- Understand what the imperative mood is and when to use it
- Distinguish between formal and informal command forms
- Know which command form to use for different audiences
- Form both affirmative and negative commands
- Understand regional differences (vosotros vs ustedes)
What You'll Learn
Overview
The imperative mood (el imperativo) is used to give commands, orders, instructions, advice, and requests in Spanish. Unlike statements (indicative) or hypotheticals (subjunctive), the imperative directly tells someone what to do.
🎯 The Imperative in Action
ORDER
¡Habla!
Speak!
INSTRUCTION
Abre la puerta
Open the door
ADVICE
Come más verduras
Eat more vegetables
REQUEST
Pásame la sal, por favor
Pass me the salt, please
Spanish has different command forms depending on who you're addressing. Choosing the right form shows respect and cultural awareness.
Structure & Formation
👥 Command Forms Overview
Spanish has five command forms, each for a different audience:
| Form | Who You're Addressing | Register | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tú | One person (friend, family, child) | Informal | ¡Habla! |
| Usted | One person (stranger, elder, boss) | Formal | ¡Hable! |
| Ustedes | Multiple people (LA: all; Spain: formal) | Formal/Informal | ¡Hablen! |
| Vosotros | Multiple people (Spain only) | InformalSpain | ¡Hablad! |
| Nosotros | Including yourself ("Let's...") | Inclusive | ¡Hablemos! |
Tú¡Habla!
Friend, family, child
InformalUsted¡Hable!
Stranger, elder, boss
FormalUstedes¡Hablen!
Multiple people
Formal/InformalVosotros¡Hablad!
Multiple (Spain only)
InformalNosotros¡Hablemos!
Including yourself
Inclusive📚 Detailed Guides
Click on each form to learn the full conjugation rules, irregular verbs, and practice exercises:
📝 Conjugation Tables
Here's how regular verbs form their imperative commands across all forms:
-AR Verbs (hablar)
| Form | Affirm. | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Tú | habla | no hables |
| Usted | hable | no hable |
| Nosotros | hablemos | no hablemos |
| Vosotros | hablad | no habléis |
| Ustedes | hablen | no hablen |
-ER Verbs (comer)
| Form | Affirm. | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Tú | come | no comas |
| Usted | coma | no coma |
| Nosotros | comamos | no comamos |
| Vosotros | comed | no comáis |
| Ustedes | coman | no coman |
-IR Verbs (vivir)
| Form | Affirm. | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Tú | vive | no vivas |
| Usted | viva | no viva |
| Nosotros | vivamos | no vivamos |
| Vosotros | vivid | no viváis |
| Ustedes | vivan | no vivan |
Common Irregular Verbs (Tú Commands)
These 8 verbs have irregular affirmative tú forms that must be memorized:
| Verb | Meaning | Affirmative | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| decir | to say/tell | di | no digas |
| hacer | to do/make | haz | no hagas |
| ir | to go | ve | no vayas |
| poner | to put | pon | no pongas |
| salir | to leave | sal | no salgas |
| ser | to be | sé | no seas |
| tener | to have | ten | no tengas |
| venir | to come | ven | no vengas |
💡 Memory Tip: "Vin Diesel Has Ten Weapons, Pons Sal"
Ven, Ir (ve), Di, Sé, Haz, Ten, Pon, Sal — Use this mnemonic to remember the 8 irregular tú commands!
Examples
Informal Commands
Tú
¡Haz la cama antes de salir!
Make the bed before leaving!
Tú
¡Come más verduras!
Eat more vegetables!
Tú (negative)
No te preocupes, todo saldrá bien.
Don't worry, everything will be fine.
Vosotros (Spain)
¡Venid a la fiesta esta noche!
Come to the party tonight!
Formal Commands
Usted
Por favor, envíe el informe hoy.
Please send the report today.
Usted
Espere aquí, por favor.
Wait here, please.
Ustedes (negative)
No pidan el pescado, está malo.
Don't order the fish, it's bad.
Ustedes
Pasen y tomen asiento.
Come in and have a seat.
"Let's" Commands (Nosotros)
Nosotros
¡Vamos al cine!
Let's go to the movies!
Nosotros
¡Comamos algo!
Let's eat something!
Nosotros (negative)
No hablemos de eso ahora.
Let's not talk about that now.
Real-World Contexts
At dinner
Pásame la sal, por favor.
Pass me the salt, please.
Warning
No toques eso.
Don't touch that.
Professional
Dígame su nombre.
Tell me your name.
Common Mistakes
Common Command Mistakes
Wrong: No habla (to say "don't speak" to a friend)
Correct: No hables
Negative tú commands use the subjunctive form, not just "no" + affirmative
Wrong: Sentados (vosotros reflexive)
Correct: Sentaos
Vosotros reflexive commands drop the -d before adding -os. Exception: "idos" keeps the d
Wrong: No me lo digas → No dígasmelo
Correct: No me lo digas
Never attach pronouns to negative commands — pronouns always go before the verb
Tú Affirmative ≠ Present Tense (Same Form, Different Meaning!)
"Habla español" can mean two different things:
Command:
"Speak Spanish!" (to a friend)
Statement:
"He/She speaks Spanish"
Context tells you which is meant. Commands often have exclamation marks or imperative tone.
Pronoun Position Flips!
Affirmative = Attach
Dímelo (Tell it to me)
Negative = Before
No me lo digas (Don't tell it to me)
Accents When Adding Pronouns
Adding pronouns can shift the stress. Add an accent to preserve pronunciation:
da → dámelo
pon → ponlo (no accent needed)
compra → cómpramelo
Quick Test
1. Which form would you use to tell your best friend to "eat"?
2. How do you say "Don't speak" (tú) in Spanish?
3. Which command form is NOT used in Latin America?
4. Where do pronouns go with affirmative commands?
5. "Hablen ustedes" is used for:
6. What is the nosotros command of "ir" (to go)?
Want more practice? Try the Imperative Practice Exercises