Direct Commands
I. In_gen~rill_:
Commands [mandatos], or imperatives, are a special type of verb form used in addressing
someone directly and giving them an order. In English the subject is almost never expressed,
although for contrast "yourself' may be added to the end. In Spanish, the subject pronoun is
frequently used for formal commands (usted, ustedes), and may be used for the hI and vosotros
commands for emphasis or contrast.
Hable ysted mas despacio, por favor.
Pasen ustedes.
Hazlo ty; no quiero que 10 haga el,
Please speak slower.
Come on in.
Do it (yourself); I don't want him to do it.
Ifan exclamation point is used at the end of the sentence, an inverted one must be placed at the
beginning
.No me mires]
Don't look at me!
II. PlacemeoJ.Qf object pronouns:
In all affirmative commands, object pronouns are attached to the end of the verb; they are placed
immediately before the verb in negative commands:
.
'Damelo!
--jNo me 10 des!
Give it to me!
Don't give it to me!
Note:
I. Indirect object pronouns come before direct object pronouns. Remember that Ie or les
change to se if they come before 10, la, los or las.
2. The addition of object pronouns to the end of a command form requires the use of a written
accent mark over the stressed syliable of the verb form if that syliable is followed by two or
more syllables. [The 4A..I.lJ.~may be of help.]
III. Formal!.Q(1of the imperative:
All commands except affirmative ttl and vosotros are based on the subjunctive. For an
explanation of how to derive these forms, see a separate handout on the ~!!.QiYn.~tiy~.
1. Affirmative ttl commands:
For the vast majority of verbs, the affirmative ttl command is identical to the third person
singular of the present indicative:
,Habla en voz alta!
[Come con nosotros!
jVive bien!
Speak up!
Eat with us!
Live well!
The following verbs have special affirmative ttl command forms:
Direct commands in Spanish
Page 20f3
d.eci_r (to say, tell):
hacer (to do, make):
(to go):
if
poner (to put, place):
salir (to leave, go out):
(to be):
S~J:
tener (to have):
Y~lJir (to come):
d~
haz
ve
pon
sal
se
ten
yen
Dime la verdad.
Hazlo manana.
Vete.
Ponlo aqui.
Sal en sequida.
Se bueno.
Ten cuidado.
Yen aca,
Tell me the truth.
Do it tomorrow.
Scram. (Leave.)
Put it here.
Leave immediately.
Be good.
Be careful.
Come here.
2. Negative tu commands:
Negative tu commands use the tu form of the present subjunctive:
No me babies asi.
No comas tanto.
No vivas alii.
No hagas nada.
[No vengas!
[For affirmative/negative
subjJlntivo. "]
Don't
Don't
Don't
Don't
Don't
talk to me like that.
eat so much.
live there.
do anything.
come!
til commands, see also the rule "If yes remove th~ s; if no,
3. Affirmative vosotros commands: To form the affirmative vosotros command, drop the-r
of the infinitive and add -d. This -d is omitted if the pronoun os (yourselves) is appended to
the verb (which will require a written accent over the -i- of -ir verbs: jReunios!).
Habl~9 en voz alta.
Corned con nosotros.
Vh.'ill en paz.
Ill.
DadDl~ algo.
S~ntaos aqui.
Speak aloud.
Eat with us.
Live in peace.
Go.
Give me something.
Sit down here. (Note the omission of the -d.)
4. Negative vosotros commands:
Use the vosotros form of the present subjunctive to form negative vosotros commands:
No me }lableis ahora.
No ~o_maislos tacos.
No yivais asi.
Don't speak to me now.
Don't eat the tacos.
Don't live like that.
5. Usted and ustedes commands (affirmative and negative):
All formal commands are based on the third person forms of the present subjunctive. The
plural forms are the same as the singular except for the addition of an -no
Affirmative commands (usted and ustedes):
jHatJJe! jComa! jYiva!
jUablen! jComan! jVivan!
http://users.ipfw.edu/jehle/courses/commands.htm
Speak! Eat! Live! (singular)
Speak! Eat! Live! (plural)
5/4/2011
Page 3 of3
Direct commands in Spanish
.;;
6. Negative commands (usted and ustedes):
jNo hahh;! jNo coma! jNo viva!
jNo h~blen! jNo coman! jNo
vivan!
Don't speak! Don't eat! Don't
live!
Don't speak! Don't eat! Don't
live!
(singular)
(plural)
More examples of formal commmands follow. Note the position of negatives, and subject
and object pronouns.
No Ie de nada.
Djg~le algo.
Ve_nga ustcd pronto.
jVaya!1_se!
f)u~q~enlo ustedes.
jNunca 10 hagan!
Don't give him anything.
Tell him something.
Come soon.
Get out a/here!
Look/or it.
Never do it!
[Practice: Informal commands, Formal
commands]
(singular)
(singular)
(singular)
(plural)
(plural)
(plural)
[S~10 Main Page]
.----~------,...
Contact: Fred.LJgb!~
Indiana University - Purdue University Ft. Wayne
Fort Wayne, IN 46805-1499 USA
http://uscrs.ipfw.edu/jehle/courses/commands.htm
-'~'--'-".-'
Home: hnp)L!l~~rS,ipfw.cd.u/jchleL
U RL: http://users.ipfw.edu/jehle/courses/commands.htm
5/4/2011