Spanish Reference Grammar - Verbs
The imperative mood (commands)
Because Spanish has four forms of 'you', there are four forms of the imperative:
- informal singular - used with 'tú'
- informal plural - used with vosotros
- formal singular - used with usted
- formal plural - used with ustedes
There is also the first person plural, although it is not strictly a command. In English, it is usually expressed with 'Let's...' In Spanish, it is formed by either 'Vamos a...' or the present subjunctive of the first person plural.
For example:
'Vamos a ver.' - 'Let's see.'
'Comamos.' - 'Let's eat'.
Forming the imperative
To form the imperative in Spanish is quite complicated as there are also the four equivalent negative commands. As a teacher you will mainly be using the 'tú' and 'vosotros' commands.
Positive 'tú' commands are formed by using the third person singular of the verb. To make the command negative, use the second person singular of the present subjunctive of the verb.
Positive 'vosotros' commands are formed by changing the final r of the infinitive to a d. To make the command negative, use the second person plural of the present subjunctive.
Reflexive pronouns, or object pronouns, are attached to the end of the positive command, but immediately precede the verb when the command is negative.
For example:
- 'Levántate.' - 'Get up.' (singular, informal)
- 'Levantaos.' - 'Get up.' (plural, informal)
- 'No te levantes.' - 'Don't get up.' (singular, informal)
- 'No os levantéis.' - 'Don't get up.' (plural, informal)
Here are some imperative forms - singular and plural, positive and negative.
| Singular (tú) positive and negative | Plural (vosotros) positive and negative | English translation |
cierra no cierres | cerrad no cerréis | close don’t close |
colorea no colorees | coloread no coloréis | colour in don’t colour in |
dibuja no dibujes | dibujad no dibujéis | draw don’t draw |
dame no me des | dadme no me deis | give me don’t give me |
escucha no escuches | escuchad no escuchéis | listen don’t listen |
mira no mires | mirad no miréis | look at don’t look at |
abre no abras | abrid no abráis | open don’t open |
ponte* no te pongas | poneos no os pongéis | put on (clothes) don’t put on |
pon* no pongas | poned no pongáis | put, place don’t put, place |
enseña no enseñes | enseñad no enseñéis | show don’t show |
enséñame no me enseñes | enseñadme no me enseñéis | show me don’t show me |
siéntate no te sientes | sentaos no os sentéis | sit down don’t sit down |
levántate no te levantes | levantaos no os levantéis | stand up don’t stand up |
quítate no te quites | quitaos no os quitéis | take off (articles, such as outdoor clothes) don’t take off |
dime* no me digas | decidme no me digáis | tell me don’t tell me |
escribe no escribas | escribid no escribáis | write don’t write |
*This is an irregular form of the tú command.
Some other useful classroom commands
In the classroom, you might also say:
'¡Vamonos!' - 'Let’s go.'
'¡Silencio, por favor!' - 'Quiet, please!'