Commands: Comprehensive Guide

Spanish commands (mandatos or imperativos) have different forms for different subjects and change between affirmative and negative.

Tú Commands

Affirmative (Irregular Forms)

Most verbs: use 3rd person singular present hablar → Habla. (Speak.) comer → Come. (Eat.) escribir → Escribe. (Write.)

8 Irregular:

• decir → Di (Say)
• hacer → Haz (Do)
• ir → Ve (Go)
• poner → Pon (Put)
• salir → Sal (Leave)
• ser → Sé (Be)
• tener → Ten (Have)
• venir → Ven (Come)

Negative (Use Subjunctive)

No hables. (Don't speak.) No comas. (Don't eat.) No escribas. (Don't write.)

Usted/Ustedes Commands

Always use subjunctive forms (affirmative AND negative):

Usted: Hable. (Speak.) / No hable. (Don't speak.) Coma. (Eat.) / No coma. (Don't eat.)

Ustedes: Hablen. (Speak.) / No hablen. (Don't speak.)

With Pronouns

Affirmative: Attach to End

Dime. (Tell me.) - Decir + me Hazlo. (Do it.) - Hacer + lo Levántate. (Get up.) - Levantar + te

Add accent to maintain stress

Negative: Before Verb

No me digas. (Don't tell me.) No lo hagas. (Don't do it.) No te levantes. (Don't get up.)

Practice