Negative tú Commands

Question 1

What is this lesson about?

Answer 1

It is about the negative tú commands. Commands are part of the imperative sentences. They are used to tell people what to do, to give polite commands, to give suggestions and directions or instructions.

Negative tú commands are used to tell people what NOT to do.

ALSO, the commands lesson is a precursor of the present subjuntive mode.

Question 2

1. • Please give examples IN ENGLISH of affirmative and negative tú commands.
2. • Do the same in Spanish.

Answer 2

Example Commands in English:

Speak!

Sit, doggie, sit!

Don’t go outside.

Don’t bark.

In Spanish:

Habla, por favor.

No hables muy fuerte.

Question 3

What does the tú in the command imply?

Answer 3

In order to make it a command, you must speak directly to the person whom you wish to give the command to. Later you will learn that usted, ustedes and nosotros also have commands.

Question 4

How does the lecture of the negative tú commands relate to previous lessons?

Answer 4

1. • We learned to use the affirmative tú commands.
2. • YOUR ANSWER

Question 5

Compare and contrast the conjugations for the

affirmative tú command

vs

negative tú commands

Answer 5

Affirmative tú Commands:

• ar > -a
• er > -e
• ir > -e

Negative tú Commands:

-ar > no …..-es

-er > no …..-as

-ir > no …..-as

Question 6

Give examples for the

affirmative tú command

and

negative tú commands

Answer 6

Affirmative:

• ar > -a = hablar > habla
• er > -e = comer > come
• ir > -e = escribrir > escribe

Negative:

-ar > no …-es = hablar** > no hables**

-er > no … -as = comer** > no comas**

-ir > no … -as = escribir** > no escribas**

Question 7

Let’s review the negative tú commands forms

Answer 7

Negative tú Commands forms:

• ar > no …-es = hablar > no hables
• er > no … -as = comer > no comas
• ir > no … -as = escribir > no escribas

Question 8

Here is a questions for you to ponder:

What can you conclude about the differences and similarities of the affirmative and negative conjugations?

Answer 8

Simply, the conjugations flip. See the chart below:

Affirmative tú vs negative tú

-ar > -a -ar > -es

-er > -e-er > -as

-ir > -e -ir > -as

Question 9

What about stem changing verbs and the negative tú commands?

Answer 9

If the verb has a stem change in the present tense, keep the change in the negative commands. For example, dormir (o > ue)

presente tense: negative command:

yo duermo (tú) no duermas

tú duermes

usted duerme ….

Question 10

Here are some verbs with stem changes you should know. HINT!

Answer 10

Group 1: o > ue (dormir, probar)

Group 2: e > ie (empezar, encender, calentar)

Group 3: e > i (servir)

Question 11

What about irregular verbs?

Verbs in:

• car
• gar
• zar

Answer 11

Notice the spelling changes. if the verb ends in:

-car (like buscar) the c changes to ques

buscar > no busques

-gar (ike apagar) the g changes to gues

apagar > no apagues

-zar (like empezar) the z changes to ces

empezar > no empieces

Question 12

Group 2 or irregular verbs.

Please know these verbs:

(This group is just a small sample)

Answer 12

dar > no des

estar > no estés

ir a > no vayas a

ser > no seas

poner > no pongas

hacer > no hagas

Question 13

What if I’m using pronouns, like direct object pronouns or if the verb is reflexive? What is the placement of the pronoun in the negative tú commands?

Answer 13

It is very simple. Put the pronoun BEFORE the verb.

Direct object pronoun:

lavar los platos sucios. No los laves.

Reflexive verb:

dormirse > No te duermas.

(hint: you are using tú commands, you should only be using the te form of the reflexive pronons.