Instruction: Irregular Spanish Positive and Negative Commands

In Spanish, commands (also known as the imperative mood) are used frequently in everyday communication. Some verbs are irregular and do not follow the standard rules for forming commands, especially in the tú and vosotros forms, which have different positive and negative command forms. Understanding these irregular commands is essential for giving clear and correct instructions.

Key Point: The tú negative, vosotros negative, usted (Ud.), ustedes (Uds.), and nosotros commands all follow the same irregular patterns as the subjunctive mood.

This lesson will guide you through the irregular forms of positive and negative commands for tú (informal singular), usted (formal singular), vosotros (informal plural, Spain), nosotros (let’s), and ustedes (formal plural), providing examples to help you master these forms.

1. Irregular Tú Commands (Informal Singular)

The tú form of commands is used frequently in informal conversations. The irregular positive and negative tú commands differ significantly, so they must be memorized separately.

Example Sentences:

• Di la verdad. / No digas mentiras.
  (Say the truth. / Don’t tell lies.)
• Haz la tarea. / No hagas ruido.
  (Do the homework. / Don’t make noise.)
• Ve a casa. / No vayas a ese lugar.
  (Go home. / Don’t go to that place.)
• Pon el libro en la mesa. / No pongas eso aquí.
  (Put the book on the table. / Don’t put that here.)
• Sal ahora mismo. / No salgas sin abrigo.
  (Leave right now. / Don’t go out without a coat.)
• Sé amable con los demás. / No seas grosero.
  (Be kind to others. / Don’t be rude.)
• Ten cuidado. / No tengas miedo.
  (Be careful. / Don’t be afraid.)
• Ven aquí. / No vengas tarde.
  (Come here. / Don’t come late.)

2. Irregular Usted Commands (Formal Singular)

For usted commands, the irregular verbs follow the present subjunctive form. These commands are the same for both positive and negative forms.

Example Sentences:

• Diga su nombre, por favor. / No diga eso en público.
  (Say your name, please. / Don’t say that in public.)
• Haga lo que le pedí. / No haga excusas.
  (Do what I asked you to do. / Don’t make excuses.)
• Vaya al mercado. / No vaya a ese lugar peligroso.
  (Go to the market. / Don’t go to that dangerous place.)
• Ponga sus cosas aquí. / No ponga sus pies en la mesa.
  (Put your things here. / Don’t put your feet on the table.)
• Salga por la puerta trasera. / No salga hasta que termine la lluvia.
  (Leave through the back door. / Don’t leave until the rain stops.)
• Sea honesto en todo momento. / No sea tan impaciente.
  (Be honest at all times. / Don’t be so impatient.)
• Tenga paciencia. / No tenga prisa.
  (Have patience. / Don’t be in a hurry.)
• Venga conmigo. / No venga sin avisar.
  (Come with me. / Don’t come without notifying.)

3. Irregular Vosotros Commands (Informal Plural, Spain)

The vosotros form is used in Spain for informal plural commands. The positive vosotros command is formed by replacing the final “-r” of the infinitive with “-d,” while the negative vosotros command follows the present subjunctive form.

Example Sentences:

• Decid la verdad. / No digáis mentiras.
  (Say the truth. / Don’t tell lies.)
• Haced lo que os dije. / No hagáis ruido.
  (Do what I told you. / Don’t make noise.)
• Id a la tienda. / No vayáis tarde.
  (Go to the store. / Don’t go late.)
• Poned la mesa. / No pongáis eso allí.
  (Set the table. / Don’t put that there.)

4. Irregular Nosotros Commands (Let’s)

The nosotros form is used to suggest that everyone, including the speaker, do something together. Both positive and negative commands are formed using the present subjunctive. The verb ir is an exception, using vamos for the positive command but no vayamos for the negative.

Example Sentences:

• Digamos la verdad. / No digamos mentiras.
  (Let’s say the truth. / Let’s not tell lies.)
• Hagamos la tarea juntos. / No hagamos ruido.
  (Let’s do the homework together. / Let’s not make noise.)
• Vamos al parque. / No vayamos tarde.
  (Let’s go to the park. / Let’s not go late.)
• Pongamos la mesa. / No pongamos eso aquí.
  (Let’s set the table. / Let’s not put that here.)

5. Irregular Ustedes Commands (Formal Plural)

The ustedes form is used for formal commands directed at a group. Both positive and negative commands use the present subjunctive form.

Example Sentences:

• Digan la verdad. / No digan mentiras.
  (Tell the truth. / Don’t tell lies.)
• Hagan lo que les dije. / No hagan ruido.
  (Do what I told you. / Don’t make noise.)
• Vayan al mercado. / No vayan tarde.
  (Go to the market. / Don’t go late.)
• Pongan atención. / No pongan eso allí.
  (Pay attention. / Don’t put that there.)

6. Key Points to Remember

• Tú and vosotros have different forms for positive and negative commands, with tú positive and vosotros positive being unique forms.
• Tú negative, vosotros negative, usted (Ud.), ustedes (Uds.), and nosotros commands all follow the same irregular patterns as in the subjunctive mood.

Conclusion

Mastering irregular commands is helpful for effective communication in Spanish. Whether you’re giving instructions, making requests, or offering advice, being able to use the correct form of commands in different situations is essential. Remember that the tú negative, vosotros negative, usted, ustedes, and nosotros commands follow the same irregularities as the subjunctive mood. Keep practicing these commands, and soon you’ll be able to use them naturally in conversation!