Affirmative commands

A2

Grammar path · Lesson 34 of 86 · Stage A2 · Commands and the future

You need affirmative commands whenever you give directions, follow a recipe, invite a guest in or give a friend advice. For tú, the command usually looks like the present-tense él/ella form: habla, come, escribe, but eight irregulars must be memorized: ven, di, sal, haz, ten, ve, pon, sé. For usted/ustedes, swap the final vowel: -ar verbs take -e/-en, -er/-ir verbs take -a/-an, as in hable, coman. Pronouns are always attached to the end: siéntate, dímelo. Do not mix this up with negative commands: with no, the tú form changes (habla becomes no hables) and pronouns move before the verb.

Practise this lesson · 10 sentences

Form

Tú – regular verbsverbo (forma de él/ella en presente) + complemento
Habla más despacio, por favor.Speak more slowly, please.
Tú – irregular verbsven / di / sal / haz / ten / ve / pon / sé + complemento
Ven aquí un momento.Come here for a moment.
Usted / ustedesraíz + -e / -en (verbos -ar), raíz + -a / -an (verbos -er, -ir)
Abran los libros en la página diez.Open your books to page ten.
With pronounsverbo + pronombre (unidos en una palabra)
Dímelo ahora.Tell me now.

When to use it

Instructions and directions

Used for directions, recipes and step-by-step instructions. The listener simply follows them.

Gira a la derecha en la esquina.Turn right at the corner.
Corten las cebollas en trozos pequeños.Cut the onions into small pieces.

Invitations and polite requests

Commands are not rude when used to invite or ask, especially with usted and por favor.

Pase y siéntese, por favor.Come in and sit down, please.
Ven a cenar con nosotros el sábado.Come have dinner with us on Saturday.

Advice and warnings

Used to advise someone or tell them to be careful. Common with verbs like tener, tomar and descansar.

Ten cuidado con el perro.Be careful with the dog.
Toma mucha agua y descansa.Drink lots of water and rest.

Affirmative commands: hablar · comer · escribir

túhabla · come · escribe
ustedhable · coma · escriba
ustedeshablen · coman · escriban
vosotros (España)hablad · comed · escribid
irregular túdi · haz · ve · pon · sal · sé · ten · ven
with a pronoundímelo · siéntate · cómelo

Don't confuse it with

Negative commands

Affirmative tú commands use their own form (habla, come, ven), but once you add no you switch to the subjunctive: no hables, no comas, no vengas. Pronouns attach after the verb in affirmatives (dímelo) but go before it in negatives (no me lo digas). For usted/ustedes just add no: hable becomes no hable.

Frequently asked questions

How do I form a regular tú command?

Use the present-tense él/ella form: hablar becomes habla, comer becomes come, escribir becomes escribe.

Which irregular tú commands must I memorize?

There are eight: ven (venir), di (decir), sal (salir), haz (hacer), ten (tener), ve (ir), pon (poner), sé (ser).

How are usted and ustedes commands formed?

Take the present yo stem and switch the vowel: -ar verbs take -e/-en (hable, hablen), -er/-ir verbs take -a/-an (coma, coman). That is why tener gives tenga and hacer gives haga.

Where do pronouns go in an affirmative command?

Pronouns always attach to the end of the verb as one word, often with an added accent mark: siéntate, dímelo, tráigamelo.

Are commands rude, and should I add por favor?

In Spanish, commands sound natural for invitations, requests and directions. Adding por favor or using usted makes them more polite.

More in Commands (imperative)

Negative commandsA2
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