Imperative

The imperative mood is used to give commands, make requests, and offer suggestions. It allows speakers to address someone directly and tell them what to do or not do. This article covers both the affirmative and negative imperatives, addresses informal and formal commands, and shows how to incorporate object pronouns and reflexive pronouns.

Imperatives express direct orders, requests, or advice:

These examples show that the speaker wants immediate action from the listener. Sometimes the imperative is used to offer encouragement or give instructions for a procedure. For instance, in a recipe: “Mix the ingredients and bake at 180°C for 30 minutes.”

If the concept of giving an order or making a request is unclear:

Think of a situation where you want your friend to do something right away. You might say, “Open the door,” instead of, “You should open the door.” The second sentence is more suggestive, whereas the first is direct. That directness is what the imperative conveys.

Spanish imperatives change according to number (singular or plural) and formality (informal tú / vosotros and formal usted / ustedes).

#Informal Singular (Tú)

Affirmative Tú Commands

Usually derived from the third-person singular (él/ella/usted) of the present indicative.

There are irregular verbs in the affirmative tú form:

These irregular forms should be memorized because they do not follow the standard pattern.

Negative Tú Commands

Negative tú commands are formed using the subjunctive. For -ar verbs, the ending is -es; for -er and -ir verbs, the ending is -as.

Negative commands often feel more direct. “No hables” is a very clear command to stop talking.

#Formal Singular (Usted) and Plural (Ustedes)

Formal commands use the subjunctive form in both affirmative and negative sentences.

When using object pronouns (direct and indirect) or reflexive pronouns with imperatives, their position changes depending on whether the command is affirmative or negative.

Affirmative commands

Pronouns are attached to the end of the verb.

If it feels strange to attach pronouns at the end, imagine it as forming a single word that includes the verb and the object. “Levántate” is literally “Rise yourself,” but we don’t separate “rise” and “yourself.”

Negative commands

Pronouns come before the verb and after the word no.

Sometimes an accent mark is needed when adding a pronoun to maintain the original stress.

Notice how the first command, Deja, does not require a written accent, but when the pronoun is attached, the stress shifts. Placing an accent keeps the sound consistent with the original form.

#1. “Let’s” Commands

The nosotros form of the subjunctive can be used to say “Let’s…”

#2. Irregular Nosotros Form

Some irregular verbs follow the irregular pattern in the present subjunctive:

• Ir → “vamos” in the affirmative, but “no vayamos” in the negative.

1. Using the wrong person: Mixing tú and usted forms. Pay attention to whether you need a formal or informal tone.

2. Forgetting pronoun placement: Remember that pronouns are attached to affirmative commands, but go before the verb in negative commands.

3. Not adding accents: This can change the meaning or make the word difficult to read.

The Spanish imperative (command form) has different versions depending on who you're talking to:

1. Informal Commands (tú) - When talking to a friend:

• For positive commands: Use the third-person present form

  • "Habla" (Speak)

  • "Come" (Eat)

• For negative commands: Use the subjunctive

  • "No hables" (Don't speak)

  • "No comas" (Don't eat)

2. Formal Commands (usted/ustedes) - When being polite or talking to multiple people:

• Always use the subjunctive form

• Single person (usted):

  • "Hable, por favor" (Please speak)

  • "No hable" (Don't speak)

• Multiple people (ustedes):

  • "Hablen, por favor" (Please speak)

  • "No hablen" (Don't speak)

3. Group Commands (vosotros) - Used in Spain only:

• For positive commands: Remove -r from infinitive and add -d

  • Hablar → "Hablad" (Speak)

• For negative commands: Use vosotros subjunctive

  • "No habléis" (Don't speak)

4. "Let's" Commands (nosotros):

• Use the subjunctive form

  • "Hablemos" (Let's talk)

• Special case: "ir" (to go)

  • "Vamos" (Let's go)

  • "No vayamos" (Let's not go)

Practice these forms one at a time until they become natural. Start with informal commands (tú) since they're most common in everyday speech.