Spanish grammar · Elementary (A2)
The imperative: giving instructions
How to tell someone to do something in Spanish with the tú and usted imperative, including the irregular forms ven, ve, haz and sal.
Tú: regular forms
The “imperative” is used for instructions, directions, advice and invitations. For , most verbs use the same form as / in the present: → , → , → .
Stem changes from the present stay: → , → , → .
- Toma la segunda calle a la derecha.Take the second street on the right.
- Prueba el cochinillo.Try the roast suckling pig.
- Mira, allí está la estación.Look, the station is over there.
Tú: irregular forms
Eight common verbs have a short, irregular imperative. Learn them together.
| Infinitive | English | |
|---|---|---|
| say, tell | ||
| do, make | ||
| go | ||
| put | ||
| go out, leave | ||
| be | ||
| have, take | ||
| come |
Usted and ustedes
For , start from the form of the present, drop the -o and add the “opposite” vowel: -e for -ar verbs, -a for -er and -ir verbs. For , add -n. This way irregular forms carry over: → , → , → .
A few verbs don't follow the rule: → , → , → , → , → .
| Infinitive | (present) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Pronouns and politeness
Pronouns are joined to the end of an affirmative imperative, with a written accent when the stress would otherwise move: (Look at it), (Tell him / her), (Sit down).
Negative commands (, ) work differently: see the next section (B1). To sound softer, you can also ask a question: (Can you close the door?).
Negative commands: no mires, no mire
For negative commands, Spanish uses + the present subjunctive, for every person: (), (), (), (). For and , these are the same forms as the affirmative with in front; for and they're different.
Pronouns go before the verb in a negative command: → , → , → .
| Infinitive | ||
|---|---|---|