(6) Informal Command: Affirmative and Negative Forms

Question 1

[Singular Command (Tú Command)]

The informal command (el imperative/el mandato) is used to request something or to tell someone to do something among friends and family and in other informal contexts. The singular form or tú form of regular affirmative informal commands is the same as the él, ella, and usted form of the present tense. The negative informal command is formed by dropping the –o of the yo form of the present tense and adding –es for –ar verbs (cocinar) and –as for –er (comer) and –ir (servir) verbs.

Answer 1

Mandato Afirmativo → Mandato Negativo

• Cocina (tú) [(you) cook] → No cocines (tú) [(you) do not cook]
• Come (tú) [(you) eat] → No comas (tú) [(you) do not eat]
• Sirve (tú) [(you) serve] → No sirvas (tú) [(you) do not serve]

Question 2

[Singular Command (Tú Command)]

There are eight verbs that are irregular but only in the affirmative form:

Answer 2

Mandato Informal

Infinitivo: Afirmativo → Negativo

• Decir: Di **[say] → No digas **[don’t say]
• Hacer: Haz **[Do] → No hagas **[Don’t do]
• Ir: Ve **[Go] → No vayas **[Don’t go]
• Poner: Pon **[Put] → No pongas **[Don’t put]
• Salir: Sal **[Go out] → No salgas **[Don’t go out]
• Ser: Sé **[Be] → No seas **[Don’t be]
• Tener: Ten **[Have] → No tengas **[Don’t have]
• Venir: Ven **[Come] → No vengas **[Don’t come]

Question 3

[Singular Command (Tú Command)]

Reflexive, indirect, and direct object pronouns are attached to the end of the affirmative command, but they precede the negative command:

Answer 3

• Levántate temprano y prepárales un buen desayuno a los niños [Get up early and prepare a good breakfast for the kids]
• No le pongas demasiado azúcar al café [Do not put too much sugar in the coffee]

Question 4

[Singular Command (Tú Command)]

Pronouns attach to the end of affirmative commands, requiring the addition of an accent mark above the stressed syllable:

Answer 4

• estúdialo **(speak to him)
• bébela **(drink it)
• escríbelas **(write them)

Question 5

[Singular Command (Tú Command)]

The subject pronoun can be used after a command for emphasis:

Answer 5

• Habla con el profesor [Talk to the professor. (no emphasis).]
• Habla tú con el profesor [You talk to the professor (emphasizing that you should do so, not anyone else).]

Question 6

[PluralCommand (Ustedes Command)]

Answer 6

¡La cena está lista! Niños, por favor, siéntense a la mesa. Señor y Señora Ramos, por favor, siéntense aquí. Van a estar más cómodos.

Dinner is ready! Kids, please sit at the table. Mr. and Mrs. Ramos, please, sit here. You are going to be more comfortable.

Question 7

[PluralCommand (Ustedes Command)]

In Spanish-speaking America, the ustedes command is used for both formal and informal relationships and situations. The plural form for both affirmative and negative commands is formed by removing the final –o of the first person singular of the present form and replacing it with –en for –ar verbs, and –an for –er and –ir verbs.

Answer 7

Primera Persona del Singular: Afirmativo → Negativo

• Yo cocino [I cook]: Cocinen [cook] → No cocinen [do not cook]
• Yo como [I* eat]: Coman [eat] → No coman *[do not eat]
• Yo sirvo [I serve]: Sirvan [serve] → No sirvan **[do not serve]
• Yo pido [I order]: Pidan [order] → No pidan **[do not order]
• Yo digo [I say/tell]: Digan [*say/tell*] → No digan **[do not say/tell]

Question 8

[PluralCommand (Ustedes Command)]

In Spain, the Ustedes command is used in formal relationships and contexts only. In informal situations, the command forms that correspond to the plural informal pronoun vosotros are used.

• Affirmative vosotros commands: for –ar verbs, add –ad to the stem, for –er verbs, add –ed to the stem, and for –ir verbs, add –id to the stem
• Negative vosotros commands: for –ar verbs, add –éis to the stem, for –er and –ir verbs, add –áis to the stem.

Answer 8

**Comed **frutas, niños, no comáis tantos dulces. Y served la ensalada a nuestros huéspedes; llevad el agua a la mesa también. Después sentaos para converser con ellos.

Eat fruits, kids, do not eat so many sweets. And serve the salad to our guests; take the water to the table, too. Then sit down and talk with them.