A2 Commands & Imperatives 18 min read Easy

Giving Friendly Orders: Affirmative Tú Commands

To give a regular affirmative command to a friend, just use the 'él/ella' present tense form.

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

To give a friendly command to a friend, use the third-person singular (él/ella) form of the present indicative.

  • Take the verb in the present tense: 'Hablar' becomes 'habla'.
  • For irregular verbs, memorize the special forms like 'ven', 'di', 'sal', 'haz', 'ten', 've', 'pon', 'sé'.
  • Attach object pronouns to the end of the verb: 'Cómela' (Eat it).
Verb (3rd person singular) + (optional pronoun attached)

Overview

Affirmative commands are fundamental for direct and informal communication in Spanish. They enable you to issue instructions, provide advice, or offer encouragement to individuals you address informally, such as friends, family members, peers, or younger acquaintances. In contrast to formal usted commands, which signify deference, commands cultivate a sense of familiarity and closeness.

They are an indispensable component of everyday Spanish, frequently appearing in casual dialogues, social media exchanges, and instructional contexts. Mastery of these commands is essential for achieving natural, engaged communication in informal settings and for comprehending common directives across various media.

How This Grammar Works

At its core, the formation of regular affirmative commands is highly logical, directly building upon your knowledge of the present indicative tense. The fundamental principle is that the affirmative command for most verbs is identical to the third-person singular present indicative form (for él, ella, or usted). This linguistic economy provides an efficient way to transition from describing an action someone performs (ella habla – she speaks) to directly instructing someone to perform that action (¡Habla! – Speak!).
This parallel structure simplifies informal directives, making them more concise and grammatically direct than their formal counterparts, which necessitate a shift to the subjunctive mood.
The key distinction from the form of the present indicative is the absence of the final -s. For instance, while tú hablas means "you speak," the command is simply ¡Habla!, devoid of the personal -s ending. This omission transforms a statement about "you" into a direct address to "you." Consider tú comes ("you eat"); the command becomes ¡Come! ("Eat!").
This direct derivation from the third-person singular creates an unambiguous directive. The removal of the -s explicitly shifts the verb from a statement of fact (indicative) to a direct order (imperative), bypassing the need for a separate imperative conjugation for regular verbs in the form.

Formation Pattern

1
Creating affirmative commands involves first identifying whether a verb is regular or irregular, and then applying specific rules based on this categorization. Understanding these patterns allows for systematic command formation.
2
Regular Verbs
3
For the vast majority of regular verbs, the process is straightforward: simply use the third-person singular (él/ella/usted) form of the present indicative.
4
This rule applies universally to -ar, -er, and -ir verbs, regardless of their stem-changes in the present indicative. The command form inherits any stem modifications.
5
| Infinitive | Meaning | Present Indicative (él/ella/usted) | Affirmative Tú Command | Example |
6
| :----------- | :---------- | :--------------------------------- | :--------------------- | :------------------------------------------- |
7
| Hablar | To speak | Habla | ¡Habla! | ¡Habla más despacio, por favor! |
8
| Comer | To eat | Come | ¡Come bien! | ¡Come tu cena! |
9
| Vivir | To live | Vive | ¡Vive el momento! | ¡Vive y deja vivir! |
10
| Cerrar (e→ie) | To close | Cierra | ¡Cierra! | ¡Cierra la puerta, que hace frío! |
11
| Volver (o→ue) | To return | Vuelve | ¡Vuelve pronto! | ¡Vuelve a casa, mamá te espera! |
12
| Pedir (e→i) | To ask for | Pide | ¡Pide! | ¡Pide ayuda si la necesitas, no dudes! |
13
-AR verbs: The él/ella/usted form ends in -a. Consequently, the command also ends in -a. For example, Trabajar (to work) becomes ¡Trabaja! (Work!).
14
-ER verbs: The él/ella/usted form ends in -e. Thus, the command ends in -e. For example, Correr (to run) becomes ¡Corre! (Run!).
15
-IR verbs: The él/ella/usted form ends in -e. Similarly, the command ends in -e. For example, Abrir (to open) becomes ¡Abre! (Open!).
16
This pattern remains consistent even for verbs exhibiting stem changes or orthographic changes within their present indicative conjugations. The affirmative command simply adopts the modified stem. For instance, dormir (o→ue) becomes duerme in the third-person singular present indicative, and therefore the command is ¡Duerme! (Sleep!). Similarly, jugar (u→ue) yields ¡Juega! (Play!), and conocer (which has an irregular yo form but a regular third-person conoce) yields ¡Conoce! (Know/Meet!).
17
Irregular Verbs (The "Irregular Eight")
18
Despite the general predictability of regular verbs, eight common verbs possess entirely irregular affirmative command forms that require memorization. These forms do not adhere to the present indicative derivation rule and are unique, often being monosyllabic. Their irregularity is typically due to historical phonetic evolution and their high frequency in everyday language, which often leads to resistance to regularizing linguistic change.
19
| Infinitive | Meaning | Affirmative Tú Command | Example |
20
| :--------- | :----------- | :--------------------- | :------------------------------------------- |
21
| Decir | To say, tell | ¡Di! | ¡Di la verdad, por favor! |
22
| Hacer | To do, make | ¡Haz! | ¡Haz la tarea antes de jugar! |
23
| Ir | To go | ¡Ve! | ¡Ve a la cama ahora mismo! |
24
| Poner | To put, place| ¡Pon! | ¡Pon la mesa, ya es hora de comer! |
25
| Salir | To leave, go out| ¡Sal! | ¡Sal de aquí, no te quiero ver! |
26
| Ser | To be | ¡Sé! | ¡Sé feliz y no te preocupes! |
27
| Tener | To have | ¡Ten! | ¡Ten cuidado al cruzar la calle! |
28
| Venir | To come | ¡Ven! | ¡Ven aquí, necesito hablar contigo! |
29
These eight commands are frequently referred to as the "short forms" because of their concise nature. There is no consistent rule for their derivation; direct memorization is the most reliable strategy. Associate each infinitive directly with its unique command form.
30
Verbs with Object Pronouns
31
When an affirmative command requires an object pronoun (e.g., lo, la, le, te, me, nos, se), the pronoun always attaches directly to the end of the conjugated command form. This attachment creates a single, unified word. This is a crucial difference from negative commands, where pronouns precede the verb.
32
Reflexive Pronouns: For reflexive verbs (e.g., lavarse – to wash oneself), the reflexive pronoun te attaches directly. You must remember to remove the -s from the infinitive before forming the command and attaching te. Example: LavarseLávate.
33
Levantarse (to get up) → ¡Levántate temprano! (Get up early!)
34
Sentarse (to sit down) → ¡Siéntate aquí, por favor! (Sit down here, please!)
35
Ponerse (to put on) → ¡Ponte los zapatos antes de salir! (Put on your shoes before leaving!)
36
Direct and Indirect Object Pronouns: Both direct (lo, la, los, las) and indirect (me, te, le, nos, os, les) object pronouns also attach to the end. If both are present, the indirect object pronoun precedes the direct object pronoun. Remember the crucial rule that le and les change to se when immediately followed by lo, la, los, or las. This phonetic change (le lo becomes se lo) prevents an awkward repetition of the 'l' sound and is mandatory.
37
Comprar (to buy) + lo (it) → ¡Cómpralo! (Buy it!)
38
Dar (to give) + me (to me) + lo (it) → ¡Dámelo! (Give it to me!)
39
Decir (to say) + le (to him/her) + la (it, referring to la verdad) → ¡Dísela! (Tell it to him/her!)
40
Escribir (to write) + le (to him/her) + la (it, referring to la carta) → ¡Escríbesela mañana! (Write it to him/her tomorrow!)
41
Crucial Accent Rule: When attaching one or more object pronouns to an affirmative command, the original stress of the verb form must be preserved. Spanish has inherent stress rules: words ending in a vowel, n, or s are naturally stressed on the second-to-last syllable, while words ending in other consonants are stressed on the last syllable. Attaching pronouns adds syllables to the verb form, which can shift the natural stress according to these rules. To counteract this and maintain the verb's original pronunciation, an orthographic accent mark (tilde) must be added to the vowel that originally carried the stress in the command form. This rule is particularly pertinent when the addition of pronouns results in a word with three or more syllables, though it can occur with two-syllable words as well.
42
Habla (stressed on the first a) + me¡Háblame! (The accent on a ensures the stress remains on the first syllable, overriding the natural tendency to stress the a in lame.)
43
Escribe (stressed on i) + lo¡Escríbelo! (The accent on i maintains the original stress, preventing it from shifting to the e of belo.)
44
Pon (stressed on o) + lo¡Ponlo! (No accent needed, as the single syllable pon is naturally stressed, and ponlo maintains the stress on o by natural rules.)
45
Da (stressed on a) + me + lo¡Dámelo! (The accent on a is essential to preserve the original stress of da, as without it, damelo would be stressed on the e.)
46
This accentuation ensures correct pronunciation and clarity. Failure to include the accent mark can lead to mispronunciation or even a misunderstanding of the word's intended stress. If the original command form was already accented (e.g., in some voseo forms like comprá), that accent is simply maintained.

When To Use It

Affirmative commands are highly versatile and are appropriate in a broad spectrum of informal contexts. Their judicious application is determined by the relationship between the speaker and the listener, alongside the specific social setting.
  • Giving Direct Instructions or Orders: This is the most straightforward application. You are explicitly directing someone to perform an action. These commands are prevalent in domestic environments, among friends, or when guiding someone you know intimately.
  • ¡Cierra la ventana, por favor! (Close the window, please!)
  • ¡Pasa el pan, Andrés! (Pass the bread, Andrés!)
  • ¡Termina tu informe antes de las cinco para que podamos irnos! (Finish your report before five so we can leave!)
  • Offering Advice or Suggestions: Commands can effectively be used to recommend a course of action to a friend or colleague. The directness inherently communicates a friendly relationship.
  • ¡Estudia para el examen, no lo dejes para el último momento! (Study for the exam, don't leave it for the last minute!)
  • ¡Visita el museo del Prado; es fascinante y te encantará! (Visit the Prado museum; it's fascinating and you'll love it!)
  • ¡Lee este libro, te aseguro que te encantará la trama! (Read this book, I assure you you'll love the plot!)
  • Encouragement or Motivation: When you intend to spur someone on, offer support, or encourage persistence in an effort.
  • ¡Corre más rápido, la meta está cerca! (Run faster, the finish line is near!)
  • ¡Ánimo, tú puedes con esto! (Cheer up, you can do this!)
  • ¡Sigue adelante con tus sueños, no te detengas por nada! (Keep going with your dreams, don't stop for anything!)
  • Requests (often softened with por favor): While inherently direct, the inclusion of por favor (please) significantly softens the command, transforming it into a polite request among acquaintances, family, or friends. The command structure remains, but the tone becomes less imperative and more supplicatory.
  • ¡Ayúdame a mover esta caja, por favor! (Help me move this box, please!)
  • ¡Explícame esto otra vez, por favor, no lo entendí del todo! (Explain this to me again, please, I didn't quite understand it!)
  • ¡Tráeme un café cuando vengas, por favor, y hazlo doble! (Bring me a coffee when you come, please, and make it a double!)
  • In Public or Written Instructions (Informal Contexts): Although less common than usted commands for formal public signage, commands are highly prevalent in informal digital spaces, personal notes, or instructions directed at a general audience (e.g., in a blog post, a game tutorial, or cooking recipes). This reflects a growing trend towards informal address in online communication.
  • Social media captions: ¡Sígueme para más recetas y consejos de cocina! (Follow me for more recipes and cooking tips!)
  • Recipes: ¡Calienta el aceite en una sartén grande y añade las verduras picadas! (Heat the oil in a large pan and add the chopped vegetables!)
  • App prompts: ¡Pulsa aquí para continuar al siguiente nivel! (Press here to continue to the next level!)
Cultural Nuance: The choice between and usted commands carries substantial cultural significance across the Spanish-speaking world. In Spain, is very broadly used among adults, often extending even to strangers in casual scenarios (e.g., in a shop, when asking for directions, or conversing with a waiter). Conversely, in many Latin American countries, particularly in more formal settings or when addressing elders, strangers, or individuals in positions of authority, the usted form is often preferred to convey respect, even if the general atmosphere is informal.
Using a command inappropriately in such contexts might be perceived as impolite or overly familiar, a practice termed tutear (to use the form). It is always prudent to observe how others address you first; if they use , it is generally safe to reciprocate. If they use usted, you should likely do the same to maintain appropriate social etiquette.

Common Mistakes

Learners frequently commit predictable errors when forming affirmative commands. A thorough understanding of why these mistakes occur is crucial for avoiding them and establishing correct usage, moving beyond rote memorization to a deeper linguistic grasp.
  • Adding an -s to the end: This is arguably the most pervasive error. Learners correctly identify that they are addressing , and their linguistic intuition often defaults to the form of the present indicative, which does end in -s (e.g., tú hablas, tú comes). However, the affirmative command derives from the third-person singular form of the present indicative, which does not contain the -s. The -s in forms (-as, -es) functions as a specific subject-verb agreement marker for the second-person singular subject within the indicative mood. Commands, belonging to the imperative mood, generally strip away such subject markers to become pure, direct directives. Removing the -s explicitly transforms a statement about "you" into an instruction to "you."
  • Incorrect: *¡Hablas español! (This means "You speak Spanish!" – a declarative statement.)
  • Correct: ¡Habla español! (Speak Spanish! – a direct command.)
  • Linguistic Reason: The indicative mood states facts or expresses certainty. The imperative mood issues commands or requests. The grammatical morphology distinguishes these functions. The absence of the -s is a morphological marker of the imperative for affirmative commands, setting it apart from the indicative form.
  • Using the Infinitive as a Command: While in some highly informal, often regional, or terse written contexts (e.g., a simple instruction on a product label like Agitar antes de usar – Shake before using, or a quick note), infinitives might be encountered acting as commands, this is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard Spanish and should be avoided in academic or formal conversational settings. It conveys an impersonal instruction rather than a direct command.
  • Incorrect: *¡Comer tu cena! (Literally "To eat your dinner!" – an unconjugated verb, lacking a subject.)
  • Correct: ¡Come tu cena! (Eat your dinner! – a properly conjugated, direct command.)
  • Linguistic Reason: The infinitive expresses the verb in its most basic, unconjugated form ("to do X"). A command, by definition, necessitates a conjugated form that directly addresses and instructs the listener. Using the infinitive fails to perform this essential conjugational shift and lacks the explicit subject address inherent in the imperative.
  • Confusing with Usted Commands: Learners frequently confuse and usted commands. The usted command form often looks similar but is derived from the present subjunctive and carries a different level of formality. For example, the usted command for comer is ¡Coma!, whereas the command is ¡Come!. Using an usted form with a close acquaintance signals an unexpected level of formality, which can be perceived as polite distance, sarcasm, or simply an error.
  • Incorrect (with a friend): *¡Coma más postre! (This employs the formal command, making you sound inappropriately formal or distant.)
  • Correct (with a friend): ¡Come más postre! (Eat more dessert! – informal and appropriate.)
  • Linguistic Reason: The usted command leverages the subjunctive mood, which typically conveys non-factual or hypothetical situations, wishes, or commands. The command, derived from the indicative, is a more direct, less mediated imperative. Understanding this mood distinction clarifies why the forms differ and when to apply each.
  • Incorrect Accentuation with Attached Pronouns: This is a subtle yet critical error. When one or more pronouns are affixed to an affirmative command, learners often overlook the mandatory orthographic accent mark. This omission can result in mispronunciation and a violation of fundamental Spanish stress rules. As previously discussed, Spanish stress is predictable, but adding syllables through pronoun attachment alters this predictability. The accent mark is a graphemic device that overrides these natural stress rules, explicitly marking the vowel that originally carried the stress, thereby preserving the verb's correct pronunciation. This is particularly vital for verbs that become trisyllabic or longer after pronoun attachment.
  • Incorrect: *Llevame al aeropuerto. (Without the accent, the natural stress would fall on the second a of llevame, not the e.)
  • Correct: ¡Llévame al aeropuerto! (Take me to the airport! – the accent on e ensures the stress remains on the second syllable.)
  • Linguistic Reason: The accent mark maintains the lexical integrity of the verb's pronunciation. Without it, the word's phonetic shape changes, potentially making it harder to understand or causing a listener to misinterpret the intended word.
  • Applying Regular Rules to Irregular Verbs: Attempting to form commands like hace (for hacer) or pone (for poner) demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of the irregular forms. These eight verbs (Di, Haz, Ve, Pon, Sal, , Ten, Ven) must be memorized as exceptions. There is no regular pattern to derive them from the present indicative.
  • Incorrect: *¡Hace tu cama!
  • Correct: ¡Haz tu cama! (Make your bed!)
  • Linguistic Reason: High-frequency verbs often retain older, irregular forms that have become entrenched in the language over centuries. Learners must recognize that not all verbs conform to regular patterns, especially those most commonly used.

Real Conversations

Affirmative commands are omnipresent in authentic Spanish communication, spanning spoken dialogue, text messages, and social media. Observing their use in these contexts demonstrates their versatility and naturalness.

- Casual Spoken Exchange: In a conversation between friends planning an outing.

- María: Oye, ¿qué hacemos esta noche? (Hey, what are we doing tonight?)

- Juan: ¡Llama a Pedro y pregúntale si quiere venir! (Call Pedro and ask him if he wants to come!)

- María: Buena idea. ¡Dile que traiga algo de beber! (Good idea. Tell him to bring something to drink!)

- Text Message: A parent instructing their child.

- Mom: ¿Ya llegaste a casa? ¡Avísame cuando estés dentro! (Did you arrive home yet? Let me know when you're inside!)

- Child: Sí, mamá. ¡Dame un segundo, estoy subiendo! (Yes, Mom. Give me a second, I'm going up!)

- Social Media Post: An influencer giving advice.

- ✨ ¡Vive la vida al máximo! ¡Aprende de tus errores y siempre sigue adelante! ¡Encuentra tu pasión y síguela con todo tu corazón! #motivación #vidafeliz (Live life to the fullest! Learn from your mistakes and always keep moving forward! Find your passion and follow it with all your heart! #motivation #happylife)

- Recipe Instructions (online blog):

- Primero, ¡corta las verduras en trozos pequeños! Después, ¡calienta el aceite en una sartén grande y sofríelas hasta que estén tiernas! ¡Añade las especias y mezcla bien! (First, cut the vegetables into small pieces! Then, heat the oil in a large pan and sauté them until tender! Add the spices and mix well!)

These examples demonstrate how commands facilitate direct interaction in a range of modern, informal scenarios, often without the explicit inclusion of por favor when the context implies a close relationship.

Quick FAQ

Here are quick answers to some common questions learners have about affirmative commands.
  • Can I use commands with strangers?
  • In Spain, yes, it's common in casual settings. In most of Latin America, it's generally best to use usted with strangers to show respect unless they explicitly use with you first.
  • Are there any other irregular verbs besides the eight?
  • For affirmative commands, these eight (Di, Haz, Ve, Pon, Sal, , Ten, Ven) are the primary irregulars. Other verbs that appear irregular (like stem-changers) still follow the rule of deriving from the third-person singular present indicative.
  • Why do le and les change to se when followed by lo/la/los/las?
  • This is a phonetic rule to avoid the awkward repetition of the 'l' sound (*le lo is difficult to pronounce quickly). Se acts as a placeholder for the indirect object pronoun in these specific constructions.
  • How do I know if I need an accent mark when attaching pronouns?
  • Say the command verb aloud before attaching pronouns. Identify the syllable that receives the natural stress. If adding pronouns shifts that natural stress to a different syllable (according to the standard Spanish stress rules), you need to place an accent mark over the vowel of the original stressed syllable to preserve its pronunciation.
  • What is voseo and how does it affect commands?
  • Voseo is an alternative form of address to used in certain Latin American regions (e.g., Argentina, Uruguay, Central America). The affirmative vos command is often formed by dropping the final r from the infinitive and adding an accent to the last vowel (e.g., Hablar¡Hablás!, Comer¡Comé!). However, this lesson focuses on standard commands.
  • Can I use commands if I don't know the person's age?
  • If the context is informal (e.g., a party, a casual gathering), is usually acceptable, regardless of age, especially in Spain. When in doubt, or in a more formal environment, usted is always the safer and more respectful choice.

1. Affirmative Tú Command Formation

Infinitive Present (Tú) Command (Tú)
Hablar
Hablas
Habla
Comer
Comes
Come
Vivir
Vives
Vive
Venir
Vienes
Ven
Decir
Dices
Di
Salir
Sales
Sal
Hacer
Haces
Haz
Tener
Tienes
Ten
Ir
Vas
Ve
Poner
Pones
Pon

Meanings

Used to give direct, informal instructions, advice, or requests to someone you address as 'tú'.

1

Direct Instruction

Giving a clear order to a peer.

“¡Come tu comida!”

“¡Limpia tu cuarto!”

2

Friendly Advice

Suggesting an action to a friend.

“¡Compra ese libro!”

“¡Mira esa película!”

Reference Table

Reference table for Giving Friendly Orders: Affirmative Tú Commands
Form Structure Example
Regular
3rd person singular
Habla
Irregular
Special stem
Haz
Reflexive
Verb + se
Lávate
Object Pronoun
Verb + lo/la
Cómelo
Double Pronoun
Verb + se + lo
Dáselo

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Coma la manzana.

Coma la manzana. (Eating)

Neutral
Come la manzana.

Come la manzana. (Eating)

Informal
¡Cómete la manzana!

¡Cómete la manzana! (Eating)

Slang
¡Dale a la manzana!

¡Dale a la manzana! (Eating)

The Command Tree

Tú Command

Regular

  • Habla Speak

Irregular

  • Haz Do

Examples by Level

1

¡Come!

Eat!

2

¡Habla!

Speak!

3

¡Mira!

Look!

4

¡Estudia!

Study!

1

¡Haz la tarea!

Do the homework!

2

¡Pon la mesa!

Set the table!

3

¡Dímelo ahora!

Tell me now!

4

¡Ten cuidado!

Be careful!

1

¡Ven conmigo a la fiesta!

Come with me to the party!

2

¡Sal de ahí inmediatamente!

Get out of there immediately!

3

¡Sé amable con ellos!

Be nice to them!

4

¡Cómpralo si te gusta!

Buy it if you like it!

1

¡Hazlo tú mismo!

Do it yourself!

2

¡Ten paciencia con el proceso!

Have patience with the process!

3

¡Dáselo a tu hermano!

Give it to your brother!

4

¡Ponlo donde estaba!

Put it where it was!

1

¡Vente a vivir aquí!

Come live here!

2

¡Dile la verdad sin miedo!

Tell him the truth without fear!

3

¡Hazte cargo de la situación!

Take charge of the situation!

4

¡Ten presente lo que hablamos!

Keep in mind what we talked about!

1

¡Sé tú mismo siempre!

Always be yourself!

2

¡Hazle saber que no puede ir!

Let him know he can't go!

3

¡Ponle ganas al proyecto!

Put effort into the project!

4

¡Dile que venga pronto!

Tell him to come soon!

Easily Confused

Giving Friendly Orders: Affirmative Tú Commands vs Affirmative vs Negative Commands

Learners use the same form for both.

Giving Friendly Orders: Affirmative Tú Commands vs Tú vs Usted Commands

Mixing formal and informal.

Giving Friendly Orders: Affirmative Tú Commands vs Present Tense vs Command

Adding the 's'.

Common Mistakes

Hablas

Habla

Don't include the 's'.

Comes

Come

Drop the 's'.

Haces

Haz

Irregular form required.

Pones

Pon

Irregular form required.

Dilo me

Dímelo

Pronouns must be attached.

No habla

No hables

Negative commands use subjunctive.

Habla le

Háblale

Accent required.

Sentence Patterns

¡___ (verb) ___ (object)!

¡___ (verb) me ___ (object)!

¡___ (verb) ___ (adverb)!

¡___ (verb) ___ (pronoun) ___ (adverb)!

Real World Usage

Texting very common

¡Llámame!

Social Media very common

¡Sígueme!

Cooking common

¡Corta la cebolla!

Travel common

¡Mira el mapa!

Sports common

¡Corre más!

Gaming common

¡Salta ahora!

💡

Drop the S

Always remember to drop the 's' from the 'tú' present tense form.
⚠️

Irregulars

The 8 irregulars are non-negotiable. Memorize them!
🎯

Pronouns

Attach pronouns to the end to sound like a native.
💬

Regionalism

In Argentina, use 'vos' commands instead.

Smart Tips

Attach pronouns to the end of the command.

¡Di la verdad a mí! ¡Dímela!

Use the mnemonic 'Vin Diesel'.

¡Haces la tarea! ¡Haz la tarea!

Think of the third-person singular.

¡Hablas! ¡Habla!

Use the 'vos' form.

¡Habla! ¡Hablá!

Pronunciation

Dí-me-lo

Stress

When you add pronouns, the stress shifts, often requiring an accent mark.

Falling

¡Habla! ↘

Firm command.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Ven Di Sal Haz Ten Ve Pon Sé (Vin Diesel has ten weapons, eh?)

Visual Association

Imagine Vin Diesel (Ven Di Sal) doing (Haz) ten (Ten) things, going (Ve) to put (Pon) a hat on (Sé).

Rhyme

Para el tú, el presente usa, ¡hazlo bien y no te confundas!

Story

Vin Diesel walks into a room. He says 'Ven' (come), 'Di' (tell me), 'Sal' (get out), 'Haz' (do it), 'Ten' (take this), 'Ve' (go), 'Pon' (put it there), 'Sé' (be cool).

Word Web

VenDiSalHazTenVePon

Challenge

Write 5 commands you would give to your best friend today.

Cultural Notes

They use 'vos' instead of 'tú', so the command is 'hablá' (accent on the last syllable).

They use 'tú' commands frequently with friends.

They often use 'tú' commands but soften them with 'por favor'.

Derived from the Latin imperative mood.

Conversation Starters

¿Qué le dices a un amigo que tiene hambre?

¿Qué le dices a un amigo que está triste?

¿Cómo le pides a un amigo que te ayude?

¿Qué consejo le das a alguien que quiere aprender español?

Journal Prompts

Write a list of 5 things you tell your friend to do every morning.
Write a short recipe using commands.
Write a letter to your younger self giving advice.
Describe a day in the life of a coach using commands.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct


Incorrect

Correct


Incorrect

Correct


Incorrect

Correct

Test Yourself

Conjugate 'hablar' for a friend.

¡___ con él!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Habla
Use the 3rd person singular.
Choose the correct irregular command. Multiple Choice

¡___ la tarea!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Haz
Haz is the irregular form.
Fix the mistake. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

¡Comes la manzana!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ¡Come la manzana!
Drop the 's'.
Change to command. Sentence Transformation

Tú pones el libro.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ¡Pon el libro!
Pon is the irregular form.
Match the verb to the command. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ven
Ven is the irregular form.
Add the pronoun.

¡Dime la verdad! -> ¡Di___!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: la
Dila.
Select the correct form. Multiple Choice

¡___ (ir) a casa!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ve
Ve is the irregular form.
Build the command. Sentence Building

hacer + lo + ahora

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ¡Hazlo ahora!
Hazlo is correct.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Conjugate 'hablar' for a friend.

¡___ con él!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Habla
Use the 3rd person singular.
Choose the correct irregular command. Multiple Choice

¡___ la tarea!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Haz
Haz is the irregular form.
Fix the mistake. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

¡Comes la manzana!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ¡Come la manzana!
Drop the 's'.
Change to command. Sentence Transformation

Tú pones el libro.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ¡Pon el libro!
Pon is the irregular form.
Match the verb to the command. Match Pairs

Venir -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ven
Ven is the irregular form.
Add the pronoun.

¡Dime la verdad! -> ¡Di___!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: la
Dila.
Select the correct form. Multiple Choice

¡___ (ir) a casa!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ve
Ve is the irregular form.
Build the command. Sentence Building

hacer + lo + ahora

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ¡Hazlo ahora!
Hazlo is correct.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Give the command form for 'subir' (to upload/go up). Fill in the Blank

¡___ la foto a Instagram!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Sube
Reorder the words to make a valid command. Sentence Reorder

arroz / ¡ / el / cocina / !

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ¡Cocina el arroz!
Translate 'Drink the water!' using an informal command. Translation

Drink the water!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ¡Bebe el agua!
Match the infinitive with its tú command. Match Pairs

Match these pairs:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Bailar -> Baila
Fix the command for 'mirar'. Error Correction

¡Miras este video!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ¡Mira este video!
Command for 'limpiar' (to clean). Fill in the Blank

¡___ tu habitación!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Limpia
Which one is a command to 'listen' (escuchar)? Multiple Choice

Choose one:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ¡Escucha!
Translate 'Call me!' (Llamar). Translation

Call me!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ¡Llámame!
Order the words: 'por / puerta / ¡ / la / pasa / !' Sentence Reorder

Order them:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ¡Pasa por la puerta!
Command for 'aprender' (to learn). Fill in the Blank

¡___ español conmigo!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Aprende

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

It's an irregular verb. You just have to memorize it.

No, use 'usted' commands instead.

Yes, for affirmative 'tú' commands.

Attach it to the end of the verb.

Yes, it's the command for 'venir'.

Use the subjunctive, e.g., 'No hables'.

Yes, especially in Argentina with 'vos'.

Memorize the 8 common ones.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

In Other Languages

French high

Impératif

French uses 'tu' while Spanish uses 'tú'.

German moderate

Imperativ

German has a distinct imperative form.

Japanese low

Meireikei

Japanese commands are often considered rude.

Arabic moderate

Amr

Arabic is more complex in gender agreement.

Chinese none

Imperative

Chinese has no conjugation.

Spanish high

Imperativo

None.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Was this helpful?

Comments (0)

Login to Comment
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!