What Is the Imperative Mood?
The imperative mood is a verb form we use to give commands, make requests, or offer suggestions directed at someone. This form changes based on who you’re addressing. The most common forms are "tú" (informal singular), "usted" (formal singular), "ustedes" (plural) and "nosotros" (let's…).
There are also "vos" commands (informal singular, used in some Latin American countries) and "vosotros" commands (informal plural, used in Spain).
Regular Verbs
Here’s how to form the most common forms of commands with regular verbs:
|
Person |
Hablar (to speak) |
Comer (to eat) |
Escribir (to write) |
|
tú (affirmative) |
habla |
come |
escribe |
|
tú (negative) |
no hables |
no comas |
no escribas |
|
usted |
hable |
coma |
escriba |
|
ustedes |
hablen |
coman |
escriban |
|
nosotros |
hablemos |
comamos |
escribamos |
For example:
• Por favor, hable más despacio. (Please speak more slowly.)
• ¡No comas tan rápido! (Don’t eat so fast!)
• Escriban sus nombres en el formulario. (Write your names on the form.)
• Comamos temprano. (Let’s eat early.)
Irregular Verbs
Some verbs have irregular forms, especially in the "tú" affirmative form:
|
Person |
Decir (to say, tell) |
Hacer (to do, make) |
Ir (to go) |
Ser (to be) |
|
tú (affirmative) |
di |
haz |
ve |
sé |
|
tú (negative) |
no digas |
no hagas |
no vayas |
no seas |
|
usted |
diga |
haga |
vaya |
sea |
|
ustedes |
digan |
hagan |
vayan |
sean |
|
nosotros |
digamos |
hagamos |
vayamos / vamos |
seamos |
For example:
• Haz la tarea. (Do the homework.)
• No vayan tan lejos. (Don’t go too far.)
• Digan la verdad. (Tell the truth.)
• Seamos amables. (Let’s be nice.)
Commands with Reflexive Verbs
When making affirmative commands with reflexive verbs, the reflexive pronoun goes attached to the end of the command. For example:
• Siéntate aquí. (Sit here.)
• Pónganse los abrigos. (Put your coats on.)
• Levantémonos temprano. (Let’s get up early.)
For negative commands with reflexive verbs, the reflexive pronoun goes before the command. For example:
• No te sientes ahí, está mojado. (Don’t sit there, it’s wet.)
• No se pongan sus abrigos todavía. (Don’t put your coats on yet.)
• No nos levantemos temprano. (Let's not get up early.)
Commands with Object Pronouns
The structure for making commands with direct and indirect object pronouns is the same as for reflexive pronouns. For affirmative commands, attach pronouns to the end of the verb:
• Haz el ejercicio. (Do the homework.) → Hazlo. (Do it.)
• Cierre la puerta. (Close the door.) → Ciérrela. (Close it.)
For negative commands, place pronouns before the verb:
• No hagas el ejercicio. (Do the homework.) → No lo hagas. (Don’t do it.)
• No cierre la puerta. → No la cierre. (Don’t close it.)
When the command involves multiple pronouns, the indirect object pronoun (or the reflexive pronoun) goes first, followed by the direct object pronoun:
• Envíenme el documento. (Send me the document.) → Envíenmelo. (Send it to me.)
• No me envíen el documento. (Don’t send me the document.) → No me lo envíen. (Don’t send it to me.)
