The imperative (commands): The imperative (el imperativo) is how Spanish gives commands, instructions and advice — do this, don't do that. You use it for recipes, directions, signs and tips. The trick to remember: affirmative and negative commands are built differently, and the form changes depending on who you're telling (tú, usted, nosotros, vosotros).
- el imperativo
- the imperative — the command form («do this!»)
- el mandato afirmativo
- an affirmative command — telling someone TO do something (habla)
- el mandato negativo
- a negative command — telling someone NOT to do something (no hables)
- tú / usted
- informal «you» / formal «you» — each has its own command form
- nosotros
- the «let's…» command («hablemos» = let's talk)
- el pronombre
- the pronoun (me, lo, la…) — its position changes with affirmative vs negative
When you reach for it: Any time the task is a recipe, a set of directions, an instruction sheet or a piece of advice, you'll use the imperative. «Gira a la derecha», «No olvides el casco», «Prueba este plato» — short, direct, and very common in the writing tasks.
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Affirmative vs negative, person by person: Here's the map. The affirmative «tú» command is simply the «él» form of the present (habla, come, vive). The negative «tú» and all the usted / nosotros commands borrow the subjunctive (the form you learnt in 3.3.3). A handful of «tú» commands are irregular — learn them by heart.
| Persona | -ar (hablar) | -er (comer) | -ir (vivir) |
|---|---|---|---|
| tú (afirmativo) | habla | come | vive |
| tú (negativo) | no hables | no comas | no vivas |
| usted (afirm./neg.) | (no) hable | (no) coma | (no) viva |
| nosotros («let's») | hablemos | comamos | vivamos |
| vosotros (afirmativo) | hablad | comed | vivid |
| Verbo | Mandato «tú» irregular | Significado |
|---|---|---|
| decir | di | say / tell |
| hacer | haz | do / make |
| ir | ve | go |
| poner | pon | put |
| salir | sal | leave / go out |
| tener | ten | have / hold |
| venir | ven | come |
| ser | sé | be |
Negative & formal = subjunctive: Affirmative «tú» = the present «él» form (habla). But the negative «tú» and every usted / nosotros command use the subjunctive: no hables, hable usted, hablemos. So master the subjunctive (3.3.3) and most of the imperative comes free.
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Five everyday jobs: The imperative shows up wherever someone is told what to do. Here are the five contexts you meet most in the exam — each with a Spanish example. Notice how short and direct each command is.
Usos del imperativo
- Instructions — «Rellena el formulario y firma abajo.» (Fill in the form and sign below.)
- Recipes — «Añade dos huevos y mezcla bien.» (Add two eggs and mix well.)
- Directions — «Sigue todo recto y gira a la derecha.» (Go straight on and turn right.)
- Advice — «Descansa más y no te preocupes tanto.» (Rest more and don't worry so much.)
- Signs & notices — «No fumes aquí. Mantén la puerta cerrada.» (Don't smoke here. Keep the door closed.)
Match the command to your reader: Use the «tú» command for a friend or someone your age («prueba esto»), and the «usted» command for someone you address formally («pruebe esto, señor»). For a recipe or a general public sign, «tú» or the impersonal infinitive is common («añadir sal»).
A recipe, step by step: Here's a short recipe, built one instruction at a time. Each step uses the imperative — mostly «tú» commands, with a couple of irregulars (pon) and the «nosotros» «let's» form at the end. Read it once, then tap Ver traducción for the English or 🔊 to hear it.
El imperativo en acción
Una receta, paso a paso
- Primero, lava bien los tomates y córtalos en trozos pequeños.
- Pon una sartén al fuego y añade un poco de aceite de oliva.
- No dejes que se queme; remueve la salsa con cuidado.
- Cuando esté lista, sírvela caliente y pruébala antes de servir a los demás.
- Por último, comamos todos juntos y disfrutemos de la comida.
Steal this for instructions: Notice the pattern: short imperative verbs (lava, corta, pon, añade) plus sequence words (primero, después, por último). Swap in any process — a recipe, directions, a how-to — and you have a tidy set of instructions. Watch the pronoun: córtalos (attached) but no lo dejes (before).
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The slips to watch for: Two mistakes dominate the imperative. First: pronoun placement — pronouns attach to an affirmative command (dímelo) but go before a negative one (no me lo digas). Second: using the infinitive as a command instead of the proper form. Compare the right version with the typical mistake.
Correcto
- Dímelo ahora.
- No me lo digas todavía.
- Cierra la puerta, por favor.
Error común
- Me lo di.
- No dímelo todavía.
- Cerrar la puerta, por favor.
Pronoun rule: attach when yes, before when no: The pronoun attaches to the affirmative command (one word, often with a new accent: dámelo, cuéntamelo) and sits before the negative command (no me lo des). And never use a bare infinitive as a command to a person — use the proper imperative form.