Commands
Commands are an essential tool in Spanish for giving instructions or making requests. They allow you to communicate more effectively and confidently. In this guide, we will cover the different forms and usage of commands in Spanish.
Informal Commands
Informal commands are used when addressing someone you have a close relationship with, such as family or friends. They are also used when giving instructions to children or pets.
To form the informal command, follow these steps:
- Start with the base form of the verb.
- For regular verbs ending in -ar, replace the -ar with -a.
- For regular verbs ending in -er or -ir, replace the -er or -ir with -e.
Examples:
- Hablar (to speak) becomes Habla (speak)
- Comer (to eat) becomes Come (eat)
- Escribir (to write) becomes Escribe (write)
Formal Commands
Formal commands are used when addressing someone you have a formal or respectful relationship with, such as a stranger, a person of authority, or an elder.
To form the formal command, follow these steps:
- Start with the yo form of the present tense.
- Drop the -o ending.
- For regular -ar verbs, add -e for singular commands or -en for plural commands.
- For regular -er and -ir verbs, add -a for singular commands or -an for plural commands.
Examples:
- Hablar (to speak): Yo hablo (I speak) -> Hable (speak, singular formal) / Hablen (speak, plural formal)
- Comer (to eat): Yo como (I eat) -> Coma (eat, singular formal) / Coman (eat, plural formal)
- Escribir (to write): Yo escribo (I write) -> Escriba (write, singular formal) / Escriban (write, plural formal)
Negative Commands
Negative commands are used to tell someone not to do something. They are formed by placing no before the command form of the verb.
Examples:
- No hables (don't speak)
- No comas (don't eat)
- No escribas (don't write)
Irregular Commands
There are some irregular verbs that have different command forms. Here are a few examples:
- Decir (to say): Di (say)
- Hacer (to do/make): Haz (do/make)
- Ir (to go): Ve (go)
- Ser (to be): Sé (be)
- Salir (to leave): Sal (leave)
- Poner (to put): Pon (put)
- Venir (to come): Ven (come)
- Tener (to have): Ten (have)
Commands with Pronouns
When using pronouns (such as me, te, lo, la) with commands, the pronouns are attached to the end of the verb. However, if the command is negative, the pronouns go before the verb.
Examples:
- Dime (tell me)
- Cómelo (eat it)
- No lo hagas (don't do it)
Practice Tips
To practice using commands, try the following:
- Create a list of instructions or requests in English, and then translate them into Spanish using the appropriate command forms.
- Use commands in daily conversations with Spanish-speaking friends, family members, or language exchange partners.
- Watch Spanish movies or TV shows and try to identify the commands used by the characters.
Remember, the more you practice using commands, the more natural and confident you will become in using them in real-life situations. So, don't hesitate to give it a try!