Basic Commands (Affirmative Tú): Complete A1 Beginner’s Guide
◄ Back to A1 Grammar Hub | Practice with Basic Commands Quiz ►
Key Takeaways
- Master regular affirmative tú commands for -AR, -ER, -IR verbs
- Learn essential irregular commands for common verbs
- Understand when and how to use informal commands
- Practice with real-life scenarios and useful phrases
Introduction to Basic Commands
Affirmative tú commands are how you give friendly instructions, make requests, or offer advice in informal situations. Think of telling a friend “Wait here!” or “Eat your vegetables!” – these are the Spanish commands you’ll learn today. They’re perfect for daily interactions with people you know well.
Regular Command Formation
The Golden Rule:
Use the él/ella/usted form of the present tense
-AR Verbs → -a ending:
- hablar: habla (speak!)
- escuchar: escucha (listen!)
- trabajar: trabaja (work!)
-ER Verbs → -e ending:
- comer: come (eat!)
- beber: bebe (drink!)
- aprender: aprende (learn!)
-IR Verbs → -e ending:
- vivir: vive (live!)
- abrir: abre (open!)
- escribir: escribe (write!)
Need help with verb conjugations? Use our Spanish Verb Conjugation Tool ► to practice any verb in all tenses.
Essential Irregular Commands
Must-Memorize Irregulars:
- ser: sé (be!)
- ir: ve (go!)
- tener: ten (have!)
- venir: ven (come!)
- hacer: haz (do/make!)
- decir: di (say/tell!)
- poner: pon (put!)
- salir: sal (leave!)
Memory Trick:
Remember this phrase: “Vin Diesel has ten weapons, eh?”
- Vin (ven) – venir
- Die (di) – decir
- sel (sal) – salir
- has (haz) – hacer
- ten (ten) – tener
- wea (ve) – ir
- pons (pon) – poner
- eh (sé) – ser
Common Command Phrases for Daily Life
Around the House:
- “Limpia tu habitación.” (Clean your room.)
- “Abre la ventana.” (Open the window.)
- “Cierra la puerta.” (Close the door.)
- “Pon la mesa.” (Set the table.)
Social Situations:
- “Ven a mi fiesta.” (Come to my party.)
- “Trae algo de beber.” (Bring something to drink.)
- “Llama a tus amigos.” (Call your friends.)
- “Escucha esta canción.” (Listen to this song.)
Directions and Help:
- “Mira esto.” (Look at this.)
- “Espera aquí.” (Wait here.)
- “Ayuda a tu hermano.” (Help your brother.)
- “Explica el problema.” (Explain the problem.)
Adding Pronouns to Commands
Attach Pronouns to the End:
- “Dime la verdad.” (Tell me the truth.)
- “Hazlo ahora.” (Do it now.)
- “Escúchame.” (Listen to me.)
- “Dámelo.” (Give it to me.)
Add Accent for Pronunciation:
When adding pronouns, sometimes you need to add an accent to maintain the original stress:
- “habla” → “háblame” (speak to me)
- “prepara” → “prepáralo” (prepare it)
- “estudia” → “estúdialo” (study it)
Real-Life Usage Scenarios
Cooking Instructions:
- “Corta las verduras.” (Cut the vegetables.)
- “Añade sal.” (Add salt.)
- “Mezcla los ingredientes.” (Mix the ingredients.)
- “Prueba la sopa.” (Taste the soup.)
Study and Work:
- “Estudia para el examen.” (Study for the exam.)
- “Lee el libro.” (Read the book.)
- “Practica español.” (Practice Spanish.)
- “Termina tu trabajo.” (Finish your work.)
Health and Safety:
- “Cuida tu salud.” (Take care of your health.)
- “Descansa un poco.” (Rest a bit.)
- “Ten cuidado.” (Be careful.)
- “Come verduras.” (Eat vegetables.)
Making Commands More Polite
Add “por favor”:
- “Escucha, por favor.” (Listen, please.)
- “Ayúdame, por favor.” (Help me, please.)
Use Question Form:
- “¿Puedes ayudarme?” (Can you help me?)
- “¿Podrías cerrar la ventana?” (Could you close the window?)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don’t use the tú form – Use él/ella form, not “tú hablas” → “habla”
- Don’t forget the irregulars – Practice the 8 essential irregular commands
- Don’t misplace pronouns – Attach to affirmative commands: “dime”
- Don’t use commands with strangers – Use usted form for formal situations
Quick Reference Chart
| Verb Type | Command Ending | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| -AR verbs | -a | habla, escucha, trabaja |
| -ER verbs | -e | come, bebe, aprende |
| -IR verbs | -e | vive, abre, escribe |
| Irregular | Special forms | sé, ve, ten, ven, haz, di, pon, sal |
Spanish Learning Tools
Practice Made Easy: Use our Spanish Verb Conjugation Tool ► for instant conjugation help with any verb in all tenses.
Continue Learning: Explore more A1 Grammar Guides ► for complete beginner lessons.
Ready to Practice?
Now that you understand affirmative tú commands, it’s time to test your knowledge!
Need conjugation practice? Use our Spanish Verb Conjugation Tool ► for any verb.
Take our Basic Commands Quiz ► to practice regular and irregular commands, pronoun placement, and real-life usage.
What’s Next in Your A1 Spanish Journey?
◄ Ir + a Infinitive | Present Progressive ►
Need More Detailed Information?
- For advanced usage: Complete Commands Guide ►
- For exam preparation: DELE A1 Commands Guide ►
Remember: Commands are essential for daily communication. Practice with friends and family, and soon you’ll be giving instructions in Spanish naturally and confidently!
