A-2 Grammar

Informal Commands in Spanish: A2 Grammar Guide

By SpanishGram

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Key Takeaways

  • Master the conjugation rules for affirmative and negative tú commands
  • Learn how to form informal commands with regular and irregular verbs
  • Understand when to use tú commands with friends, family, and children
  • Practice giving instructions, advice, and making requests informally
  • Learn pronoun placement with affirmative and negative commands

Give Instructions Like a Native Speaker

Tú commands are how you give instructions, make requests, or offer advice to someone you address as “tú” (a friend, family member, or peer). Mastering these commands will help you speak more naturally in everyday situations, from cooking with friends to giving directions.

Affirmative Tú Commands (Mandatos Afirmativos de Tú)

Table: Regular Affirmative Commands – Simple and direct

Verb TypeRuleExampleCommandTranslation
-AR VerbsUse 3rd person singular presenthablar → hablaHabla más despacio.Speak more slowly.
-ER VerbsUse 3rd person singular presentcomer → comeCome tus verduras.Eat your vegetables.
-IR VerbsUse 3rd person singular presentvivir → viveVive tu vida.Live your life.
Table: Regular Affirmative Commands in Spanish – Simple and direct

💡 Grammar Tip: For regular verbs, the affirmative tú command is identical to the él/ella form of the present tense. “He speaks” = “habla” → “You, speak!” = “¡Habla!”

Common Irregular Affirmative Commands

InfinitiveCommandExample SentenceTranslation
DecirdiDi la verdad.Tell the truth.
HacerhazHaz tu tarea.Do your homework.
IrveVe a la tienda.Go to the store.
PonerponPon la mesa.Set the table.
SalirsalSal ahora.Leave now.
SerséSé amable.Be kind.
TenertenTen cuidado.Be careful.
VenirvenVen aquí.Come here.
Table: Essential Irregular Affirmative Commands in Spanish – Must-know verbs

🔍 Grammar Focus: Remember the acronym DISHES for the main irregular affirmative commands: Decir, Ir, Ser, Hacer, Estar, Saber (but note: estar → está, saber → sabe – these are regular in form but included in the acronym).

💻 Practice Conjugations Live! Use our Spanish Verb Conjugation Tool to practice command forms with any verb.

Negative Tú Commands (Mandatos Negativos de Tú)

Verb TypeRuleExampleCommandTranslation
-AR VerbsUse -es endinghablar → hablesNo hables tan rápido.Don’t speak so fast.
-ER VerbsUse -as endingcomer → comasNo comas eso.Don’t eat that.
-IR VerbsUse -as endingvivir → vivasNo vivas con miedo.Don’t live in fear.
Table: Regular Negative Commands in Spanish – How to tell someone NOT to do something

💡 Grammar Tip: For negative commands, think of the yo form present tense, drop the -o, and add the opposite ending: -AR → -es, -ER/-IR → -as.

Stem-Changing Verbs in Commands

Affirmative Commands: Stem changes occur as in present tense:

  • pensar: piensa (Think!)
  • volver: vuelve (Return!)
  • pedir: pide (Ask for!)

Negative Commands: Stem changes occur in all forms:

  • pensar: no pienses (Don’t think!)
  • volver: no vuelvas (Don’t return!)
  • pedir: no pidas (Don’t ask for!)

Pronoun Placement with Commands

With Affirmative Commands: Attach pronouns to the end

  • “Tell me” → Dime
  • “Buy it” → Cómpralo
  • “Give it to me” → Dámelo

With Negative Commands: Place pronouns before the verb

  • “Don’t tell me” → No me digas
  • “Don’t buy it” → No lo compres
  • “Don’t give it to me” → No me lo des

Putting It All Together: Everyday Situations

Scenario 1: Cooking Together
Ana: Pon la mesa, por favor. Corta las verduras y echa sal.
Carlos: ¿Abre la botella de vino?
Ana: Sí, ábrela. Pero no bebas demasiado.
Carlos: No te preocupes. Solo toma un poco.

Translation:
Ana: Set the table, please. Cut the vegetables and add salt.
Carlos: Should I open the wine bottle?
Ana: Yes, open it. But don’t drink too much.
Carlos: Don’t worry. I’ll just have a little.

Scenario 2: Getting Ready to Go Out
Madre: Levántate ahora. Lávate la cara y vístete rápido.
Hijo: No me apures. Espérame un minuto.
Madre: No llegues tarde. Sé responsable.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  1. Using subject pronouns: Don’t say “Tú habla” – just “Habla.”
  2. Confusing affirmative/negative: “Habla” vs “No hables” – different forms!
  3. Wrong pronoun placement: “Dime” (correct) vs “Me di” (incorrect).
  4. Forgetting irregulars: “Hazlo” not “Hacelo.”
  5. Using formal commands informally: “Hable” (usted) vs “Habla” (tú).

Quick Reference Chart

SituationRuleExample
Affirmative RegularUse él/ella present formHabla, Come, Vive
Affirmative IrregularMemorize DISHES verbsDi, Haz, Ve, Pon…
Negative Regularyo form minus -o + opposite endingNo hables, No comas
Pronouns AffirmativeAttach to endDímelo
Pronouns NegativePlace before verbNo me lo digas
Stem ChangesSame as present tensePiensa, No pienses

Practice Exercise: Convert to Commands

Convert these sentences to informal commands:

  1. (Affirmative) You speak Spanish. → ________ español.
  2. (Negative) You don’t eat that. → No ________ eso.
  3. (Affirmative) You tell me. → ________.
  4. (Negative) You don’t go. → No ________.

Answers:

  1. Habla español.
  2. No comas eso.
  3. Dime.
  4. No vayas.

💻 Practice Conjugations Live! Use our Spanish Verb Conjugation Tool to practice command forms with any verb.

Ready to Give Commands?

Think you’ve mastered informal commands? Test your ability to give instructions and advice in Spanish!

Take Our Informal Commands Quiz ►

Frequently Asked Questions About Spanish Commands

For affirmative tú commands, use the él/ella/usted form of the present tense. For -ar verbs, drop the -r: habla (speak). For -er verbs, drop the -r: come (eat). For -ir verbs, drop the -r: vive (live). Example: “Habla más despacio” (Speak more slowly).

Eight common verbs have irregular affirmative tú commands: decir (di), hacer (haz), ir (ve), poner (pon), salir (sal), ser (sé), tener (ten), venir (ven). Example: “Di la verdad” (Tell the truth), “Haz tu tarea” (Do your homework), “Ven aquí” (Come here).

For negative tú commands, start with the yo form of the present tense, drop the -o, and add the opposite ending. For -ar verbs, add -es: No hables (Don’t speak). For -er and -ir verbs, add -as: No comas (Don’t eat), No vivas (Don’t live). Always put “no” before the verb.

Stem-changing verbs keep their stem changes in negative commands. Examples: No pienses (Don’t think – e to ie), No duermas (Don’t sleep – o to ue), No pidas (Don’t ask – e to i). The stem change applies to all negative commands.

For formal commands, use the same form as negative tú commands. For -ar verbs, add -e (usted) or -en (ustedes): Hable (Speak – usted), Hablen (Speak – ustedes). For -er and -ir verbs, add -a (usted) or -an (ustedes): Coma (Eat – usted), Coman (Eat – ustedes).

With affirmative commands, attach pronouns to the end of the verb: “Cómpramelo” (Buy it for me), “Dímelo” (Tell it to me). With negative commands, place pronouns before the verb: “No me lo compres” (Don’t buy it for me), “No me lo digas” (Don’t tell it to me).

For “let’s” commands, use the nosotros form of the present subjunctive. For -ar verbs: hablemos (let’s speak). For -er and -ir verbs: comamos (let’s eat), vivamos (let’s live). For negative, add “no” before: “No hablemos” (Let’s not speak).

The affirmative tú command for “ir” (to go) is “ve.” Example: “Ve a la tienda” (Go to the store). This is one of the eight irregular commands. The negative command is “No vayas” (Don’t go).

The affirmative tú command for “hacer” (to do/make) is “haz.” Example: “Haz la cama” (Make the bed). “Haz tu tarea” (Do your homework). The negative command is “No hagas” (Don’t do).

The affirmative tú command for “poner” (to put) is “pon.” Example: “Pon la mesa” (Set the table). “Pon tu chaqueta” (Put on your jacket). The negative command is “No pongas” (Don’t put).

The affirmative tú command for “tener” (to have) is “ten.” Example: “Ten cuidado” (Be careful). “Ten paciencia” (Have patience). The negative command is “No tengas” (Don’t have).

“No hables” means “Don’t speak.” This is a negative tú command. For formal usted, say “No hable.” For ustedes plural, say “No hablen.” The negative command always uses “no” before the verb.

“Vamos” means “Let’s go.” This is the nosotros command form of “ir” (to go). For negative, say “No vayamos” (Let’s not go). Another common phrase is “¡Vámonos!” which means “Let’s leave!”

Common mistakes include: using the infinitive for commands (hablar instead of habla), forgetting the accent on negative commands (no hables is correct, no hables needs accent), placing pronouns incorrectly (attaching to negative commands is wrong), confusing formal and informal commands, and forgetting irregular forms like “di” and “haz.”

The best ways to practice: take our Informal Commands Quiz and Formal Commands Quiz, practice giving instructions to friends and family in Spanish, write recipes using commands, memorize the 8 irregular affirmative commands, and use our Spanish Verb Conjugation Tool.

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