EL IMPERATIVO

Los Mandatos Informales

Affirmative/Positive

Informal “Tú” Commands

This “mood” is used to tell people what to do (boss ‘em around a bit)

For affirmative/ positive informal “tú” commands use the present tense form of él, ella or Usted.

Ejemplos: Escribe las oraciones.

Habla más despácio.

Come la cena.

Informal Negative

Commands

For negative commands, use the four-step process:

Conjugate yo form of the verb in the present tense.

Drop the -o

Switch endings: -es for –ar verbs & -as for –er/-ir verbs.

Put a NO in front!!!

Ejemplo:

Descansar → Descanso → No descanses

Irregular Informal

Affirmative Commands

Decir→ Di

Hacer → Haz

Ir/ Ver → Ve

Poner → Pon

Salir → Sal

Ser → Sé

Tener → Ten

Venir → Ven

How to Remember Irregular

Affirmative Commands

Séven hazes in

a ponten boat

eating saldive.

Tune: “Mary Had A Little Lamb”

Di sé haz ve

Pon ten ven (3x)

Di sé haz ve

Pon ten ven

Pon ten ven y sal

Irregular Negative Commands

Decir → Digo → No digas

Hacer → Hago → No hagas

Poner → Pongo → No pongas

Salir → Salgo → No salgas

Tener → Tengo → No tengas

Venir → Vengo → No vengas

*Dar → No des

*Ir/ Ver → No vayas/ No veas

*Saber → No sepas

*Ser → No seas

*Estar → No estés

Affirmative Reflexive

Commands

For commands that are reflexive, put

the “se” to the side at first.

Conjugate the main verb in the

present tense, following the rules for

affirmative commands.

Change the “se” to “te” and attach to

the end.

Count back three vowels, when

necessary = accent mark!

Negative Reflexive

Commands For negative commands that are

reflexive, put the “se” to the side.

Conjugate the main verb in the

present tense, following the rules for

negative commands (4 steps).

Change the “se” to “te” and place in

front of the verb.

Put NO in front. It’s not negative

without a NO!!!

Ejemplo: lavarse → lavo → laves →

te laves → NO te laves