- Form usted and ustedes commands using the present subjunctive
- Understand that both affirmative and negative formal commands use the same form
- Learn the 6 irregular subjunctive forms used in commands
- Place pronouns correctly with formal commands
- Use formal commands appropriately in professional and polite contexts
- Know when to use usted/ustedes vs informal tú commands
The rule at a glance
Usted and ustedes use the present subjunctive
-ar → -e / -en (hable, hablen) · -er/-ir → -a / -an (coma, coman)
Usted
hable
speak (one person, formal)
Hable despacio, por favor.
Speak slowly, please.
Usted negative
no hable
don't speak
No hable tan rápido.
Don't speak so fast.
Ustedes
escuchen
listen (you all)
Escuchen con atención.
Listen carefully.
With pronouns
siéntense / no se sienten
sit down / don't sit down (you all)
Dígame su nombre.
Tell me your name.
- Same form with or without no: hable / no hable. Compare tú, which changes: habla / no hables.
- Irregulars: an irregular yo form carries over (hago → haga, digo → diga), plus dé, vaya, sea, esté, sepa: Vaya por aquí (Go this way). Stem changes stay: Cierre la puerta.
- In Spain, ustedes is formal: with friends use vosotros (hablad). In Latin America, ustedes covers both.
What You'll Learn
Overview
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).
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.
- Start with the yo form of the present indicative
- Drop the -o ending
- Add "opposite vowel" endings: -ar verbs → -e, -er/-ir verbs → -a
Usted (Singular)
Use the 3rd person singular subjunctive (él/ella/usted form)
Ustedes (Plural)
Use the 3rd person plural subjunctive (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 (5 Verbs)
These 5 verbs have irregular present subjunctive forms that you use for usted/ustedes commands.
| Infinitive | Usted | Ustedes | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| dar | dé | den | give |
| estar | esté | estén | be |
| ir | vaya | vayan | go |
| saber | sepa | sepan | know |
| ser | sea | sean | be |
dar
Ud: dé
Uds: den
estar
Ud: esté
Uds: estén
ir
Ud: vaya
Uds: vayan
saber
Ud: sepa
Uds: sepan
ser
Ud: sea
Uds: sean
Memory Tip: you may know "DISHES" (dar, ir, ser, haber, estar, saber) for the irregular subjunctive. For commands, drop haber, which has no command form: dé, vaya, sea, esté, sepa.
Pronoun Placement with Commands
Object pronouns (lo, la, me, se, etc.) follow the same rules as with tú commands:
Affirmative: Attach Pronouns
Háblelo
Speak it (formal)
Siéntense
Sit down (you all)
Negative: Separate Pronouns
No lo hable
Don't speak it (formal)
No se sienten
Don't sit down (you all)
Accent Note: When attaching pronouns to affirmative commands, add an accent mark to maintain stress: hable + lo = háblelo
Examples
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
Same form for both - just add "no" for negative:
✓ Hable en español
✗ No hable en inglés
Speak Spanish / Don't speak 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
✓ Vengan temprano
✗ No vengan tarde
Come early / Don't come late
Latin America vs Spain: Ustedes
Latin America
"Ustedes" is used for all plural "you" (both formal and informal)
Spain
"Ustedes" is only for formal plural. Informal uses vosotros.
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 Affirmative & Negative
Don't try to change the form for negative:
✓ Hable / No hable (both use "hable")
✗ Habla / No hable
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
- Strangers or people you don't know well
- People in authority (bosses, teachers, officials)
- Elderly people (unless 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
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?
7. What's the usted command for 'ser' (to be)?
8. How do you say 'Sit down' (ustedes command with reflexive 'sentarse')?
Want more practice? Try our interactive fill-in-the-blank exercises covering tú, usted, ustedes, and nosotros commands!