Giving commands in Spanish can feel daunting for English speakers. In English, we just say 'you' for everyone, whether it's a friend or a CEO. 'Speak slowly' works in any situation. But Spanish requires a crucial choice: are you being informal and familiar (tú), or formal and respectful (usted)? This choice changes the verb itself, and getting it wrong can sound either rude or strangely distant. Think of it like choosing a communication style. The 'tú' command is like sending a quick text to a friend: 'Call me!' It's direct and casual. The 'usted' command is like a formal email to a professor: 'Please find the document attached.' It carries built-in respect. The verb form itself signals this social context, making it a powerful tool for navigating social situations in Spanish. This guide will demystify Spanish commands. You'll learn the simple patterns for forming both affirmative and negative commands for 'tú' and 'usted'. By the end, you'll be able to confidently tell your friend to 'wait up' and politely ask a stranger to 'pass the salt', using the correct verb every time.
| Feature | Informal (tú) | Formal (usted) |
|---|---|---|
| When to Use | Friends, family, children, people your age or younger. | Strangers, elders, authority figures (boss, professor), in professional settings. |
| Affirmative Form | Use the 'él/ella' form of the present indicative. (e.g., 'habla', 'come', 'abre') | Use the 'él/ella' form of the present subjunctive. (e.g., 'hable', 'coma', 'abra') |
| Negative Form | Use the 'tú' form of the present subjunctive. (e.g., 'no hables', 'no comas', 'no abras') | Use the 'él/ella' form of the present subjunctive. (e.g., 'no hable', 'no coma', 'no abra') |
| Key Irregulars (Affirmative) | Has 8 common irregulars: ven, di, sal, haz, ten, ve, pon, sé. | Follows subjunctive rules: venga, diga, salga, haga, tenga, vaya, ponga, sea. |
| Pronoun Attachment (Affirmative) | Pronouns are attached to the end. (e.g., 'dime', 'cómpralo') | Pronouns are attached to the end. (e.g., 'dígame', 'cómprelo') |
| Pronoun Placement (Negative) | Pronouns go before the verb. (e.g., 'no me digas', 'no lo compres') | Pronouns go before the verb. (e.g., 'no me diga', 'no lo compre') |
Rule 1: The affirmative 'tú' command is the odd one out. It usually matches the regular 'él/ella' present tense form (caminar -> camina), while ALL other commands (negative tú, all usted commands) use the subjunctive.
Rule 2: 'No' triggers the subjunctive. As soon as you make any command negative, you must switch to the present subjunctive form. This is the most important rule for negative commands.
Rule 3: For formal commands, 'flip the vowel'. To form an 'usted' command, take the 'yo' form, drop the '-o', and add the opposite ending: '-e' for -ar verbs and '-a' for -er/-ir verbs. (hablo -> hable; como -> coma).
Rule 4: Remember the 'Vin Diesel' irregulars for affirmative 'tú' commands. Use the mnemonic 'Vin Diesel has ten weapons': Ven (venir), Di (decir), Sal (salir), Haz (hacer), Ten (tener), Ve (ir), Pon (poner), Sé (ser).
Rule 5: For positive commands, attach pronouns to the end and add an accent. If attaching a pronoun makes the word three or more syllables, add an accent to preserve the original stress. (compra -> cómpralo; di -> dime -> dímelo).
Take this bus to get downtown.
Take this bus to get downtown. [formal]
Don't put your feet on the table.
Please, don't put your suitcase here. [formal]
I need the report. Write it for me before 5.
WRONG: No hablas tan rápido. — CORRECT: No hables tan rápido. — This is the most common mistake. English uses the same form for statements and negative commands ('You don't speak' vs. 'Don't speak'). In Spanish, the word 'no' before a command triggers the present subjunctive ('hables'), not the indicative ('hablas').
WRONG: Abrir la puerta, por favor. — CORRECT: Abre la puerta (tú) / Abra la puerta (usted), por favor. — Using the infinitive as a command is incorrect in direct speech. While you might see it on signs ('Empujar'), when speaking to someone, you must conjugate the verb into the imperative form.
WRONG (to a police officer): Dame tu identificación. — CORRECT: Deme su identificación. — This mistake mixes formal and informal registers. A police officer is an authority figure requiring 'usted'. The learner used the 'tú' command ('dame') which is overly familiar and could be seen as disrespectful.
WRONG: Compramelo. — CORRECT: Cómpramelo. — When you attach pronouns to an affirmative command, the stress of the original verb must be preserved. The original command is 'compra' (stress on COM-). Adding '-melo' shifts the natural stress. The written accent on 'Cómpramelo' puts it back in the right place.
Q1.Tell your friend to open the book. (abrir, tú): ___ el libro.
Abre
The affirmative 'tú' command for regular -ir verbs is formed by taking the 'él/ella' present tense form, which is 'abre'.
Q2.Politely ask a client to sign here. (firmar, usted): ___ aquí, por favor.
Firme
For a formal ('usted') command, we use the present subjunctive. For the -ar verb 'firmar', this is 'firme'.
Q3.Tell your child not to play with that. (jugar, tú): No ___ con eso.
juegues
Negative commands always use the subjunctive. The 'tú' present subjunctive of 'jugar' (a stem-changing verb) is 'juegues'.
Q4.Translate to formal Spanish: 'Don't worry.' (preocuparse, usted)
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| Plural Form (Latin America) | Uses the 'ustedes' form for both informal and formal groups. | Uses the 'ustedes' form. (e.g., 'Hablen', 'Coman', 'No digan') |
| Note on Usage in Spain | In Spain, the 'vosotros' form is used for informal plural commands. (e.g., 'hablad', 'comed') | The 'usted' and 'ustedes' forms are used identically to Latin America. |
Mr. Perez, I need the report. Write it for me before 5. [formal]
If you don't understand, don't ask me, ask her.
Go to the supermarket and buy milk. [Shows the common irregular 'ir': ve vs. vaya]
No se preocupe.
This is a formal, negative command with a reflexive pronoun. The pronoun 'se' goes before the subjunctive verb 'preocupe'.
Q5.Choose the correct way to tell your friend, 'Do it now!' (hacerlo, tú)
b) Hazlo ahora
'Hacer' has an irregular affirmative 'tú' command: 'haz'. The pronoun 'lo' is attached to the end.
Q6.Correct the error: 'Señor, no pones el carro allí.'
Señor, no ponga el carro allí.
Since you are addressing a 'Señor', you must use the formal 'usted' command. The negative command for 'poner' is 'no ponga'.
Q7.Combine the command and pronoun for a formal instruction: (decir / me / la verdad)
Dígame la verdad.
The formal command of 'decir' is 'diga'. The pronoun 'me' attaches to the end. An accent is needed on 'Dígame' to maintain the original stress on the 'i'.