Imperative (Commands) Mood

Tรบ

  • Used for talking to a friend, family member, or someone your age.
  • Regular verbs:
    • Hablar โ†’habla
    • Comer โ†’come
    • Vivir โ†’vive
  • Example:ยกHablamรกs despacio!

Usted

  • Used for formal situations or showing respect.
  • Regular verbs:
    • Hablar โ†’hable
    • Comer โ†’coma
    • Vivir โ†’viva
  • Example:ยกHablecon el doctor, por favor.*

Nosotros

  • Means "letโ€™s" do something (including yourself).
  • Regular verbs:
    • Hablar โ†’hablemos
    • Comer โ†’comamos
    • Vivir โ†’vivamos
  • Example:ยกHablemosde la pelรญcula.*

Vosotros

  • Used in Spain for talking to a group informally.
  • Regular verbs:
    • Hablar โ†’hablad
    • Comer โ†’comed
    • Vivir โ†’vivid
  • Example:ยกHabladentre vosotros.*

Ustedes

  • Used for talking to a group formally (or any group in Latin America).
  • Regular verbs:
    • Hablar โ†’hablen
    • Comer โ†’coman
    • Vivir โ†’vivan
  • Example:ยกHablenclaro, por favor.*

Irregular Imperatives

  • Some verbs have special forms:
    • Decir (tรบ) โ†’di
    • Hacer (tรบ) โ†’haz
    • Ir (tรบ) โ†’ve
    • Salir (tรบ) โ†’sal
    • Tener (tรบ) โ†’ten
    • Venir (tรบ) โ†’ven
    • Ser (tรบ) โ†’sรฉ
    • Dar (tรบ) โ†’da
  • Example:ยกDila verdad.*

Negative Commands

  • Used to tell someonenotto do something.
  • Formed using the present subjunctive.
  • Tรบ: no + hables, comas, vivas
  • Usted: no + hable, coma, viva
  • Nosotros: no + hablemos, comamos, vivamos
  • Vosotros: no + hablรฉis, comรกis, vivรกis
  • Ustedes: no + hablen, coman, vivan
  • Example:No hablestan rรกpido.

Pronouns with Commands

  • Affirmative:attach pronouns to the end.
    • Dรญgamelo (Say it to me)
    • Escrรญbela (Write it)
  • Negative:pronouns go before the verb.
    • No me lo digas
    • No la escribas

Summary

The imperative mood is used to give commands or make requests. Usetรบ,usted,nosotros,vosotros, orustedesforms depending on who you are speaking to. Remember that some verbs are irregular and that negative commands use the subjunctive form. Pronouns are attached differently in affirmative and negative commands.

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Last updated: Thu Jul 17, 2025