- Form usted and ustedes commands using the present subjunctive
- Understand that both affirmative and negative formal commands use the same form
- Master the 7 irregular subjunctive forms used in commands
- Place pronouns correctly with formal commands
- Use formal commands appropriately in professional and polite contexts
- Understand when to use usted/ustedes vs informal tú commands
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Usted/Ustedes Commands: Formal Imperative
What You'll Learn
Overview / Usage
Usted/Ustedes commands (also called the formal imperative) are used to give polite orders, instructions, or requests to people you address formally with "usted" (you singular formal) or "ustedes" (you plural formal).
🎯 Quick Examples
✓ AFFIRMATIVE (Usted)
Hable despacio, por favor
Speak slowly, please
✗ NEGATIVE (Usted)
No hable tan rápido
Don't speak so fast
👥 PLURAL (Ustedes)
Hablen más alto
Speak louder (you all)
💡 The Big Difference from Tú Commands
Unlike informal tú commands, formal usted/ustedes commands use the same form for both affirmative and negative commands. They all use the present subjunctive.
✓ Hable usted (Speak - affirmative)
✗ No hable usted (Don't speak - negative)
Both use "hable" - just add "no" for negative!
The good news: you already know these forms if you've studied the present subjunctive!
Structure & Formation
📋 Formation: Use the Present Subjunctive
For all usted/ustedes commands (affirmative and negative), use the present subjunctive forms.
Quick Review: Present Subjunctive Formation
- Start with the yo form of the present indicative (e.g., hablo, como, vivo)
- Drop the -o ending
- Add the "opposite vowel" endings:
- -ar verbs use -e endings: -e, -es, -e, -emos, -éis, -en
- -er/-ir verbs use -a endings: -a, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an
Usted/Ustedes Command Forms
Usted (Singular)
Use the 3rd person singular subjunctive
(él/ella/usted form)
(él/ella/usted form)
Ustedes (Plural)
Use the 3rd person plural subjunctive
(ellos/ellas/ustedes form)
(ellos/ellas/ustedes form)
Regular Verb Examples
hablar
Ud.: hable
Uds.: hablen
speak
comer
Ud.: coma
Uds.: coman
eat
vivir
Ud.: viva
Uds.: vivan
live
escribir
Ud.: escriba
Uds.: escriban
write
estudiar
Ud.: estudie
Uds.: estudien
study
abrir
Ud.: abra
Uds.: abran
open
⭐ Irregular Subjunctive Forms (7 Verbs)
These 7 verbs have irregular present subjunctive forms. Since usted/ustedes commands use the subjunctive, these irregularities apply to the commands as well.
| Infinitive | Usted | Ustedes | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| dar (to give) | dé | den | give |
| estar (to be) | esté | estén | be |
| haber (to have) | haya | hayan | have (aux) |
| ir (to go) | vaya | vayan | go |
| saber (to know) | sepa | sepan | know |
| ser (to be) | sea | sean | be |
| ver (to see) | vea | vean | see |
Memory Tip: "DISHES"
Dar, Ir, Ser, Haber, Estar, Saber, (ver)
➕➖ Affirmative and Negative Commands
Remember: Both affirmative and negative formal commands use the same subjunctive form. For negative, just add "no" before the verb.
hablar
✓ Hable usted
✗ No hable usted
speak / don't speak
comer
✓ Coma usted
✗ No coma usted
eat / don't eat
ir
✓ Vaya usted
✗ No vaya usted
go / don't go
ser
✓ Sea usted
✗ No sea usted
be / don't be
hacer
✓ Hagan ustedes
✗ No hagan ustedes
do / don't do (plural)
venir
✓ Vengan ustedes
✗ No vengan ustedes
come / don't come (plural)
💡 Note: You can drop "usted" or "ustedes" after the verb - it's often implied by context."Hable más despacio" is just as correct as "Hable usted más despacio"
📍 Pronoun Placement with Commands
Object pronouns (lo, la, me, se, etc.) follow the same rules as with tú commands:
Affirmative: Attach Pronouns
Hable + lo → Háblelo
Speak it (formal)
Siéntense → Siéntense
Sit down (you all - formal)
Negative: Separate Pronouns
No lo hable
Don't speak it (formal)
No se sienten
Don't sit down (you all - formal)
⚠️ Accent Note: When you attach pronouns to affirmative commands, add an accent mark to maintain the original stress: hable + lo = háblelo
Examples
💬 Formal Commands in Professional Settings
Office & Business
Firme aquí, por favor
Sign here, please
Llene este formulario
Fill out this form
Espere un momento
Wait a moment
Pase adelante
Come in / Go ahead
Medical & Healthcare
Respire profundo
Breathe deeply
Abra la boca
Open your mouth
Tome estas pastillas
Take these pills
Descanse mucho
Rest a lot
Customer Service
Llame más tarde
Call later
Envíe un correo electrónico
Send an email
Deje un mensaje
Leave a message
Comuníquese con nosotros
Contact us
🎯 Common Plural Commands (Ustedes)
Addressing multiple people formally:
Siéntense
Sit down
Levántense
Stand up
Escuchen con atención
Listen carefully
Lean el documento
Read the document
Presenten sus ideas
Present your ideas
Trabajen en equipo
Work as a team
Hagan preguntas
Ask questions
Tomen nota
Take note
Vayan a la sala
Go to the room
🔄 Affirmative vs Negative Pairs
See how formal commands change between affirmative and negative (same form, just add "no"):
✓ Hable en español
✗ No hable en inglés
Speak in Spanish / Don't speak in English
✓ Vaya por aquí
✗ No vaya por allá
Go this way / Don't go that way
✓ Sea puntual
✗ No sea impaciente
Be punctual / Don't be impatient
✓ Firme el contrato
✗ No firme todavía
Sign the contract / Don't sign yet
✓ Vengan temprano
✗ No vengan tarde
Come early / Don't come late
✓ Hagan su mejor esfuerzo
✗ No hagan trampa
Do your best / Don't cheat
🌍 Latin America vs Spain: Ustedes
Important regional note about "ustedes":
🌎 Latin America
"Ustedes" is used for all plural "you" (both formal and informal). There is no "vosotros" in Latin American Spanish.
"Hablen" = You all speak (to friends or strangers)
🇪🇸 Spain
"Ustedes" is used only for formal plural situations. For informal plural, Spain uses "vosotros" commands.
"Hablen" = You all speak (formal only, e.g., to customers)
Gotchas / Common Mistakes
❌ Don't Use Indicative Forms
Formal commands ALWAYS use subjunctive, never indicative:
Wrong: Habla usted (indicative)
Correct: Hable usted (subjunctive)
❌ Same Form for Both Commands
Don't try to change the form for negative - it stays the same:
✓ Hable / No hable (both use "hable")
✗ NOT "Habla / No hable"
💡 Pronouns Change Position
Remember: attached to affirmative, separate for negative:
✓ Dígamelo (Tell it to me)
✓ No me lo diga (Don't tell it to me)
📝 Stem Changes Still Apply
Stem-changing verbs keep their stem change in the subjunctive:
cerrar (e→ie): Cierre la puerta
volver (o→ue): Vuelva mañana
🎯 When to Use Formal Commands
Use usted/ustedes commands with:
- Strangers or people you don't know well
- People in authority (bosses, teachers, officials)
- Elderly people (unless they're close family)
- Professional/business situations
- Customer service interactions
⚠️ Don't Forget Accents
When attaching pronouns, add accents to maintain stress:
Wrong: Digamelo
Correct: Dígamelo
Quick Test / Mini Quiz
📝 Interactive Formal Commands Quiz
Test your knowledge of Spanish usted/ustedes commands!
1
What's the affirmative usted command for 'hablar' (to speak)?
2
What's the negative usted command for 'comer' (to eat)?
3
Which is the usted command for 'ir' (to go)?
4
How do you say 'Don't speak' (negative usted command)?
5
What's the ustedes command for 'escribir' (to write)?
6
Where do you place pronouns with affirmative usted commands? (Example: 'Tell it to me')
7
What's the usted command for 'ser' (to be)?
8
How do you say 'Sit down' (ustedes command with reflexive 'sentarse')?
Useful Resources
Coming soon...