How to Form and Use Commands in Spanish (Imperative Mood)

Introduction

Learning how to give commands in Spanish is essential for effective communication in everyday situations. The imperative mood allows you to express requests, give directions, offer suggestions, and issue orders. Whether you’re asking someone to pass the salt at dinner, giving directions to a lost tourist, or instructing a class, mastering Spanish commands will significantly improve your conversational skills and help you sound more natural and confident when speaking with native speakers.

Understanding the Spanish Imperative Mood

The imperative mood in Spanish serves the same basic function as commands in English, but with more complexity due to Spanish’s rich conjugation system. Unlike English, which typically uses the base form of the verb for commands, Spanish has different forms depending on who you’re addressing and whether you’re speaking formally or informally.

Spanish commands can be divided into several categories based on the person being addressed. You’ll encounter tú commands (informal singular), usted commands (formal singular), nosotros commands (let’s do something), vosotros commands (informal plural, used primarily in Spain), and ustedes commands (formal and informal plural in Latin America, formal plural in Spain).

When to Use Commands in Spanish

Commands appear frequently in daily Spanish conversations. You’ll use them when giving directions like Dobla a la derecha (Turn right), making requests such as Pásame el agua (Pass me the water), or offering suggestions like Prueba este postre (Try this dessert). Understanding when and how to use different command forms shows respect for social hierarchies and cultural norms in Spanish-speaking countries.

Forming Informal Commands (Tú Commands)

Informal commands, known as tú commands, are used when speaking to friends, family members, children, or anyone you would address with the informal tú pronoun. These commands have both affirmative and negative forms, each following different conjugation patterns.

Affirmative Tú Commands

For regular verbs, affirmative tú commands use the third person singular form of the present tense. This means you take the él/ella form and use it as your command. For -ar verbs, remove the -ar ending and add -a. For -er and -ir verbs, remove the ending and add -e.

Here are examples with regular verbs:
Hablar → Habla (Speak)
Comer → Come (Eat)
Escribir → Escribe (Write)

Common phrases using these commands include Habla más despacio (Speak more slowly), Come tu comida (Eat your food), and Escribe tu nombre aquí (Write your name here).

Irregular Affirmative Tú Commands

Several important verbs have irregular affirmative tú commands that you must memorize. These are among the most frequently used verbs in Spanish, so learning them is crucial for fluent communication.

The eight main irregular affirmative tú commands are:
Decir → Di (Say/Tell)
Hacer → Haz (Do/Make)
Ir → Ve (Go)
Poner → Pon (Put)
Salir → Sal (Leave/Go out)
Ser → Sé (Be)
Tener → Ten (Have)
Venir → Ven (Come)

These irregular commands appear in countless everyday expressions. For example, Di la verdad (Tell the truth), Haz tu tarea (Do your homework), Ve al supermercado (Go to the supermarket), and Ven acá (Come here) are phrases you’ll hear and use constantly in Spanish conversations.

Negative Tú Commands

Negative tú commands follow a completely different pattern from their affirmative counterparts. To form negative commands, you use the present subjunctive form of the verb preceded by no. This means you need to be familiar with subjunctive conjugations to master negative commands.

For regular verbs, the pattern is:
-ar verbs: Remove -ar, add -es
-er verbs: Remove -er, add -as
-ir verbs: Remove -ir, add -as

Examples include:
No hables tan rápido (Don’t speak so fast)
No comas tanto (Don’t eat so much)
No escribas en la mesa (Don’t write on the table)

For irregular verbs, you’ll need to know their subjunctive forms. For instance, ser becomes No seas (Don’t be), ir becomes No vayas (Don’t go), and hacer becomes No hagas (Don’t do/make).

Forming Formal Commands (Usted Commands)

Formal commands, or usted commands, are used when addressing someone with respect, such as strangers, authority figures, elderly people, or in professional settings. These commands are essential for polite communication in Spanish-speaking cultures.

Forming Usted Commands

Both affirmative and negative usted commands use the same form, which is based on the present subjunctive. The pattern is opposite to regular present tense endings:

For -ar verbs: Remove -ar, add -e
For -er and -ir verbs: Remove the ending, add -a

Examples include:
Hable más despacio, por favor (Speak more slowly, please)
Coma en la mesa (Eat at the table)
Escriba su nombre aquí (Write your name here)

For negative commands, simply add no before the verb: No hable tan rápido (Don’t speak so fast), No coma ahí (Don’t eat there).

Irregular Usted Commands

Irregular usted commands follow the same patterns as their subjunctive forms. Common irregular commands include:

Ser → Sea (Be)
Ir → Vaya (Go)
Saber → Sepa (Know)
Dar → Dé (Give)
Estar → Esté (Be)

These appear in polite requests like Sea tan amable (Be so kind), Vaya con cuidado (Go carefully), and Dé vuelta en la esquina (Turn at the corner).

Plural Commands (Ustedes and Vosotros)

When addressing multiple people, Spanish uses different forms depending on the region and level of formality. Understanding these distinctions is important for communicating effectively across different Spanish-speaking countries.

Ustedes Commands

Ustedes commands are used when addressing multiple people formally, and in Latin America, they’re used for both formal and informal situations. The formation follows the same pattern as usted commands but with different endings.

For -ar verbs: Remove -ar, add -en
For -er and -ir verbs: Remove the ending, add -an

Examples include:
Hablen con el profesor (Talk to the professor)
Coman toda la comida (Eat all the food)
Escriban sus respuestas (Write your answers)

These commands are essential for classroom instructions, group directions, and formal presentations throughout the Spanish-speaking world.

Vosotros Commands

Vosotros commands are used primarily in Spain when addressing multiple people informally. While not essential for Latin American Spanish, understanding these forms helps with comprehension when interacting with Spanish speakers from Spain.

For affirmative commands, replace the -r of the infinitive with -d:
Hablar → Hablad (Speak)
Comer → Comed (Eat)
Escribir → Escribid (Write)

For negative commands, use the present subjunctive form:
No habléis (Don’t speak)
No comáis (Don’t eat)
No escribáis (Don’t write)

Commands with Nosotros (Let’s Commands)

The nosotros commands, equivalent to let’s commands in English, express suggestions for group actions. These commands include the speaker in the proposed action and are useful for making suggestions and organizing group activities.

Forming Nosotros Commands

Affirmative nosotros commands use the present subjunctive form of the verb with the nosotros ending. The pattern is:

For -ar verbs: Remove -ar, add -emos
For -er and -ir verbs: Remove the ending, add -amos

Examples include:
Hablemos con María (Let’s talk to María)
Comamos en casa (Let’s eat at home)
Escribamos una carta (Let’s write a letter)

Negative nosotros commands use the same form with no: No hablemos ahora (Let’s not talk now).

Special Cases with Nosotros Commands

The verb ir (to go) has a special form for affirmative commands: vamos (let’s go). This is one of the most common expressions in Spanish: Vamos al cine (Let’s go to the movies), Vamos a casa (Let’s go home). For negative commands, use no vayamos (let’s not go).

With reflexive verbs, the final -s is dropped before adding the pronoun nos: Levantemos + nos = Levantémonos (Let’s get up).

Using Object Pronouns with Commands

Object pronouns behave differently with commands than with other verb forms. Understanding these patterns is crucial for natural-sounding Spanish communication.

Pronoun Placement in Affirmative Commands

In affirmative commands, object pronouns are attached to the end of the verb, creating a single word. This often requires adding accent marks to maintain proper stress patterns.

Examples include:
Cómelo (Eat it) – from come + lo
Dímelo (Tell it to me) – from di + me + lo
Lávate (Wash yourself) – from lava + te

When multiple pronouns are attached, they follow a specific order: reflexive pronoun, then indirect object pronoun, then direct object pronoun.

Pronoun Placement in Negative Commands

In negative commands, object pronouns are placed before the verb, just as in regular statements. This creates a more familiar pattern for English speakers.

Examples include:
No lo comas (Don’t eat it)
No me lo digas (Don’t tell it to me)
No te laves (Don’t wash yourself)

This difference in pronoun placement between affirmative and negative commands is one of the trickier aspects of Spanish grammar, but with practice, it becomes automatic.

Common Command Expressions and Phrases

Mastering everyday command expressions will immediately improve your Spanish communication skills. These phrases appear constantly in conversations and are essential for sounding natural.

Everyday Command Phrases

Some of the most useful command expressions include:

Espera un momento (Wait a moment)
Dime qué pasó (Tell me what happened)
Ponte el abrigo (Put on your coat)
Siéntate aquí (Sit here)
Ayúdame con esto (Help me with this)
Cállate (Be quiet)
Déjame en paz (Leave me alone)
Préstame tu libro (Lend me your book)

These expressions demonstrate how commands integrate naturally into Spanish conversation and show the importance of learning commands in context rather than in isolation.

Polite Commands and Softening Expressions

Spanish speakers often soften commands to make them more polite and less abrupt. Adding words like por favor (please), por favorcito (please – diminutive), or si no te importa (if you don’t mind) makes commands more socially acceptable.

Examples include:
Pásame la sal, por favor (Pass me the salt, please)
Ayúdame un poquito (Help me a little bit)
Espérame un ratito (Wait for me a little while)

Using diminutives like poquito and ratito also softens commands and makes them sound more affectionate or less demanding.

Regional Variations in Command Usage

Spanish command usage varies significantly across different regions and countries. Understanding these differences helps you communicate more effectively and avoid misunderstandings when traveling or interacting with Spanish speakers from different backgrounds.

Voseo Commands

In some regions, particularly Argentina, Uruguay, and parts of Central America, the vos form replaces tú for informal address. This affects command formation significantly.

Affirmative vos commands are formed by removing the -r from the infinitive and adding an accent to the final vowel:
Hablar → Hablá (Speak)
Comer → Comé (Eat)
Escribir → Escribí (Write)

Negative vos commands use the subjunctive form: No hablés (Don’t speak), No comás (Don’t eat).

Cultural Context of Commands

The acceptability and frequency of direct commands vary among Spanish-speaking cultures. In some countries, direct commands are more common in family settings, while in others, indirect requests are preferred even among close friends and family members.

Understanding these cultural nuances helps you navigate social situations appropriately and avoid accidentally sounding rude or too familiar in formal contexts.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Learning Spanish commands involves several common pitfalls that can be easily avoided with awareness and practice. Understanding these mistakes helps accelerate your learning process.

Mixing Up Affirmative and Negative Command Forms

One of the most frequent errors is using the wrong form for negative commands. Remember that negative tú commands use the subjunctive form, not the same form as affirmative commands. Practice contrasting pairs like habla (speak) vs. no hables (don’t speak) to internalize these patterns.

Incorrect Pronoun Placement

Another common mistake involves placing object pronouns incorrectly. Remember that pronouns attach to affirmative commands but come before negative commands. Practice with phrases like Dímelo (Tell it to me) vs. No me lo digas (Don’t tell it to me).

Forgetting Accent Marks

When pronouns are attached to commands, accent marks are often needed to maintain proper stress. Words like cómelo (eat it) and dímelo (tell it to me) require accents to preserve the original stress pattern of the verb.

Practice Strategies for Mastering Commands

Developing fluency with Spanish commands requires consistent practice and exposure to real-world usage. Here are effective strategies for mastering this essential grammar point.

Daily Practice Techniques

Start by practicing commands in your daily routine. When you wake up, think of morning commands like Levántate (Get up), Lávate los dientes (Brush your teeth), and Desayuna (Have breakfast). This contextual practice helps embed commands in your memory.

Create mental commands throughout your day: Abre la puerta (Open the door), Come despacio (Eat slowly), Escucha música (Listen to music). This internal practice reinforces the patterns without requiring a conversation partner.

Interactive Practice Methods

Practice giving and following commands with study partners or language exchange partners. Start with simple actions like Siéntate (Sit down), Levántate (Stand up), and Camina (Walk), then progress to more complex instructions.

Watch Spanish-language cooking shows, exercise videos, and instructional content where commands are used naturally. This exposure helps you understand rhythm, intonation, and real-world usage patterns.

Advanced Command Structures

Once you’ve mastered basic commands, you can explore more sophisticated structures that appear in advanced Spanish communication.

Commands with Conditional Clauses

Advanced speakers often combine commands with conditional structures to create more nuanced instructions. Examples include Si tienes hambre, come algo (If you’re hungry, eat something) and Cuando llegues, llámame (When you arrive, call me).

Indirect Commands with Que

Spanish uses que + subjunctive to express indirect commands, equivalent to English let him/her/them do something. Examples include Que entre (Let him/her enter) and Que vengan mañana (Let them come tomorrow).

These structures appear frequently in formal speech and writing, making them important for advanced learners who want to sound sophisticated and natural.

Summary

Mastering Spanish commands opens doors to more natural and effective communication. From basic tú and usted forms to complex pronoun placement and regional variations, commands are essential for everyday interactions. Regular practice with real-world contexts, attention to cultural appropriateness, and understanding of regional differences will help you use commands confidently and correctly in any Spanish-speaking environment.