A2 · Elementary Chapter 41

Commands and Imperatives

7 Total Rules
75 examples
9 min
Rules in This Chapter Quick Practice

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of giving directions and advice in Spanish with confidence and clarity.

  • Distinguish between informal tú and formal usted commands.
  • Conjugate irregular imperative stems correctly.
  • Form negative commands using the subjunctive switch.
Command the conversation with ease!

What You'll Learn

Give commands in tú, usted, and nosotros forms, including irregular and negative imperatives.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Use the eight irregular short-form commands naturally in conversation.

Chapter Guide

Overview

Mastering commands and imperatives in Spanish is a crucial step for A2 learners. This chapter will equip you with the essential tools to tell people what to do, make polite requests, and even suggest activities for a group. Whether you're asking a friend to "come here" (ven aquí), instructing someone politely to "speak slowly" (hable despacio), or suggesting "let's eat" (comamos), these forms are indispensable for everyday communication and interacting effectively in Spanish-speaking environments.
You will learn how to form commands for informal situations using the "tú" form, including both "Giving Friendly Orders: Affirmative Tú Commands" and "Don't Do It! (Negative Tú Commands)." We'll specifically cover "Spanish Irregular Commands: The 8 Short Forms (Tú)" like "haz" (do) and "ve" (go). Furthermore, you'll gain proficiency in "Polite Spanish Commands (Usted/Ustedes)" for more formal interactions and learn how to propose actions for a group using the "nosotros" command.
By the end of this chapter, you'll be confident in giving instructions, expressing wishes, and engaging in more natural conversations, making your Spanish sound much more authentic and fluid. These grammatical structures are fundamental building blocks for moving towards more complex sentence constructions and richer communication.

How This Grammar Works

Commands, or imperatives, are used to give orders, make requests, or offer suggestions. In Spanish, these forms vary depending on who you're addressing (tú, usted, ustedes) and whether the command is affirmative (do something) or negative (don't do something).
Let's start with the informal 'tú' forms, "Telling Friends What to Do."
Affirmative Tú Commands (Do it!)
For most regular verbs, the affirmative 'tú' command is the same as the él/ella form of the present indicative.
* -AR verbs: *hablar* (to speak) -> *habla* (Speak!)
* *Habla más fuerte.* (Speak louder.)
* -ER verbs: *comer* (to eat) -> *come* (Eat!)
* *Come la fruta.* (Eat the fruit.)
* -IR verbs: *escribir* (to write) -> *escribe* (Write!)
* *Escribe tu nombre aquí.* (Write your name here.)
There are "The 8 Short Forms (Tú)" or "Irregular Eight: Quick Commands" which are highly common and must be memorized:
  1. 1Ven (venir - to come): *Ven aquí.* (Come here.)
  2. 2Di (decir - to say/tell): *Di la verdad.* (Tell the truth.)
  3. 3Sal (salir - to leave): *Sal de la casa.* (Leave the house.)
  4. 4Haz (hacer - to do/make): *Haz la tarea.* (Do the homework.)
  5. 5Ten (tener - to have): *Ten cuidado.* (Be careful.)
  6. 6Ve (ir - to go): *Ve al parque.* (Go to the park.)
  7. 7Pon (poner - to put): *Pon la mesa.* (Set the table.)
  8. 8Sé (ser - to be): *Sé amable.* (Be kind.)
Negative Tú Commands (Don't Do It!)
Negative 'tú' commands follow a different pattern. You take the "yo" form of the present tense, drop the '-o', and add the opposite vowel ending: '-es' for -AR verbs, and '-as' for -ER/-IR verbs.
* -AR verbs: *hablar* (yo hablo) -> *No hables.* (Don't speak.)
* *No hables tan rápido.* (Don't speak so fast.)
* -ER verbs: *comer* (yo como) -> *No comas.* (Don't eat.)
* *No comas esto.* (Don't eat this.)
* -IR verbs: *escribir* (yo escribo) -> *No escribas.* (Don't write.)
* *No escribas en la pared.* (Don't write on the wall.)
Irregular verbs often have irregular 'yo' forms, which then carry into the negative 'tú' commands:
* *Tener* (yo tengo) -> *No tengas.* (Don't have/Don't be.)
* *No tengas miedo.* (Don't be afraid.)
* *Venir* (yo vengo) -> *No vengas.* (Don't come.)
* *No vengas tarde.* (Don't come late.)
* *Ser* (yo soy) -> *No seas.* (Don't be.)
* *No seas tonto.* (Don't be silly.)
* *Ir* (yo voy) is a special case: *No vayas.* (Don't go.)
* *Saber* (yo sé) -> *No sepas.* (Don't know.)
* *Estar* (yo estoy) -> *No estés.* (Don't be.)
Polite Spanish Commands (Usted/Ustedes)
These commands are used for formal situations or when addressing multiple people. They follow the same "opposite vowel" rule as negative 'tú' commands but use the endings -e/-en for usted/ustedes respectively for -AR verbs, and -a/-an for -ER/-IR verbs.
* Usted (singular formal):
* *Hablar:* ¡Hable! (Speak!) - *Hable con el doctor.* (Speak with the doctor.)
* *Comer:* ¡Coma! (Eat!) - *Coma toda su comida.* (Eat all your food.)
* *Escribir:* ¡Escriba! (Write!) - *Escriba su nombre completo.* (Write your full name.)
* Ustedes (plural formal/informal in Latin America):
* *Hablar:* ¡Hablen! (Speak!) - *Hablen más despacio, por favor.* (Speak slower, please.)
* *Comer:* ¡Coman! (Eat!) - *Coman en la cocina.* (Eat in the kitchen.)
* *Escribir:* ¡Escriban! (Write!) - *Escriban las respuestas.* (Write the answers.)
Negative formal commands simply add "no" before the command form:
* *No hable.* (Don't speak.)
* *No coman.* (Don't eat.)
Nosotros Commands (Let's do it!)
These commands are used to suggest an action for a group, meaning "Let's...". They generally use the same "opposite vowel" pattern, ending in -emos for -AR verbs and -amos for -ER/-IR verbs.
* *Hablar:* ¡Hablemos! (Let's speak!) - *Hablemos de tus planes.* (Let's talk about your plans.)
* *Comer:* ¡Comamos! (Let's eat!) - *Comamos juntos esta noche.* (Let's eat together tonight.)
* *Escribir:* ¡Escribamos! (Let's write!) - *Escribamos una carta.* (Let's write a letter.)
The verb *ir* (to go) has a special affirmative nosotros command: ¡Vamos! (Let's go!) But for negative, it's ¡No vayamos! (Let's not go!).

Common Mistakes

✗ No comes esto.
✓ No comas esto.
Why: Negative 'tú' commands require the 'opposite vowel' ending (-es for -AR verbs, -as for -ER/-IR).
✗ Venga aquí.
✓ Ven aquí.
Why: The irregular affirmative 'tú' command for *venir* is 'ven', not the formal 'venga'.
✗ Haz cuidado.
✓ Ten cuidado.
Why: The correct phrase for "be careful" uses the verb *tener* (to have) in the command form *ten*.
✗ Habla más lento, por favor. (when addressing a stranger)
✓ Hable más lento, por favor.
Why: Using 'tú' forms with strangers can be considered rude; 'usted' is the polite form.
✗ No vas al supermercado.
✓ No vayas al supermercado.
Why: The negative 'tú' command for *ir* is highly irregular (*no vayas*), not *no vas* (which is indicative).

Real Conversations

Dialogue 1 (Informal - Friends)

A

A

¿Qué hacemos esta tarde?
B

B

¡Vamos al cine! Hay una película nueva.
A

A

Buena idea. Pero no llegues tarde, por favor. Empieza a las siete.

*Translation:*

A

A

What are we doing this afternoon?
B

B

Let's go to the cinema! There's a new movie.
A

A

Good idea. But don't be late, please. It starts at seven.

Dialogue 2 (Formal - Customer Service)

A

A

Disculpe, ¿puede ayudarme? No encuentro la salida.
B

B

Sí, señor. Vaya por ese pasillo y luego gire a la derecha.
A

A

Muchas gracias.

*Translation:*

A

A

Excuse me, can you help me? I can't find the exit.
B

B

Yes, sir. Go down that aisle and then turn right.
A

A

Thank you very much.

Dialogue 3 (Informal - Parent to Child)

A

A

¡Hijo, haz tu tarea antes de jugar!
B

B

¡Pero, papá!
A

A

No me respondas así. Y no comas dulces antes de la cena.

*Translation:*

A

A

Son, do your homework before playing!
B

B

But, Dad!
A

A

Don't answer me like that. And don't eat sweets before dinner.

Quick FAQ

Q

How do I know when to use 'tú' commands versus 'usted' commands?

Use 'tú' commands with friends, family members, children, and people your own age or younger with whom you have an informal relationship. Use 'usted' commands with strangers, elders, people in positions of authority, or in formal settings like business interactions, to show respect. When in doubt, it's safer to use 'usted' to avoid being perceived as impolite.

Q

Are there any other irregular commands besides the "Irregular Eight" for 'tú' forms?

Yes, many verbs that are irregular in their 'yo' form of the present tense (like *tener* -> *tengo*, *venir* -> *vengo*, *poner* -> *pongo*) will also have irregular negative 'tú', 'usted', 'ustedes', and 'nosotros' commands because these forms are derived from the 'yo' form. The "Irregular Eight" specifically refers to the affirmative 'tú' commands that don't follow the 'él/ella' present indicative pattern.

Q

What about commands with 'nosotros' (let's...)?

'Nosotros' commands are used to suggest an action for a group including yourself, meaning "Let's [do something]". For most verbs, you take the 'yo' form of the present tense, drop the '-o', and add '-emos' for -AR verbs or '-amos' for -ER/-IR verbs. For example, *hablar* becomes *¡Hablemos!* (Let's talk!), and *comer* becomes *¡Comamos!* (Let's eat!). The main exception is *ir* (to go), which is *¡Vamos!* for affirmative, but *¡No vayamos!* for negative.

Q

How do I make any command negative?

To make a command negative, you almost always place "no" directly before the command form of the verb. For 'tú' commands, you'll use the "opposite vowel" rule (e.g., *habla* becomes *no hables*). For 'usted', 'ustedes', and 'nosotros' commands, the negative simply adds "no" before the standard command form (e.g., *hable* becomes *no hable*).

Cultural Context

The choice between informal 'tú' commands and formal 'usted' commands is deeply rooted in Spanish-speaking cultures and directly reflects social dynamics and respect. Misusing these forms can lead to misunderstandings or, worse, unintended offense. In many Spanish-speaking countries, using 'tú' with someone you don't know well, or with an elder, can be seen as presumptuous or rude, while using 'usted' with a close friend might create an awkward distance.
Therefore, understanding "Polite Spanish Commands (Usted/Ustedes)" versus "Spanish Informal Commands: Telling Friends What to Do (Tú Commands)" isn't just a grammatical exercise; it's a lesson in cultural etiquette. It’s a key indicator of your awareness of social hierarchies and relationships. When traveling or interacting with Spanish speakers, observing how locals address each other can provide valuable clues about the appropriate level of formality, helping you navigate conversations respectfully and effectively.

Key Examples (8)

1

Haz clic en el enlace de mi perfil.

Click the link in my profile.

Spanish Irregular Commands: The 8 Short Forms (Tú)
2

Ven a ver este video de YouTube.

Come see this YouTube video.

Spanish Irregular Commands: The 8 Short Forms (Tú)
3

No me dejes en visto, por favor.

Don't leave me on read, please.

Negative Tú Commands: The 'Don't Do It' Switch
4

No comas eso, se cayó al suelo.

Don't eat that, it fell on the floor.

Negative Tú Commands: The 'Don't Do It' Switch
5

¡Habla más despacio! No entiendo nada.

Speak more slowly! I don't understand anything.

Giving Friendly Orders: Affirmative Tú Commands
6

¡Come tu comida antes de que se enfríe!

Eat your food before it gets cold!

Giving Friendly Orders: Affirmative Tú Commands
7

Hable más despacio, por favor.

Speak more slowly, please.

Polite Spanish Commands (Usted/Ustedes)
8

Díganme qué piensan en los comentarios.

Tell me what you think in the comments.

Polite Spanish Commands (Usted/Ustedes)

Tips & Tricks (4)

💡

Memorize the list

Write the 8 verbs on a sticky note.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Spanish Irregular Commands: The 8 Short Forms (Tú)
💡

The 'Yo' Trick

Always find the 'yo' form first. It is the key to everything.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Negative Tú Commands: The 'Don't Do It' Switch
💡

Drop the S

Always remember to drop the 's' from the 'tú' present tense form.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Giving Friendly Orders: Affirmative Tú Commands
💡

The Yo Shortcut

Always start with the 'yo' form.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Polite Spanish Commands (Usted/Ustedes)

Key Vocabulary (5)

Venir to come Decir to say Hacer to do/make Poner to put Salir to leave

Real-World Preview

coffee

At the Café

Review Summary

  • Ven, Di, Sal, Haz, Ten, Ve, Pon, Sé

Common Mistakes

Negative commands require the subjunctive form, not the indicative.

Wrong: No haces eso.
Correct: No hagas eso.

Always use the imperative conjugation, not the infinitive.

Wrong: Venir aquí.
Correct: Ven aquí.

Ensure the command form matches the person (tú vs usted).

Wrong: Hable tú.
Correct: Habla tú.

Next Steps

You are doing amazing! Commands are a huge milestone in your Spanish journey.

Write a 5-step recipe for your favorite dish.

Continue to: Prepositions, Connectors, and Key Phrases

Quick Practice (10)

Fix the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

No haceslo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: No lo hagas
Pronoun must come before.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Negative Tú Commands: The 'Don't Do It' Switch

Fill in the blank.

¡___ la verdad!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Di
Irregular command form.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: The Irregular Eight: Quick Commands (haz, di, ven)

Fix the error.

Find and fix the mistake:

No hazlo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: No lo hagas
Negative command requires subjunctive.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: The Irregular Eight: Quick Commands (haz, di, ven)

Conjugate 'hablar'.

¡___ tú!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Habla
Affirmative uses él/ella form.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Spanish Informal Commands: Telling Friends What to Do (Tú Commands)

Choose the negative command.

¡___ eso!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: No hagas
Negative requires subjunctive.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Spanish Informal Commands: Telling Friends What to Do (Tú Commands)

Conjugate the verb in the negative tú command.

No ___ (hablar) con extraños.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: hables
AR verbs use -es.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Don't Do It! (Negative Tú Commands)

Choose the correct form.

No ___ (comer) eso.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: comas
Negative command for -ER.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Negative Tú Commands: The 'Don't Do It' Switch

Fix the mistake.

Find and fix the mistake:

¡Comes la manzana!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ¡Come la manzana!
Drop the 's'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Giving Friendly Orders: Affirmative Tú Commands

Choose the correct command.

¡___ la tarea!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Haz
Affirmative command.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: The Irregular Eight: Quick Commands (haz, di, ven)

Conjugate 'hablar' for usted.

___ usted.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Hable
Opposite vowel.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Polite Spanish Commands (Usted/Ustedes)

Score: /10

Common Questions (6)

These are the most common verbs.
No, use formal commands.
Because negative commands use the subjunctive mood, which requires the vowel switch.
No, use the 'usted' form (No hable) for authority figures.
It's an irregular verb. You just have to memorize it.
No, use 'usted' commands instead.
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