it tells someone not to do something.
How do I give a command to a group?
Use ustedes: Hablen más despacio. In Spain, vosotros: Hablad.
Do I need the subject pronoun?
No. Commands are normally given without tú or usted.
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