- Form affirmative tú commands from the él/ella present tense
- Create negative tú commands using the present subjunctive
- Master the 8 irregular affirmative tú commands
- Place pronouns correctly with commands (attached or separate)
- Use commands for instructions, advice, and requests
- Understand when to use tú commands vs formal usted commands
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Affirmative and Negative Tú Commands
What You'll Learn
Overview / Usage
Tú commands (also called the informal imperative) are used to give direct orders, instructions, or advice to someone you address as "tú" (friends, family, children, peers).
🎯 Quick Examples
✓ AFFIRMATIVE
Habla español
Speak Spanish
✗ NEGATIVE
No hables inglés
Don't speak English
⚠️ IRREGULAR
Ven aquí
Come here
The good news: affirmative tú commands are easy to form! The challenge: 8 important irregular forms to memorise.
Structure & Formation
➕ Affirmative Tú Commands (Regular)
For regular affirmative tú commands, use the él/ella form of the present tense. That's it! Just drop the final "s" from the tú form.
Formula:
Tú command = él/ella present tense
hablar → tú hablas
habla
speak
comer → tú comes
come
eat
vivir → tú vives
vive
live
escribir → tú escribes
escribe
write
estudiar → tú estudias
estudia
study
abrir → tú abres
abre
open
💡 Easy Rule: The affirmative tú command looks exactly like the él/ella form:Ella habla → (tú) Habla (Speak!)
⭐ 8 Irregular Affirmative Tú Commands
These 8 verbs have irregular affirmative tú commands. You must memorise them as they don't follow the regular pattern.
| Infinitive | Regular Would Be | Irregular Command | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| venir | viene | ven | come |
| poner | pone | pon | put |
| salir | sale | sal | leave/go out |
| tener | tiene | ten | have |
| decir | dice | di | say/tell |
| hacer | hace | haz | do/make |
| ser | es | sé | be |
| ir | va | ve | go |
Memory Tip:
VEN PON SAL TEN DI HAZ SÉ VE - Try saying it like a chant to memorise!
➖ Negative Tú Commands
Negative tú commands are formed using the present subjunctive. Simply add "no" before the present subjunctive tú form.
Formula:
no + present subjunctive (tú)
hablar
✓ habla
no hables
don't speak
comer
✓ come
no comas
don't eat
vivir
✓ vive
no vivas
don't live
venir
✓ ven
no vengas
don't come
poner
✓ pon
no pongas
don't put
ser
✓ sé
no seas
don't be
💡 Important: Negative commands use the subjunctive for ALL verbs (regular and irregular). There are no exceptions to this rule!
📍 Pronoun Placement with Commands
Object pronouns (lo, la, me, te, etc.) attach to affirmative commands but come before negative commands.
Affirmative: Attach Pronouns
Habla + lo → Háblalo
Speak it
Come + las → Cómelas
Eat them
Negative: Separate Pronouns
No lo hables
Don't speak it
No las comas
Don't eat them
⚠️ Accent Note: When you attach pronouns to affirmative commands, you often need to add an accent mark to maintain the original stress: habla + lo = háblalo
Examples
💬 Tú Commands in Daily Life
Instructions & Directions
Gira a la derecha
Turn right
Sigue todo recto
Go straight ahead
Cruza la calle
Cross the street
Toma el autobús
Take the bus
Advice & Suggestions
Come más verduras
Eat more vegetables
Estudia todos los días
Study every day
Ten paciencia
Be patient (Have patience)
Sé honesto
Be honest
Warnings & Prohibitions
No toques eso
Don't touch that
No corras en la casa
Don't run in the house
No seas tonto
Don't be silly
No llegues tarde
Don't arrive late
🎯 Common Command Phrases
ven aquí
come here
espera un momento
wait a moment
dime la verdad
tell me the truth
haz tu tarea
do your homework
sal de ahí
get out of there
pon atención
pay attention
ten cuidado
be careful
ve al médico
go to the doctor
cierra la puerta
close the door
🔄 Affirmative vs Negative Pairs
See how the same verb changes between affirmative and negative commands:
✓ Habla español
✗ No hables inglés
Speak Spanish / Don't speak English
✓ Come despacio
✗ No comas rápido
Eat slowly / Don't eat quickly
✓ Ven temprano
✗ No vengas tarde
Come early / Don't come late
✓ Haz ejercicio
✗ No hagas trampa
Exercise / Don't cheat
✓ Sé amable
✗ No seas grosero
Be kind / Don't be rude
✓ Ve a casa
✗ No vayas solo
Go home / Don't go alone
Gotchas / Common Mistakes
❌ Don't Mix Affirmative and Negative Forms
Affirmative and negative commands use different forms:
Wrong: No habla
Correct: No hables (use subjunctive)
⚠️ Sé (ser) vs Sé (saber)
Both "ser" and "saber" have the same command form "sé"!
Sé bueno (ser - Be good)
Context makes it clear which verb is meant
💡 Pronouns Change Position
Remember: attached to affirmative, separate for negative:
Affirmative: Dímelo (Tell it to me)
Negative: No me lo digas (Don't tell it to me)
📝 Stem Changes Still Apply
Stem-changing verbs keep their stem change in commands:
cerrar (e→ie): Cierra la puerta
volver (o→ue): Vuelve pronto
🔄 Ve Can Mean Two Things
"Ve" is the command for both "ir" (go) and "ver" (see):
Ve a casa (ir - Go home)
Ve la película (ver - See/Watch the film)
🎯 Use Tú Commands Carefully
Tú commands are informal. Don't use them with:
- Strangers or people you don't know well
- People in authority (bosses, teachers, etc.)
- Elderly people (unless they're family)
Use usted commands in formal situations instead
Quick Test / Mini Quiz
📝 Interactive Tú Commands Quiz
Test your knowledge of Spanish tú commands - both affirmative and negative!
1
What's the affirmative tú command for 'hablar' (to speak)?
2
What's the negative tú command for 'comer' (to eat)?
3
Which is the irregular affirmative tú command for 'venir' (to come)?
4
How do you say 'Don't speak' (negative tú command)?
5
What's the affirmative tú command for 'hacer' (to do/make)?
6
Where do you place pronouns with affirmative commands? (Example: 'Tell it to me')
7
What's the negative tú command for 'ser' (to be)?
8
How do you say 'Go to the doctor' (affirmative tú command with 'ir')?
Useful Resources
Coming soon...