Formal Commands in Spanish: A2 Grammar Guide
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Key Takeaways
- Master the conjugation rules for formal commands (usted/ustedes)
- Learn how to form both affirmative and negative formal commands
- Understand when to use formal vs. informal commands in different situations
- Practice giving polite instructions, making requests, and offering suggestions
- Learn pronoun placement with formal commands in different contexts
Communicate with Respect and Politeness
Formal commands are essential for showing respect when speaking to strangers, elders, professionals, or anyone you address as “usted” or “ustedes.” Whether you’re in a business meeting, speaking with customer service, or showing respect to someone, these commands help you communicate politely and effectively in formal situations.
When to Use Formal Commands (Cuándo Usarlos)
Use formal commands for:
- ✅ Respectful Requests: Speaking to someone older or in authority
- ✅ Professional Settings: Business meetings, customer service, formal events
- ✅ Strangers: People you don’t know well
- ✅ Multiple People: Using “ustedes” for groups (used in most Spanish-speaking countries)
Forming Formal Commands (Cómo Formar los Mandatos Formales)
| Verb Type | Usted Rule | Ustedes Rule | Example (Usted) | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -AR Verbs | Use -e ending | Use -en ending | Hable más despacio. | Speak more slowly. |
| -ER Verbs | Use -a ending | Use -an ending | Coma su comida. | Eat your food. |
| -IR Verbs | Use -a ending | Use -an ending | Viva su vida. | Live your life. |
💡 Grammar Tip: For usted, take the yo form present tense, drop the -o, and add the opposite ending. For ustedes, add -n to the usted form.
Affirmative vs. Negative Formal Commands
The same forms work for both affirmative and negative commands:
| Situation | Usted Command | Ustedes Command |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Hable aquí. (Speak here.) | Hablen aquí. (Speak here.) |
| Negative | No hable aquí. (Don’t speak here.) | No hablen aquí. (Don’t speak here.) |
Common Irregular Formal Commands
| Infinitive | Usted Command | Ustedes Command | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dar | dé | den | Dé me el documento. (Give me the document.) |
| Estar | esté | estén | Esté tranquilo. (Be calm.) |
| Ir | vaya | vayan | Vaya a la oficina. (Go to the office.) |
| Saber | sepa | sepan | Sepa que lo apreciamos. (Know that we appreciate you.) |
| Ser | sea | sean | Sea puntual. (Be punctual.) |
| Haber | haya | hayan | Haya silencio. (Let there be silence.) |
🔍 Grammar Focus: Notice that many irregular formal commands look similar to the present subjunctive forms. This is because they follow the same conjugation patterns!
Stem-Changing and Spelling Change Verbs
Stem-changing verbs maintain their changes in formal commands:
- pensar: Piense (Think)
- volver: Vuelva (Return)
- pedir: Pida (Ask for)
Spelling change verbs maintain their changes:
- buscar: Busque (Look for)
- llegar: Llegue (Arrive)
- proteger: Proteja (Protect)
Pronoun Placement with Formal Commands
With Affirmative Commands: Attach pronouns to the end
- “Tell me” → Dígame
- “Buy it” → Cómprelo
- “Give it to me” → Démelo
With Negative Commands: Place pronouns before the verb
- “Don’t tell me” → No me diga
- “Don’t buy it” → No lo compre
- “Don’t give it to me” → No me lo dé
Putting It All Together: Real-World Scenarios
Scenario 1: Business Meeting
Jefe: Por favor, revise estos documentos. Envíeme un email con sus comentarios.
Empleado: Claro, señor. ¿Firme aquí?
Jefe: Sí, firme en la línea punteada. No se preocupe por los detalles.
Translation:
Boss: Please review these documents. Send me an email with your comments.
Employee: Of course, sir. Should I sign here?
Boss: Yes, sign on the dotted line. Don’t worry about the details.
Scenario 2: Doctor’s Office
Doctor: Siéntese aquí, por favor. Abra la boca. Respire profundamente.
Paciente: ¿Descanse esta semana?
Doctor: Sí, descanse y tome esta medicina. No haga ejercicio.
Formal vs. Informal Commands: Quick Comparison
| Situation | Informal (Tú) | Formal (Usted) |
|---|---|---|
| Friend | Habla más despacio. | (Not appropriate) |
| Stranger on street | (Not appropriate) | Hable más despacio. |
| Your child | Come tu comida. | (Not appropriate) |
| Restaurant server | (Not appropriate) | Traiga la cuenta, por favor. |
| Business colleague | (Depends on relationship) | Envíe el reporte. |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using tú commands formally: Always use usted/ustedes with strangers and professionals.
- Wrong pronoun placement: “Dígame” not “Me diga” for affirmative commands.
- Forgetting accent marks: “Dé” (give) vs “de” (of/preposition).
- Mixing up irregulars: “Vaya” not “Vé” for formal commands.
- Using subject pronouns: Don’t say “Usted hable” – just “Hable.”
Quick Reference Chart
| Situation | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Usted Affirmative | Opposite ending + no subject | Hable, Coma, Viva |
| Ustedes Affirmative | Add -n to usted form | Hablen, Coman, Vivan |
| Negative Commands | Same form + “no” | No hable, No coman |
| Pronouns Affirmative | Attach to end | Dígame, Cómprelo |
| Pronouns Negative | Place before verb | No me diga, No lo compre |
| Irregulars | Memorize common verbs | Dé, Esté, Vaya, Sepa, Sea |
Practice Exercise: Convert to Formal Commands
Convert these sentences to formal commands:
- (Affirmative) Speak English here. → ________ inglés aquí.
- (Negative) Don’t wait for me. → No ________ por mí.
- (Affirmative) Give me the book. → ________ el libro.
- (Negative) Don’t be late. → No ________ tarde.
Answers:
- Hable inglés aquí.
- No espere por mí.
- Déme el libro.
- No llegue tarde.
💻 Practice Conjugations Live! Use our Spanish Verb Conjugation Tool to practice formal commands with any verb.
Ready to Communicate Formally?
Think you’ve mastered formal commands? Test your ability to give polite instructions in Spanish!
Take Our Formal Commands Quiz ►
