Commands and Imperatives in Spanish

Learn how to give commands and instructions in Spanish! This lesson covers formal and informal commands, affirmative and negative forms, and practical usage.

What Are Commands?

Commands (imperatives) are used to:

• Give orders: "Close the door!"
• Give instructions: "Turn left here."
• Make requests: "Please help me."
• Give advice: "Study more."

Types of Commands

Spanish has different command forms based on who you're speaking to:

Note: In Latin America, USTEDES is used for both formal and informal plural.

Affirmative TÚ Commands (Informal)

Regular -AR, -ER, -IR Verbs

Rule: Use the ÉL/ELLA form of the present tense!

Examples:

¡Habla español! (Speak Spanish!)
¡Come más verduras! (Eat more vegetables!)
¡Abre la puerta! (Open the door!)

Irregular Affirmative TÚ Commands

These 8 verbs are irregular:

Examples:

¡Di la verdad! (Tell the truth!)
¡Haz tu tarea! (Do your homework!)
¡Ve al supermercado! (Go to the supermarket!)
¡Pon la mesa! (Set the table!)
¡Sal de aquí! (Get out of here!)
¡Sé bueno! (Be good!)
¡Ten paciencia! (Have patience!)
¡Ven aquí! (Come here!)

Negative TÚ Commands (Informal)

Rule: Use the TÚ subjunctive form

Pattern: ¡No + subjunctive form!

Regular Verbs

Formation:

• -AR verbs: Drop -o from yo form, add -ES
  • hablo → ¡No hables!
• -ER/-IR verbs: Drop -o from yo form, add -AS
  • como → ¡No comas!
  • escribo → ¡No escribas!

Irregular Negative Tú Commands

Examples:

¡No hables en clase! (Don't talk in class!)
¡No comas eso! (Don't eat that!)
¡No vayas solo! (Don't go alone!)
¡No seas malo! (Don't be bad!)

USTED Commands (Formal)

Rule: Use the USTED subjunctive form

Both affirmative and negative use the same form!

Regular Verbs

Formation:

• -AR verbs: Drop -o from yo form, add -E
  • hablo → ¡Hable!
• -ER/-IR verbs: Drop -o from yo form, add -A
  • como → ¡Coma!
  • escribo → ¡Escriba!

Irregular USTED Commands

Examples:

¡Hable más despacio, por favor! (Speak more slowly, please!)
¡No fume aquí! (Don't smoke here!)
¡Pase, por favor! (Come in, please!)

NOSOTROS Commands (Let's...)

Pattern: ¡ + nosotros subjunctive form!

This means "Let's..." (suggesting an action for the group)

Shortcut for IR: Use ¡Vamos! for affirmative

¡Vamos! (Let's go!) - common
¡Vayamos! (Let's go!) - formal/less common
¡No vayamos! (Let's not go!) - negative

Examples:

¡Comamos en ese restaurante! (Let's eat at that restaurant!)
¡Hablemos español! (Let's speak Spanish!)
¡No salgamos hoy! (Let's not go out today!)

USTEDES Commands (Plural)

Rule: Use the USTEDES subjunctive form

Regular Verbs

Formation:

• -AR verbs: Drop -o from yo form, add -EN
  • hablo → ¡Hablen!
• -ER/-IR verbs: Drop -o from yo form, add -AN
  • como → ¡Coman!

Examples:

¡Escuchen atentamente! (Listen carefully!)
¡No corran en el pasillo! (Don't run in the hallway!)
¡Siéntense, por favor! (Sit down, please!)

Commands with Pronouns

Affirmative Commands: ATTACH Pronouns

Pattern: Command + pronoun(s) + accent

¡Hazlo! (Do it!) - lo attached to haz
¡Dime! (Tell me!) - me attached to di
¡Cómpralo! (Buy it!) - lo attached to compra
¡Levántate! (Get up!) - te attached to levanta
¡Dáselo! (Give it to him!) - se lo attached to da

Note: Add accent to maintain original stress!

Negative Commands: Pronouns BEFORE

Pattern: No + pronoun(s) + command

¡No lo hagas! (Don't do it!) - lo before hagas
¡No me digas! (Don't tell me!) - me before digas
¡No lo compres! (Don't buy it!) - lo before compres
¡No te levantes! (Don't get up!) - te before levantes

Common Command Expressions

Daily Instructions

Polite Requests

Directions

Practice Dialogues

Dialogue 1: Parent to Child

Madre: Juan, levántate. Es hora de ir a la escuela.
Juan: Ya voy, mamá.
Madre: Date prisa. No llegues tarde.
Juan: Sí, mamá. ¿Dónde está mi mochila?
Madre: Búscala en tu cuarto. Y no olvides tu almuerzo.
Juan: Está bien.
Madre: Come tu desayuno primero.
Juan: Sí, mamá.

Translation:
Mother: Juan, get up. It's time to go to school.
Juan: I'm coming, Mom.
Mother: Hurry up. Don't be late.
Juan: Yes, Mom. Where's my backpack?
Mother: Look for it in your room. And don't forget your lunch.
Juan: Okay.
Mother: Eat your breakfast first.
Juan: Yes, Mom.

Dialogue 2: Asking for Directions

Turista: Disculpe, ¿cómo llego al museo?
Local: Siga derecho por esta calle.
Turista: ¿Cuántas cuadras?
Local: Camine tres cuadras y doble a la derecha.
Turista: ¿A la derecha?
Local: Sí. Luego cruce la plaza y verá el museo.
Turista: Muchas gracias.
Local: De nada. No se pierda.

Translation:
Tourist: Excuse me, how do I get to the museum?
Local: Go straight on this street.
Tourist: How many blocks?
Local: Walk three blocks and turn right.
Tourist: To the right?
Local: Yes. Then cross the plaza and you'll see the museum.
Tourist: Thank you very much.
Local: You're welcome. Don't get lost.

Dialogue 3: Teacher to Students

Profesora: Clase, abran sus libros en la página 25.
Estudiantes: [Abriendo los libros]
Profesora: Lean el primer párrafo en silencio.
Estudiantes: [Leyendo]
Profesora: Ahora, cierren los libros. Juan, ven al pizarrón.
Juan: [Va al pizarrón]
Profesora: Escribe la respuesta aquí. No mires el libro.
Juan: Sí, profesora.
Profesora: Muy bien. Vuelve a tu asiento.

Translation:
Teacher: Class, open your books to page 25.
Students: [Opening books]
Teacher: Read the first paragraph silently.
Students: [Reading]
Teacher: Now, close your books. Juan, come to the board.
Juan: [Goes to the board]
Teacher: Write the answer here. Don't look at the book.
Juan: Yes, teacher.
Teacher: Very good. Return to your seat.

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Form Affirmative Tú Commands

1. hablar → _____
2. comer → _____
3. escribir → _____
4. hacer → _____
5. venir → _____

Answers: 1. ¡Habla!, 2. ¡Come!, 3. ¡Escribe!, 4. ¡Haz!, 5. ¡Ven!

Exercise 2: Make These Commands Negative (Tú)

1. ¡Habla! → _____
2. ¡Come! → _____
3. ¡Ve! → _____
4. ¡Sal! → _____
5. ¡Abre! → _____

Answers: 1. ¡No hables!, 2. ¡No comas!, 3. ¡No vayas!, 4. ¡No salgas!, 5. ¡No abras!

Exercise 3: Form USTED Commands

1. hablar (affirmative) → _____
2. comer (negative) → _____
3. escribir (affirmative) → _____
4. ir (affirmative) → _____
5. ser (negative) → _____

Answers: 1. ¡Hable!, 2. ¡No coma!, 3. ¡Escriba!, 4. ¡Vaya!, 5. ¡No sea!

Exercise 4: Translate to Spanish (Tú Commands)

1. Speak Spanish!
2. Don't eat that!
3. Do your homework!
4. Come here!
5. Don't go!

Answers:

1. ¡Habla español!
2. ¡No comas eso!
3. ¡Haz tu tarea!
4. ¡Ven aquí!
5. ¡No vayas!

Exercise 5: Add Pronouns to Commands

Rewrite with the pronoun:

1. ¡Compra el libro! (lo) → _____
2. ¡No compres el libro! (lo) → _____
3. ¡Di la verdad! (me) → _____
4. ¡Levanta! (te - reflexive) → _____
5. ¡No abras la puerta! (la) → _____

Answers:

1. ¡Cómpralo!
2. ¡No lo compres!
3. ¡Dime la verdad!
4. ¡Levántate!
5. ¡No la abras!

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Mistake 1: Using Infinitive Instead of Command

• Wrong: ¡Hablar español!
• Right: ¡Habla español!
• Why: Commands have specific forms, not infinitives

❌ Mistake 2: Wrong Form for Negative Tú Commands

• Wrong: ¡No habla!
• Right: ¡No hables!
• Why: Negative tú commands use subjunctive (-es/-as)

❌ Mistake 3: Forgetting Accent with Pronouns

• Wrong: ¡Compralo!
• Right: ¡Cómpralo!
• Why: Need accent to maintain stress

❌ Mistake 4: Pronoun Placement in Negative Commands

• Wrong: ¡No cómpralo!
• Right: ¡No lo compres!
• Why: Pronouns go BEFORE negative commands

❌ Mistake 5: Wrong Irregular Form

• Wrong: ¡Face! (for hacer)
• Right: ¡Haz!
• Why: Hacer has irregular tú command "haz"

Quick Reference Chart

Command Formation Summary

Irregular Tú Commands (Affirmative Only)

4-Week Action Plan

Week 1: Affirmative Tú Commands

• Day 1-2: Master regular -AR verb commands (10 verbs)
• Day 3-4: Learn regular -ER/-IR commands (10 verbs)
• Day 5-7: Memorize 8 irregular affirmative tú commands

Week 2: Negative Tú Commands

• Day 8-10: Learn formation rules for negative commands
• Day 11-12: Practice converting affirmative to negative
• Day 13-14: Complete exercises 1-2

Week 3: Formal Commands

• Day 15-17: Master USTED commands (affirmative and negative)
• Day 18-19: Practice USTEDES commands
• Day 20-21: Do exercises 3-5

Week 4: Real Practice

• Day 22-24: Use 10 commands daily at home
• Day 25-26: Practice all 3 dialogues
• Day 27-28: Give yourself instructions in Spanish

Pro Tips

1. 8 Irregular = Memorize: The 8 irregular tú commands are crucial
2. Practice Daily: Give yourself commands while doing tasks
3. Polite = Add "Por Favor": Makes any command more polite
4. Usted = Professional: Use with customers, bosses, strangers
5. Accent Marks Matter: Especially with pronouns attached
6. Listen for Commands: Spanish speakers use them constantly

Cultural Notes

Commands are used very frequently in Spanish, especially within families and among friends. They're not considered rude when used appropriately. However, adding "por favor" makes them more polite. In formal situations (work, strangers), always use USTED commands and include "por favor."

Memory Tricks

• TÚ affirmative = ÉL form: "You tell them like HE does it"
• Negative = Subjunctive: "NEGative = subjunctive"
• 8 Irregulars = VIN DIESEL: Ven, Ir (ve), N/a, Di, Ir (di), Er (sé), Sal, Estar, haZ
• Pronouns stick to positive: "POSitive commands = pronouns STUCK ON"
• Pronouns before negative: "NEGative = pronouns BEFORE"
• USTED = all subjunctive: Formal = same for both

Next Steps

After mastering commands, you can:

1. Learn more complex command structures
2. Study vosotros commands (for Spain)
3. Practice commands with reflexive verbs
4. Learn indirect commands and suggestions

Keep practicing commands daily and they'll become automatic! 📢✨