- Form affirmative tú commands from the él/ella present tense
- Create negative tú commands using the present subjunctive
- Memorise the 8 irregular affirmative tú commands
- Place pronouns correctly with commands (attached or separate)
- Use commands for instructions, advice, and requests
- Know when to use tú vs formal usted commands
What You'll Learn
Overview
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.
Tú command = él/ella present tense
hablar →
habla
speak
comer →
come
eat
vivir →
vive
live
escribir →
escribe
write
estudiar →
estudia
study
abrir →
abre
open
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 | Would Be | Irregular | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| decir | dice | di | say/tell |
| hacer | hace | haz | do/make |
| ir | va | ve | go |
| poner | pone | pon | put |
| salir | sale | sal | leave |
| ser | es | sé | be |
| tener | tiene | ten | have |
| venir | viene | ven | come |
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.
no + present subjunctive (tú)
hablar
✓ habla
✗ no hables
comer
✓ come
✗ no comas
vivir
✓ vive
✗ no vivas
venir
✓ ven
✗ no vengas
poner
✓ pon
✗ no pongas
ser
✓ sé
✗ no seas
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
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 Phrases (Irregular)
Ven aquí
Come here
Dime la verdad
Tell me the truth
Haz tu tarea
Do your homework
Ten cuidado
Be careful
Affirmative vs Negative Pairs
See how the same verb changes between affirmative and negative commands:
✓ Habla español
✗ No hables inglés
✓ Ven temprano
✗ No vengas tarde
✓ Haz ejercicio
✗ No hagas trampa
✓ Sé amable
✗ No seas grosero
✓ Ve a casa
✗ No vayas solo
✓ Come despacio
✗ No comas rápido
Common Mistakes
Don't Mix Affirmative and Negative Forms
Wrong: No habla
Correct: No hables (use subjunctive)
Affirmative and negative commands use completely different verb forms.
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.
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 - Watch the film)
Stem Changes Still Apply
Stem-changing verbs keep their stem change in commands:
cerrar (e→ie): Cierra la puerta
volver (o→ue): Vuelve pronto
Use Tú Commands Appropriately
Tú commands are informal. Don't use them with:
- Strangers or people you don't know well
- People in authority (bosses, teachers)
- Elderly people (unless they're family)
Use usted commands in formal situations instead.
Quick Test
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 pronouns go with 'Tell it to me' (affirmative)?
7. What's the negative tú command for 'ser' (to be)?
8. How do you say 'Go to the doctor' (tú command with 'ir')?
Want more practice? Try the Imperative Practice Exercises