Learning how to give commands in Spanish is essential for effective communication. The imperative mood allows you to tell someone to do something, and it varies significantly based on formality, number of people, and whether the command is affirmative or negative. This comprehensive guide will walk you through all the forms of Spanish commands with clear charts, examples, and practical tips.
What is the Imperative Mood?
The imperative mood is a verb form used to give commands, make requests, or offer invitations. In Spanish, commands change depending on:
- Who you’re addressing (tú, usted, vosotros, ustedes, nosotros)
- Whether the command is affirmative or negative
- The level of formality required
Complete Spanish Commands Reference Chart
Regular Verb Command Conjugations – All Forms
| Person/Form | Affirmative | Negative | English Equivalent | Usage Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tú (informal singular) | habla come vive | no hables no comas no vivas | Speak! Eat! Live! | Friends, family, children |
| Usted (formal singular) | hable coma viva | no hable no coma no viva | Speak Eat Live | Strangers, elders, superiors |
| Nosotros (“let’s”) | hablemos comamos vivamos | no hablemos no comamos no vivamos | Let’s speak Let’s eat Let’s live | Including yourself in the action |
| Vosotros (informal plural – Spain) | hablad comed vivid | no habléis no comáis no viváis | Speak (you all) Eat (you all) Live (you all) | Informal groups in Spain |
| Ustedes (formal/general plural) | hablen coman vivan | no hablen no coman no vivan | Speak (you all) Eat (you all) Live (you all) | Formal groups or all of Latin America |
Detailed Breakdown by Command Type
Tú Commands (Informal Singular)
Affirmative Rule: Use the third-person singular present indicative
Negative Rule: Use the present subjunctive tú form
Examples:
- Affirmative: Habla más despacio. (Speak more slowly.)
- Negative: No hables con la boca llena. (Don’t speak with your mouth full.)
- Affirmative: Come tus verduras. (Eat your vegetables.)
- Negative: No comas eso. (Don’t eat that.)
Irregular Affirmative Tú Commands
| Verb | Command | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| decir | di | Di la verdad siempre. (Always tell the truth.) |
| hacer | haz | Haz tu cama por la mañana. (Make your bed in the morning.) |
| ir | ve | Ve al mercado y compra pan. (Go to the market and buy bread.) |
| poner | pon | Pon la mesa para la cena. (Set the table for dinner.) |
| salir | sal | Sal temprano hoy. (Leave early today.) |
| ser | sé | Sé amable con todos. (Be kind to everyone.) |
| tener | ten | Ten cuidado al cruzar la calle. (Be careful crossing the street.) |
| venir | ven | Ven aquí inmediatamente. (Come here immediately.) |
Usted Commands (Formal Singular)
Rule: Use the present subjunctive usted form for both affirmative and negative
Examples:
- Affirmative: Hable más despacio, señor. (Speak more slowly, sir.)
- Negative: No firme el documento todavía. (Don’t sign the document yet.)
- Affirmative: Espere un momento, por favor. (Wait a moment, please.)
Nosotros Commands (“Let’s” Commands)
Rule: Use the present subjunctive nosotros form
Examples:
- Affirmative: Hablemos del problema juntos. (Let’s talk about the problem together.)
- Negative: No comamos en este restaurante. (Let’s not eat at this restaurant.)
- Affirmative: Salgamos temprano hoy. (Let’s leave early today.)
Vosotros vs Ustedes Commands Comparison
| Situation | Vosotros Command | Ustedes Command | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Informal group in Spain | Hablad más alto | – | Speak louder (you all) |
| Formal group in Spain | – | Hablen con el director | Speak with the director |
| Any group in Latin America | – | Hablen más despacio | Speak more slowly |
| Friends going out | Venid con nosotros | – | Come with us |
| Mixed formality group | – | Vengan con nosotros | Come with us |
Examples:
- Vosotros: Venid a la fiesta esta noche, chicos. (Come to the party tonight, guys.)
- Ustedes: Vengan a la reunión a las tres, por favor. (Come to the meeting at three, please.)
Commands with Pronouns – Complete Chart
Pronoun Placement Rules
| Command Type | Pronoun Position | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affirmative Tú | Attached to verb | Díme | Tell me |
| Negative Tú | Before verb | No me digas | Don’t tell me |
| Affirmative Usted | Attached to verb | Dígame | Tell me |
| Negative Usted | Before verb | No me diga | Don’t tell me |
| Affirmative Nosotros | Attached to verb | Digámonos | Let’s tell each other |
| Negative Nosotros | Before verb | No nos digamos | Let’s not tell each other |
| Affirmative Vosotros | Attached to verb (final -d drops) | Decidme | Tell me |
| Negative Vosotros | Before verb | No me digáis | Don’t tell me |
| Affirmative Ustedes | Attached to verb | Díganme | Tell me |
| Negative Ustedes | Before verb | No me digan | Don’t tell me |
Stem-Changing Verbs in Commands
Complete Stem Change Command Chart
| Verb Type | Infinitive | Tú Affirmative | Tú Negative | Usted Command | Nosotros Command |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E→IE | pensar | piensa | no pienses | piense | pensemos |
| E→IE | cerrar | cierra | no cierres | cierre | cerremos |
| O→UE | volver | vuelve | no vuelvas | vuelva | volvamos |
| O→UE | dormir | duerme | no duermas | duerma | durmamos |
| E→I | pedir | pide | no pidas | pida | pidamos |
| E→I | servir | sirve | no sirvas | sirva | sirvamos |
Important Note: Notice that nosotros commands sometimes keep the stem change (durmamos) and sometimes don’t (pensemos) – this is a key detail to memorize!
Spelling Change Verbs in Commands
Spelling Change Command Chart
| Change Type | Infinitive | Usted Command | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| -car → -que | buscar | busque | Busque el documento en el archivo. |
| -gar → -gue | llegar | llegue | Llegue temprano a la reunión. |
| -zar → -ce | empezar | empiece | Empiece el proyecto hoy mismo. |
| -ger → -ja | proteger | proteja | Proteja a los niños del sol. |
| -guir → -ga | seguir | siga | Siga las instrucciones cuidadosamente. |
Regional Variations Quick Reference
| Region | Informal Singular | Informal Plural | Formal Singular | Formal Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | tú | vosotros | usted | ustedes |
| Mexico | tú | ustedes | usted | ustedes |
| Argentina | vos | ustedes | usted | ustedes |
| Most of Latin America | tú | ustedes | usted | ustedes |
Politeness Scale for Commands
| Most Polite → Least Polite | Example | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Could you…? (Question) | ¿Podría hablar más despacio? | Very formal situations |
| Please + Usted command | Hable más despacio, por favor. | Standard formal requests |
| Usted command | Hable más despacio. | Direct but respectful |
| Please + Tú command | Habla más despacio, por favor. | Friendly but polite |
| Tú command | Habla más despacio. | Casual with friends/family |
| Vosotros command | Hablad más despacio. | Very casual (Spain only) |
Practice What You’ve Learned!
Ready to test your command of Spanish commands?
- 🧠 Take Our Spanish Commands Regular verbs Quiz – Practice with 20+ interactive questions
- 🧠 Take Our Spanish Commands Irregular verbs Quiz – Practice with 20+ interactive questions
- 🛠️ Use Our Conjugation Tool – Get instant conjugations for any verb
Remember: the key to mastering commands is understanding the relationship between speaker and listener. With practice, choosing the right command form will become second nature!
