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ImperativeA2

Imperative (imperativo)

Commands, requests, and instructions — telling someone directly to do or not do something.

Usage

Commands, requests, and instructions — telling someone directly to do or not do something.

Rules

5

1Affirmative tú = 3rd-person present

For the affirmative tú command, use the present-tense he/she form.

  • Habla más despacio. — Speak more slowly.
  • Come la fruta. — Eat the fruit.
  • Duerme un poco. — Sleep a little.

2Irregular tú commands

A few tú commands are short and irregular: ten, ven, pon, sal, haz, di, sé, ve.

  • Haz la tarea. — Do the homework.from hacer
  • Di la verdad. — Tell the truth.from decir
  • Ten paciencia. — Be patient.from tener

3Negative uses subjunctive

Form negative commands with no plus the subjunctive form.

  • No hables tan rápido. — Don't speak so fast.
  • No comas eso. — Don't eat that.
  • No seas así. — Don't be like that.

4usted/ustedes and nosotros

Polite and let's-commands always use the subjunctive form, even affirmative.

  • Hable más alto, por favor. — Speak louder, please.usted
  • Hablemos de eso. — Let's talk about that.nosotros
  • No hagan ruido. — Don't make noise.ustedes

5Pronouns: attached or before

Attach pronouns to affirmative commands; place them before negative ones.

  • Dímelo. — Tell it to me.affirmative: attached
  • No me lo digas. — Don't tell it to me.negative: before

Examples

  • Ve a casa. — Go home.
  • No vayas sola. — Don't go alone.
  • Comamos juntos. — Let's eat together.
  • No estés triste. — Don't be sad.

Conjugate

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Test

19

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