presente imperativo (imperative, command, exhortation, present
imperative)
For commanding or encouraging immediate action. Only the tú
and vosotros forms for positive commands are different from
the present subjunctive:
tú form – same as usted 3rd person present –
the formality when used to a familiar conveys importance
vosotros form – change the r of the infinitive
to d; if the verb is reflexive the d is dropped, e.g.,
sentaos for sentarse.
(Not used in Latin America; also in Spain may stay as r.)
So:
tomar: toma, tomad
comer: come, comed
decidir: decide, decidid
e.g.,
Espera aquí – (you, fam.) wait here
¡Mirad la cuenta! – look (you, fam pl.) at the bill!
Common irregular tú forms (the vosotros form of these is regular
r → d):
| decir – di
| hacer – haz
| ir – ve
| poner – pon
|
| salir – sal
| ser – sé
| tener – ten
| venir – ven
|
e.g.,
Sé bueno – be good
¡Ten cuidado! – take care!
There are also the formal
usted and
ustedes forms, and
a
nosotros/
as form (used for
Let’s ...); these use
the subjunctive, as do all negative imperatives. In full:
|
| -ar
| -er
| -ir
|
|
| (no yo form)
|
| tú
| positive
| -a
| -e
| -e
| = present indicative 3rd person (usted)
|
| negative
| -es
| -as
| -as
| present subjunctive
|
| usted
| -e
| -a
| -a
| present subjunctive
|
| nosotros/as
| -emos
| -amos
| -amos
| present subjunctive
|
| vosotros/as
| positive
| -ad
| -ed
| -íd
| = infinitive with r replaced by d
|
| negative
| -éis
| -áis
| -áis
| present subjunctive
|
| ustedes
| -en
| -an
| an
| present subjunctive
|
e.g., for positive imperatives:
Siga todo recto (usted) – Carry straight on
Comamos – Let’s eat
Giren a la derecha (ustedes) – (you all) Turn right
and for negative imperatives:
¡No me molestes! – don’t disturb me! (‘Don’t even think
of disturbing me!’)
¡No comas! – don’t eat!
Pronouns (these examples use object pronouns, for others, see pronouns table):
positive imperative: pronoun goes after the verb:
¡Dígame! – (usted) tell me!
Pongáme un kilo de patatas – give me (put me) a kilo of
potatoes
negative imperative: pronoun goes before the verb:
¡No me molestes! – don’t disturb me!
¡No me lo mandes! – don’t send it to me!
Imperatives can also be conveyed as ‘you must...’ in various forms.
e.g.:
Descanse una semana – Rest for a week (imperative usted)
Debe descansar una semana – You have to rest for a week
(usted must to rest ...)
Tiene que descansar una semana – You must rest for a week
(usted have to rest...)