Commands are used to give orders and instructions, or to make requests and recommendations. They can be affirmative: ¡Ven aquí! meaning Come here!, negative: No tires basura meaning Do not throw garbage, formal: Pase usted meaning Come in, or informal: Abre la ventana meaning Open the window. Do you want to show who’s the boss when giving commands? Keep reading!
When are commands used in Spanish?
Use commands (also known as the imperative) to give orders, instructions, to make requests, and to give suggestions or advice. For example:
- Orders¡Siéntate!Translation: Sit down!
- InstructionsColoca las baterías.Translation: Put on (install) the batteries.
- Informal requestsAbre la ventana por favor.Translation: Open the window please.
- Suggestions or adviceCome frutas y verduras.Translation: Eat fruits and vegetables.
How to form commands in Spanish?
Commands are formed differently depending on who you address. Commands can address “you” singular (formal and informal), “you all” (ustedes or vosotros), or “we” (nosotros). In some cases, commands have one form if they are affirmative and another form if they are negative, for example:
- Affirmative¡Canta!Translation: Sing!
- Negative¡No cantes!Translation: Don’t sing!
Subject pronouns are not necessary when using commands:
- Lava el coche.Translation: (You) Wash the car.
- Laven los platos.Translation: (You all) wash the dishes.
However, subject pronouns can be used in two cases: for emphasis or as a form of politeness.
- EmphasisLava el coche tú.Translation: (YOU) Wash the car.
- PolitenessAbra usted la puerta.Translation: (Formal YOU) Open the door.
Object pronouns and reflexive pronouns are placed either attached to the command or before the verb depending on whether the command is affirmative or negative:
Affirmative commands - pronouns attach to the command:
direct object pronounindirect object pronounreflexive pronounDisfrútalo.Translation: Enjoy it.Dile.Translation: Tell him/her.Lávate las manos.Translation: Wash your hands.Lávatelas.Translation: Wash them.Negative commands - pronouns go before the verb:
negationreflexive pronoundirect object pronounNo te laves las manos.Translation: Don’t wash your hands.No te las laves.Translation: Don’t wash them.
Click the link, to find further information on how to use commands with object and reflexive pronouns.
Now let’s get into the details. ¡A leer! meaning Let’s read!
Informal commands
In everyday interactions, the use of informal commands — those that refer to the tú pronoun — are more common. Their use shows familiarity and belonging to a group or community. Informal commands (aka tú commands) have one form if they are affirmative and another form if they are negative.
Affirmative
Regular verbs
These verbs have the same form as the él, ella, usted conjugation in the present tense: canta meaning sing, come meaning eat, escribe meaning write. Compare:
Present tense of él, ella, usted
él cantaTranslation: he singsCommand
¡Canta!Translation: (you) Sing!Irregular verbs
There are a few high frequency verbs that have irregular forms and are one-syllable: ven meaning come, haz meaning do, etc.
Find the complete list of one-syllable Spanish commands and examples. Also, check out a strategy for a fun way to remember these forms.
Negative
Negative tú commands have a different form than the affirmative. Here’s how to form them.
Regular verbs
In order to form the negative tú command, take the verb form of tú in the present indicative and follow these rules:
Verb Group -ar verbs -er / -ir verbs Rule Replace -a with -e
Replace -e/i with -a
Example Present bailas meaning you dance
bebes meaning you drink
Neg. tú Command no bailes meaning don't dance!
no bebas meaning don't drink!
Irregular verbs
Some irregular verbs are formed using the yo form in the present tense.
Rule: Drop the -o and add the ending -as.
salgo meaning I go out → no salgas meaning don’t go out
Find more Spanish irregular verbs here.
Formal commands
Formal commands (aka usted commands) refer to the usted pronoun and are used in formal contexts with people that represent an authority: a professor, a boss, a doctor, etc. Oftentimes, these people come with a title, such as: señor / señora Rodríguez meaning Mr. / Mrs. Rodríguez, profesor Ramírez meaning professor Ramírez, etc. Formal commands are also commonly used with elder people. However, in some countries the use of the usted commands is less frequent with younger generations.
To learn more about Spanish subject pronouns including the difference between tú and usted, check out our post!
Usted commands have the same forms for affirmative and negative. Let’s see how they are formed.
Regular verbs
Take the stem of the yo form in the present, and change the last letter according to the following rule:
Verb Group -ar verbs -er / -ir verbs Rule Replace -o with -e
Replace -o with -a
Example Present canto meaning I sing
escribo meaning I write
Command usted cante meaning sing!
no cante meaning don't sing!
escriba meaning write!
(no) escriba meaning don't write!
Irregular verbs
The previous rule also works for irregular verbs, except for a few exceptions like yo soy meaning I am → sea meaning you are and yo doy meaning I give → dé meaning you give. Find the complete list of irregular verbs here.
‘Ustedes’ commands
Ustedes commands are used as the plural form for tú meaning you and vos meaning you in all of Latin America when addressing more than one person. They have the same forms in the affirmative and negative.
Regular verbs
To form these commands, use the form of ustedes in the present and then follow the same rule in affirmative and negative forms:
Verb Group -ar verbs -er / -ir verbs Rule Replace -a with -e
Replace -e/i with -a
Example Present cantan meaning you all sing
comen meaning you all eat
Command ustedes canten meaning sing!
no canten meaning don't sing!
coman meaning eat!
no coman meaning don't eat!
Irregular verbs
Use the same forms as the usted command but add an -n at the end:
Usted diga la verdad. → Ustedes digan la verdad.Translation: You tell the truth. → You (all) tell the truth.
The same rule applies to the negative. Find a more complete list here.
‘Vosotros’ commands
Vosotros commands are only used in Spain. They are equivalent to the ustedes commands in Latin America — that is, “you” plural. These have different forms in the affirmative and negative.
Affirmative
Affirmative vosotros commands are formed by dropping the -r in the infinitive and replacing it with -d. Here are some examples with all three ending types:
- ar verbcantadTranslation: sing
- er verbcomedTranslation: eat
- ir verbescribidTranslation: write
Negative
They are formed by dropping the -o ending of the conjugation of yo in the present tense and adding the corresponding endings.
| -ar verbs | -er / -ir verbs | |
|---|---|---|
Rule | Drop -o and add -éis | Drop -o and add -áis |
Example | Present (yo) canto Translation: I sing ⇣ Negative command no cantéis Translation: don’t sing | Present (yo) como Translation: I eat ⇣ Negative command no comáis Translation: don’t eat |
‘Nosotros’ commands
There is a type of command where speakers include themselves. These are the nosotros commands. They are used to make invitations or to do something together, and they're the equivalent of “let’s” in English. There’s no change when the command is negative.
Regular verbs
Use the conjugation of the nosotros form in the present and replace one letter:
-ar verbs -er / -ir verbs Rule
Replace -a with -e
Replace -e/i with -a
Example
Present (nosotros)bailasTranslation: you dance⇣
Command(no) bailemosTranslation: let’s (not) dancePresent (nosotros)comemosTranslation: we drink⇣
Command(no) comamosTranslation: let’s (not) eatPresent (nosotros)escribimosTranslation: we write⇣
Command(no) escribamosTranslation: let’s (not) writeIrregular verbs
Irregular nosotros commands are formed with the conjugation of yo in the present.
Rule: Drop the -o and replace with -amos in both affirmative and negative commands.
salgo meaning I go out → no salgamos hoy meaning let’s not go out today
Find more irregular conjugations here.
To sum up
Commands are used when giving orders, instructions, requests, or recommendations.
The singular “you” form can be formal (usted) or informal ( tú or vos).
The forms for tú and vosotros have one form in the negative and another in the affirmative.
Object and reflexive pronouns go in front of the verb if the command is negative or attached to the command if affirmative.
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