Imperative mood (commands) in Spanish

What is the imperative mood?

We use the imperative mood to tell someone what to do or not to do. It has both affirmative and negative forms with different conjugations and purposes.

• No hables tan fuerte. (Don't speak so loud.)negative
• Limpiad vuestra habitación. (Clean your room.)affirmative
• ¡Abróchense el cinturón! (Fasten your seatbelt!)affirmative

It is always conjugated in the present tense and we do not add a personal pronoun.

How and when to use the imperative form in Spanish

The imperative mood is frequently used in daily interactions, whether it's giving instructions, asking someone to (not) do something, or politely making requests. 

A first use case is to make suggestions to others.

A second use case is when giving instructions or advice to someone else. 

The personal pronouns are not said when you give instructions.

The imperative is also used to give orders or commands.

Finally, we use the imperative mood to make a request to someone. 

Verbs in the imperative are often used together with polite phrases such as "por favor" (please).

Informal imperatives: conjugation in Spanish (tú, vosotros...)

To form the imperative, it is important to know beforehand the conjugations in the present tense of the indicative and subjunctive moods. 

Tú (you - singular)

We start with the singular pronoun "tú" (you). It is conjugated using the third singular person in the present indicative.

The imperative is also used with reflexive verbs.
Levantarse (To get up) Levántate (Get up)

Nosotros (we - plural)

Forming the imperative for the pronoun "nosotros/-as" (we) is the same as the present subjunctive.

Vosotros (you - plural)

When you form the imperative for the plural pronoun "vosotros/-as" (you), use the infinitive of the verb and replace the ending “-r” with the letter “-d”. This only applies to regular verbs.

Take the last letter "-r" from the infinitive and replace it with the letter "-d".
Ayudar (To help) Ayudad (Help)

Formal imperatives: conjugation in Spanish (usted, ustedes...)

In formal settings or with people you do not know, you would use the formal imperative.

Usted (you - singular)

To form the imperative when addressing one specific person, we use the present subjunctive of the third person singular. 

Ustedes (you - plural)

Now, let’s see the plural form. When you address a group of people in a formal or polite setting, we also use the present subjunctive.

In Spanish, the pronouns used in to show politeness and in form situations are "usted" (singular) and "ustedes" (plural).

Negative imperative in Spanish

The negative form of the imperative is used to tell someone what not to do.

Tú (you - singular)

To form the negative imperative of the singular pronoun "tú" (you), use the conjugation of the present subjunctive.

Nosotros (we - plural)

The conjugation for the pronoun "nosotros/-as" (we) is the same as the present subjunctive.

Vosotros (you - plural)

To form the negative imperative for the plural pronoun "vosotros/-as" (you), use the conjugation in the present subjunctive.

Formal negative using the imperative

Usted (you - polite singular)

To do the conjugation for the polite pronoun "usted" (you) in singular, we use the present subjunctive of the third person singular.

Ustedes (you - polite plural)

Now, let’s see the plural form. To do the conjugation for the polite pronoun "ustedes" (you) in plural, we use the present subjunctive.

Position of object pronouns with imperatives

An object pronoun is used to replace a noun as the object of a sentence. When using the imperative, the position of the object pronoun can change.

If there are two object pronouns in the same sentence, the indirect object pronoun goes before the direct object pronoun.
Pásame la sal. (Pass me the salt.)¡Pásamela! (Pass it to me!)
Me (Me) indirect object
La (It) direct object