The imperative mood gives commands, makes requests, offers advice, and sometimes softens directions with polite forms. This guide covers the main forms for tú, usted, vosotros, and ustedes, plus useful negative commands.
Affirmative Tú
The affirmative tú command uses the third-person singular form of the verb in the present indicative for regular verbs, making it quick and natural for everyday instructions.
Examples
Formation
| Spanish Command | English Command | |
|---|---|---|
| habla | speak | |
| come | eat | |
| escribe | write |
Notes
Short pronoun attachments make affirmative commands even more direct: attach lo, la, me, te, or se to the end of the command form.
Negative Tú
Negative tú commands use the present subjunctive tú form and keep pronouns separate, making the command clear and polite for telling someone what not to do.
Examples
Formation
| Spanish Command | English Command | |
|---|---|---|
| no hables | don't speak | |
| no comas | don't eat | |
| no escribas | don't write |
Notes
In negative commands, pronouns go before the verb, so you say no lo hagas rather than no hagaslo.
Usted Commands
Usted commands use the third-person singular present subjunctive form to give respectful or formal orders, common in customer service and polite requests.
Examples
Formation
| Spanish Command | English Command | |
|---|---|---|
| hable | speak (formal) | |
| coma | eat (formal) | |
| escriba | write (formal) |
Notes
Attach pronouns to affirmative usted commands for smooth speech: hágalo, cómprelo, escríbaselo.
Ustedes Commands
Ustedes commands use the third-person plural present subjunctive form for group orders or polite directions to multiple people, useful in classrooms or teams.
Examples
Formation
| Spanish Command | English Command | |
|---|---|---|
| hablen | speak (pl.) | |
| coman | eat (pl.) | |
| escriban | write (pl.) |
Notes
Pronouns attach to affirmative ustedes commands and precede negative ones, so plan placements accordingly.
Vosotros Commands
Vosotros commands have a distinctive affirmative form that replaces the final -r with -d for easy group instructions in Spain, while negative commands use the vosotros subjunctive.
Examples
Formation
| Spanish Command | English Command | |
|---|---|---|
| hablad | speak (vosotros) | |
| comed | eat (vosotros) | |
| escribid | write (vosotros) |
Notes
Use the negative vosotros command with no + vosotros subjunctive: no habléis, no comáis, no escribáis.
Pronouns
Attach pronouns to affirmative commands to maintain flow, and place them before negative commands to keep the order clear and natural in speech and writing.
Examples
Rules
Notes
When attaching pronouns to affirmative commands, sometimes an accent mark is needed to preserve the original stress, as in dímelo or cómpraselo.
Summary
The imperative mood shapes how you give orders, advice, and requests through distinct forms for tú, usted, vosotros, and ustedes, with clear rules for pronoun placement in affirmative and negative commands.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025