Imperatives in Spanish
This section explains Imperatives in Spanish. The imperative in Spanish is used to give commands or instructions. This tense is crucial for situations where you need to tell someone what to do or give directions. There are different forms of the imperative depending on whether you are addressing one person (informally or formally), a group, or yourself. Understanding how to use the imperative correctly is vital for both everyday communication and exam preparation.
Formation of the Imperative
In Spanish, the imperative is formed using the present tense forms, with some changes to the verb endings. The imperative is used in different ways depending on the formality and number of people being addressed.
1.1. Informal Commands (Tú Form)
- For informal singular commands (when you’re addressing one person you know well, like a friend or family member), the tú form of the verb is used.
- For -ar verbs: drop the -ar and add -a.
- For -er and -ir verbs: drop the -er or -ir and add -e.
Examples:
- Hablar (to speak) → Habla (Speak!)
- Comer (to eat) → Come (Eat!)
- Vivir (to live) → Vive (Live!)
1.2. Negative Informal Commands (Tú Form)
To form negative informal commands, use the tú form of the verb in the present subjunctive. This is formed by:
- For -ar verbs: drop -ar and add -es.
- For -er and -ir verbs: drop -er or -ir and add -as.
Examples:
- Hablar (to speak) → No hables (Don’t speak!)
- Comer (to eat) → No comas (Don’t eat!)
- Vivir (to live) → No vivas (Don’t live!)
1.3. Formal Commands (Usted Form)
For formal commands, use the usted form (polite, singular) of the verb. This is identical to the present subjunctive for all verbs.
Examples:
- Hablar (to speak) → Hable (Speak!) (formal)
- Comer (to eat) → Coma (Eat!) (formal)
- Vivir (to live) → Viva (Live!) (formal)
1.4. Plural Commands (Ustedes Form)
For plural commands (when addressing more than one person, formal or informal), use the ustedes form (plural of usted). This is also formed using the present subjunctive.
Examples:
- Hablar (to speak) → Hablen (Speak!) (plural)
- Comer (to eat) → Coman (Eat!) (plural)
- Vivir (to live) → Vivan (Live!) (plural)
Irregular Imperative Forms
Some verbs have irregular forms in the imperative. These forms do not follow the typical pattern for forming commands and must be memorised.
2.1. Irregular Imperative Forms in the Tú Form
Here are some common irregular tú (informal) commands:
| Verb | Tú Form Imperative | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Ser | Sé | (Be!) |
| Ir | Ve | (Go!) |
| Tener | Ten | (Have!) |
| Venir | Ven | (Come!) |
| Hacer | Haz | (Do!) or (Make!) |
| Poner | Pon | (Put!) |
| Salir | Sal | (Leave!) |
| Decir | Di | (Say!) or (Tell!) |
| Estar | Está | (Be!) |
Irregular Imperative Forms in the Usted/Ustedes Forms
For formal commands (usted/ustedes), irregular verbs also have irregular imperative forms, but they follow the present subjunctive structure. For example:
| Verb | Usted Form Imperative | Ustedes Form Imperative | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ser | Sea | Sean | (Be!) |
| Ir | Vaya | Vayan | (Go!) |
| Tener | Tenga | Tengan | (Have!) |
| Venir | Venga | Vengan | (Come!) |
| Hacer | Haga | Hagan | (Do!) or (Make!) |
| Poner | Ponga | Pongan | (Put!) |
| Salir | Salga | Salgan | (Leave!) |
| Decir | Diga | Digan | (Say!) or (Tell!) |
| Estar | Esté | Estén | (Be!) |
Reflexive Verbs in the Imperative
When using reflexive verbs in the imperative, the reflexive pronoun must agree with the subject. For affirmative commands, the reflexive pronoun is attached to the end of the verb, while for negative commands, it precedes the verb.
Examples:
- Levantarse (to get up):
- ¡Levántate!(Get up!) (tú form)
- ¡No te levantes! (Don’t get up!) (tú form)
- ¡Levántese!(Get up!) (usted form)
- ¡No se levante! (Don’t get up!) (usted form)
- Peinarse (to comb oneself):
- ¡Péinate!(Comb your hair!) (tú form)
- ¡No te peines! (Don’t comb your hair!) (tú form)
- ¡Péinese!(Comb your hair!) (usted form)
- ¡No se peine! (Don’t comb your hair!) (usted form)
Foundation Tier Examples
At foundation tier, students are expected to form basic commands in the tú (informal) and usted (formal) forms, as well as using reflexive verbs.
Examples:
- ¡Habla!(Speak!) (tú form)
- ¡Escucha!(Listen!) (tú form)
- ¡Ven aquí! (Come here!) (tú form)
- ¡Canta!(Sing!) (tú form)
For negative commands:
- ¡No hables! (Don’t speak!) (tú form)
- ¡No comas! (Don’t eat!) (tú form)
- ¡No vayas! (Don’t go!) (tú form)
Higher Tier Examples
At higher tier, students are expected to use more complex verbs and structures, including irregular forms, reflexive verbs, and polite commands (usted and ustedes).
Examples:
- ¡Haga la tarea ahora! (Do the homework now!) (usted form)
- ¡No vayan por allí! (Don’t go that way!) (ustedes form)
- ¡Escuchen con atención! (Listen carefully!) (ustedes form)
- ¡Sé amable con los demás! (Be kind to others!) (tú form)
- ¡No se olvide de estudiar! (Don’t forget to study!) (usted form)
Conclusion
- The imperative in Spanish is used to give commands, instructions, or advice.
- For informal commands (tú form), use regular verb forms for -ar, -er, and -ir verbs, but some verbs have irregular forms.
- Formal commands (usted/ustedes) use the present subjunctive forms.
- Negative commands require the use of the present subjunctive for both tú and usted/ustedes forms.
- Reflexive verbs require the use of reflexive pronouns, which must be placed at the end of affirmative commands and before the verb in negative commands.
By practising these forms, you’ll be able to give clear instructions and express yourself effectively in Spanish.
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