Mastering Spanish Commands: Affirmative vs. Negative
Understanding how to give commands in Spanish is crucial for effective communication, whether you’re offering advice, giving instructions, or expressing your desires. Spanish commands, also known as imperatives, differ significantly between affirmative and negative forms.
Mastering these differences is essential for avoiding grammatical errors and ensuring clarity in your speech. This comprehensive guide will break down the intricacies of Spanish affirmative and negative commands, providing you with the knowledge and practice needed to use them confidently.
This guide is tailored for Spanish learners of all levels, from beginners to advanced students seeking to refine their command of the imperative mood.
This article will explore the formation, usage, and exceptions associated with both affirmative and negative commands. We will delve into the structural differences, provide numerous examples, and offer practical exercises to solidify your understanding.
By the end of this guide, you’ll be able to confidently form and use both affirmative and negative commands in various contexts.
Table of Contents
- Definition: Spanish Commands (Imperatives)
- Structural Breakdown of Spanish Commands
- Types of Commands in Spanish
- Examples of Spanish Commands
- Usage Rules for Spanish Commands
- Common Mistakes with Spanish Commands
- Practice Exercises
- Advanced Topics in Spanish Commands
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Conclusion
Definition: Spanish Commands (Imperatives)
Spanish commands, or imperatives, are verb forms used to give orders, instructions, advice, or make requests. They belong to the imperative mood, which is dedicated to expressing directives. The imperative mood exists only in the present tense and is used to tell someone to do something (affirmative command) or not to do something (negative command). The formation of commands varies depending on the verb conjugation, the formality level (tú, usted, vosotros, ustedes), and whether the command is affirmative or negative. Understanding these variations is crucial for effective communication in Spanish.
Commands are essential for a wide range of interactions, from everyday conversations (e.g., “Close the door,” “Don’t touch that”) to more formal settings (e.g., “Please, come in,” “Do not enter”). They are fundamental to providing instructions, giving advice, and expressing expectations.
The distinction between affirmative and negative commands is particularly important, as it determines whether you are asking someone to perform an action or refrain from performing it.
Structural Breakdown of Spanish Commands
The structure of Spanish commands differs significantly between affirmative and negative forms, depending on the pronoun being addressed (tú, usted, vosotros, ustedes). The affirmative tú command is generally the same as the third-person singular of the present indicative (e.g., habla from hablar). However, there are several irregular verbs to be aware of. All other forms (negative tú, usted, ustedes, vosotros, and nosotros) use the present subjunctive. This means that the formation of the command will depend on which pronoun you are using and whether you are giving a positive or negative command.
For example, with regular -ar verbs, the usted form changes the -ar ending to -e (e.g., hablar becomes hable). Similarly, for regular -er and -ir verbs, the -er/ir ending changes to -a (e.g., comer becomes coma, vivir becomes viva). This pattern is reversed for the negative commands, which also use the subjunctive. The word ‘no’ always precedes the verb in negative commands. Direct and indirect object pronouns and reflexive pronouns are attached to the end of affirmative commands, but they precede the verb in negative commands.
Types of Commands in Spanish
Spanish commands vary depending on the level of formality and the pronoun used. The most common forms are tú (informal singular), usted (formal singular), vosotros (informal plural, primarily used in Spain), and ustedes (formal plural, used in Latin America and also as a formal plural in Spain). Additionally, the nosotros form is used to give commands that include the speaker (“Let’s…”).
Formal Commands (Usted/Ustedes)
Formal commands are used when addressing someone with respect, such as elders, superiors, or people you don’t know well. They use the usted (singular formal) and ustedes (plural formal) forms. These commands are formed using the present subjunctive. For -ar verbs, the ending changes to -e (for usted) or -en (for ustedes). For -er and -ir verbs, the ending changes to -a (for usted) or -an (for ustedes). Remember to place “no” before the verb to make it negative.
For example, to tell someone formally to speak, you would say Hable usted. To tell a group of people formally to speak you would say Hablen ustedes. To tell someone formally not to speak, you would say No hable usted. To tell a group of people formally not to speak, you would say No hablen ustedes.
Informal Commands (Tú)
Informal commands are used when addressing someone you know well, such as friends, family members, or children. They use the tú form. Affirmative informal commands typically use the same form as the third-person singular of the present indicative. However, there are eight irregular verbs in the affirmative tú form: decir (di), hacer (haz), ir (ve), poner (pon), salir (sal), ser (sé), tener (ten), and venir (ven). Negative informal commands use the present subjunctive form of tú, and “no” precedes the verb.
For instance, to tell a friend to speak, you would say Habla. To tell a friend not to speak, you would say No hables. For an irregular verb such as tener, to tell a friend to have patience, you would say Ten paciencia. To tell a friend not to have patience, you would say No tengas paciencia.
Nosotros Commands
Nosotros commands are used to give suggestions or instructions that include the speaker, meaning “Let’s…”. They are formed using the present subjunctive nosotros form. For -ar verbs, the ending changes to -emos. For -er and -ir verbs, the ending changes to -amos. For reflexive verbs, the “s” is dropped from the -amos ending (e.g., sentémonos not sentémosnos). For negative commands, “no” precedes the verb.
For example, to suggest “Let’s speak,” you would say Hablemos. To suggest “Let’s not speak,” you would say No hablemos. To suggest “Let’s go”, you would say Vamos. To suggest “Let’s not go”, you would say No vayamos.
Vosotros Commands (Spain)
Vosotros commands are used in Spain when addressing a group of people informally. Affirmative vosotros commands are formed by dropping the -r from the infinitive and adding -d (e.g., hablar becomes hablad). However, if a reflexive pronoun is attached, the -d is dropped (e.g., lavaos). Negative vosotros commands use the present subjunctive vosotros form, and “no” precedes the verb.
For example, to tell a group of friends to speak, you would say Hablad. To tell a group of friends not to speak, you would say No habléis. To tell a group of friends to sit down (reflexive), you would say Sentaos. To tell a group of friends not to sit down, you would say No os sentéis.
Examples of Spanish Commands
To illustrate the differences and nuances of Spanish commands, let’s explore a variety of examples in both affirmative and negative forms, across different levels of formality.
Affirmative Command Examples
The following table provides examples of affirmative commands in the tú, usted, nosotros, vosotros, and ustedes forms, demonstrating the variations in verb conjugation and usage.
Here is a table with examples of affirmative commands in various forms:
| Pronoun | Verb (Infinitive) | Affirmative Command | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tú | Hablar (to speak) | Habla | Speak |
| Tú | Comer (to eat) | Come | Eat |
| Tú | Vivir (to live) | Vive | Live |
| Tú | Decir (to say) | Di | Say |
| Tú | Hacer (to do) | Haz | Do |
| Tú | Ir (to go) | Ve | Go |
| Tú | Poner (to put) | Pon | Put |
| Tú | Salir (to leave) | Sal | Leave |
| Tú | Ser (to be) | Sé | Be |
| Tú | Tener (to have) | Ten | Have |
| Tú | Venir (to come) | Ven | Come |
| Usted | Hablar (to speak) | Hable | Speak |
| Usted | Comer (to eat) | Coma | Eat |
| Usted | Vivir (to live) | Viva | Live |
| Nosotros | Hablar (to speak) | Hablemos | Let’s speak |
| Nosotros | Comer (to eat) | Comamos | Let’s eat |
| Nosotros | Vivir (to live) | Vivamos | Let’s live |
| Vosotros | Hablar (to speak) | Hablad | Speak |
| Vosotros | Comer (to eat) | Comed | Eat |
| Vosotros | Vivir (to live) | Vivid | Live |
| Ustedes | Hablar (to speak) | Hablen | Speak |
| Ustedes | Comer (to eat) | Coman | Eat |
| Ustedes | Vivir (to live) | Vivan | Live |
| Tú (Reflexive) | Levantarse (to get up) | Levántate | Get up |
| Usted (Reflexive) | Sentarse (to sit down) | Siéntese | Sit down |
| Nosotros (Reflexive) | Divertirse (to have fun) | Divirtámonos | Let’s have fun |
| Vosotros (Reflexive) | Callarse (to be quiet) | Callaos | Be quiet |
| Ustedes (Reflexive) | Acostarse (to go to bed) | Acuéstense | Go to bed |
Negative Command Examples
The following table provides examples of negative commands in the tú, usted, nosotros, vosotros, and ustedes forms. Note the use of the subjunctive and the placement of “no” before the verb.
Below is a table showcasing negative commands in various forms:
| Pronoun | Verb (Infinitive) | Negative Command | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tú | Hablar (to speak) | No hables | Don’t speak |
| Tú | Comer (to eat) | No comas | Don’t eat |
| Tú | Vivir (to live) | No vivas | Don’t live |
| Usted | Hablar (to speak) | No hable | Don’t speak |
| Usted | Comer (to eat) | No coma | Don’t eat |
| Usted | Vivir (to live) | No viva | Don’t live |
| Nosotros | Hablar (to speak) | No hablemos | Let’s not speak |
| Nosotros | Comer (to eat) | No comamos | Let’s not eat |
| Nosotros | Vivir (to live) | No vivamos | Let’s not live |
| Vosotros | Hablar (to speak) | No habléis | Don’t speak |
| Vosotros | Comer (to eat) | No comáis | Don’t eat |
| Vosotros | Vivir (to live) | No viváis | Don’t live |
| Ustedes | Hablar (to speak) | No hablen | Don’t speak |
| Ustedes | Comer (to eat) | No coman | Don’t eat |
| Ustedes | Vivir (to live) | No vivan | Don’t live |
| Tú (Reflexive) | Levantarse (to get up) | No te levantes | Don’t get up |
| Usted (Reflexive) | Sentarse (to sit down) | No se siente | Don’t sit down |
| Nosotros (Reflexive) | Divertirse (to have fun) | No nos divirtamos | Let’s not have fun |
| Vosotros (Reflexive) | Callarse (to be quiet) | No os calléis | Don’t be quiet |
| Ustedes (Reflexive) | Acostarse (to go to bed) | No se acuesten | Don’t go to bed |
| Tú | Ir (to go) | No vayas | Don’t go |
| Usted | Ir (to go) | No vaya | Don’t go |
| Nosotros | Ir (to go) | No vayamos | Let’s not go |
The following table shows both affirmative and negative commands:
| Pronoun | Verb (Infinitive) | Affirmative Command | Negative Command | English Translation (Affirmative) | English Translation (Negative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tú | Escribir (to write) | Escribe | No escribas | Write | Don’t write |
| Usted | Escribir (to write) | Escriba | No escriba | Write | Don’t write |
| Nosotros | Escribir (to write) | Escribamos | No escribamos | Let’s write | Let’s not write |
| Vosotros | Escribir (to write) | Escribid | No escribáis | Write | Don’t write |
| Ustedes | Escribir (to write) | Escriban | No escriban | Write | Don’t write |
| Tú | Traer (to bring) | Trae | No traigas | Bring | Don’t bring |
| Usted | Traer (to bring) | Traiga | No traiga | Bring | Don’t bring |
| Nosotros | Traer (to bring) | Traigamos | No traigamos | Let’s bring | Let’s not bring |
| Vosotros | Traer (to bring) | Traed | No traigáis | Bring | Don’t bring |
| Ustedes | Traer (to bring) | Traigan | No traigan | Bring | Don’t bring |
| Tú | Pedir (to ask for) | Pide | No pidas | Ask for | Don’t ask for |
| Usted | Pedir (to ask for) | Pida | No pida | Ask for | Don’t ask for |
| Nosotros | Pedir (to ask for) | Pidamos | No pidamos | Let’s ask for | Let’s not ask for |
| Vosotros | Pedir (to ask for) | Pedid | No pidáis | Ask for | Don’t ask for |
| Ustedes | Pedir (to ask for) | Pidan | No pidan | Ask for | Don’t ask for |
Usage Rules for Spanish Commands
Several rules govern the proper use of Spanish commands, including pronoun placement, irregular verb conjugations, and reflexive verb considerations.
Pronoun Placement with Commands
The placement of pronouns (direct object, indirect object, and reflexive) differs between affirmative and negative commands. In affirmative commands, pronouns are attached to the end of the verb, often requiring an accent mark to maintain the original stress (e.g., Dime – Tell me; Levántate – Get up). In negative commands, pronouns precede the verb (e.g., No me digas – Don’t tell me; No te levantes – Don’t get up).
Here’s a table illustrating pronoun placement:
| Command Type | Example | Pronoun Placement | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Dime la verdad. | Attached to the verb | Tell me the truth. |
| Negative | No me digas mentiras. | Before the verb | Don’t tell me lies. |
| Affirmative Reflexive | Siéntate aquí. | Attached to the verb | Sit down here. |
| Negative Reflexive | No te sientes allí. | Before the verb | Don’t sit down there. |
| Affirmative (Double Pronoun) | Dámelo. | Attached to the verb in order (indirect before direct) | Give it to me. |
| Negative (Double Pronoun) | No me lo des. | Before the verb in order (indirect before direct) | Don’t give it to me. |
Irregular Verbs in Commands
As mentioned earlier, some verbs have irregular forms in the affirmative tú command. These include decir (di), hacer (haz), ir (ve), poner (pon), salir (sal), ser (sé), tener (ten), and venir (ven). For all other command forms (negative tú, usted, ustedes, vosotros, and nosotros), the subjunctive must be used, and these verbs will follow the subjunctive conjugation rules, which also results in irregular forms.
Here are some examples of irregular verbs in the subjunctive:
| Verb (Infinitive) | Tú (Negative) | Usted | Nosotros | Vosotros (Negative) | Ustedes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decir (to say) | No digas | Diga | Digamos | No digáis | Digan |
| Hacer (to do) | No hagas | Haga | Hagamos | No hagáis | Hagan |
| Ir (to go) | No vayas | Vaya | Vayamos | No vayáis | Vayan |
| Poner (to put) | No pongas | Ponga | Pongamos | No pongáis | Pongan |
| Salir (to leave) | No salgas | Salga | Salgamos | No salgáis | Salgan |
| Ser (to be) | No seas | Sea | Seamos | No seáis | Sean |
| Tener (to have) | No tengas | Tenga | Tengamos | No tengáis | Tengan |
| Venir (to come) | No vengas | Venga | Vengamos | No vengáis | Vengan |
Reflexive Verbs in Commands
Reflexive verbs (verbs that refer back to the subject, such as lavarse – to wash oneself) require special attention in command formation. In affirmative commands, the reflexive pronoun is attached to the end of the verb, and in vosotros commands, the -d ending is dropped (e.g., Lávate – Wash yourself; Lavaos – Wash yourselves). In negative commands, the reflexive pronoun precedes the verb (e.g., No te laves – Don’t wash yourself; No os lavéis – Don’t wash yourselves).
This table illustrates the use of reflexive verbs in commands:
| Pronoun | Verb (Infinitive) | Affirmative Command | Negative Command | English Translation (Affirmative) | English Translation (Negative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tú | Lavarse (to wash oneself) | Lávate | No te laves | Wash yourself | Don’t wash yourself |
| Usted | Lavarse (to wash oneself) | Lávese | No se lave | Wash yourself | Don’t wash yourself |
| Nosotros | Lavarse (to wash oneself) | Lavémonos | No nos lavemos | Let’s wash ourselves | Let’s not wash ourselves |
| Vosotros | Lavarse (to wash oneself) | Lavaos | No os lavéis | Wash yourselves | Don’t wash yourselves |
| Ustedes | Lavarse (to wash oneself) | Lávense | No se laven | Wash yourselves | Don’t wash yourselves |
| Tú | Sentarse (to sit down) | Siéntate | No te sientes | Sit down | Don’t sit down |
Common Mistakes with Spanish Commands
Several common mistakes can occur when using Spanish commands. One frequent error is using the incorrect verb form, especially confusing the affirmative tú command with the subjunctive form. Another common mistake is incorrect pronoun placement, particularly with reflexive and object pronouns. Finally, forgetting the irregular affirmative tú command forms is a frequent error.
Here’s a table of common mistakes and their corrections:
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| No habla (intended: Don’t speak – tú) | No hables | The negative tú command requires the subjunctive form. |
| Dime lo no. (intended: Don’t tell me) | No me lo digas. | Pronouns must precede the verb in negative commands. |
| Hazlo no. (intended: Don’t do it) | No lo hagas. | Pronouns must precede the verb in negative commands. |
| Sé no triste. (intended: Don’t be sad) | No estés triste. | The verb ‘estar’ is used for temporary conditions or emotions, and ‘ser’ is used for permanent characteristics. |
| Vete no. (intended: Don’t go – tú) | No te vayas. | Reflexive pronoun “te” must precede the verb in negative commands. |
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding of Spanish commands with these practice exercises. Provide the correct affirmative or negative command form based on the pronoun given in parentheses.
Exercise 1: Fill in the blank with the correct affirmative command.
| Sentence | Answer |
|---|---|
| (Tú) ________ la puerta. (cerrar) | Cierra |
| (Usted) ________ cuidado. (tener) | Tenga |
| (Nosotros) ________ la tarea. (hacer) | Hagamos |
| (Vosotros) ________ la verdad. (decir) | Decid |
| (Ustedes) ________ silencio. (guardar) | Guarden |
| (Tú) ________ el libro. (leer) | Lee |
| (Usted) ________ la ventana. (abrir) | Abra |
| (Nosotros) ________ a la fiesta. (ir) | Vamos |
| (Vosotros) ________ la lección. (estudiar) | Estudiad |
| (Ustedes) ________ a la derecha. (girar) | Giren |
Exercise 2: Fill in the blank with the correct negative command.
| Sentence | Answer |
|---|---|
| (Tú) ________ tarde. (llegar) | No llegues |
| (Usted) ________ eso. (hacer) | No haga |
| (Nosotros) ________ allí. (ir) | No vayamos |
| (Vosotros) ________ ruido. (hacer) | No hagáis |
| (Ustedes) ________ preocupados. (estar) | No estén |
| (Tú) ________ triste. (estar) | No estés |
| (Usted) ________ prisa. (tener) | No tenga |
| (Nosotros) ________ la puerta. (cerrar) | No cerremos |
| (Vosotros) ________ con extraños. (hablar) | No habléis |
| (Ustedes) ________ tarde. (acostarse) | No se acuesten |
Exercise 3: Translate the following sentences into Spanish using the appropriate command form.
| English Sentence | Spanish Translation |
|---|---|
| Speak! (formal, singular) | Hable |
| Don’t eat! (informal, singular) | No comas |
| Let’s go! | Vamos |
| Write! (informal, plural – Spain) | Escribid |
| Don’ |