Download Formal Commands

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Formal Commands
By now, you are well acquainted with the fact that Spanish has both a formal and an informal
style of speech (tú / Ud.). This distinction applies to commands.
Commands are used when ordering, or telling someone to do something. This is often
referred to as the "imperative" form of the verb.
Compre Ud. el anillo.
(You) Buy the ring.
Haga Ud. la tarea.
(You) Do the homework.
The formal commands are formed as follows:
1. Start with the yo form of the present indicative.
2. Then drop the -o ending.
3. Finally, add the following endings:
-e (for Ud.),
-a (for Ud.),
-ar verbs:
-er and -ir verbs:
-en (for Uds.)
-an (for Uds.)
Note: Affirmative and negative commands use the same verb forms.
Hable Ud.
Speak.
No hable Ud.
Don't speak.
Coma Ud.
Eat.
No coma Ud.
Don't eat.
Escriba Ud.
Write.
No escriba Ud.
Don't write.
Remember, if the first person singular (yo) form is irregular, that irregularity is carried over
into the formation of the formal command. This also applies to stem-changing verbs.
IRREGULAR YO FORMS (-go verbs):
STEM CHANGE VERBS
venir
venga Ud.
vengan Uds.
jugar
juegue ud.
jueguen uds.
decir
diga Ud.
digan Uds.
repetir
repita ud.
repitan uds.
salir
salga Ud.
salgan Uds.
servir
sirva ud.
sirvan uds.
hacer
haga Ud.
hagan Uds.
empezar
empiece ud.
empiecen uds.
tener
tenga Ud.
tengan Uds.
pedir
pida ud.
pidan uds.
poner
ponga Ud.
pongan Uds.
dormir
duerma ud.
duerman uds.
traer
traiga Ud.
traigan Uds.
volver
vuelva ud.
vuelvan uds.
IRREGULAR VERBS:
dar
dé Ud.
den Uds.
ir
vaya Ud.
vayan Uds.
ser
sea Ud.
sean Uds.
haber
haya Ud.
hayan Uds.
estar
esté Ud.
estén Uds.
saber
sepa Ud.
sepan Uds.
Also note that the subject pronouns Ud. and Uds. may or may not be used. Using them adds
a degree of formality or politeness to the command.
Hable.
Speak.
Hable Ud.
Speak (sir). (more respectful)
Coma.
Eat.
Coma Ud.
Eat (sir). (more polite)
Notes - Commands and Pronouns
1. ALWAYS ATTACH pronouns to the end of AFFIRMATIVE commands! (AAA)
2. Order: Command + Indirect Object Pronoun + Direct Object Pronoun
3. Add an accent over the 2nd to the last vowel of the command.
Examples:
1. Buy him it. (it = el perro, Ud. command)
= Cómpreselo.
2. Go to sleep (Ud. command)
= Duérmase.
One syllable commands:
When you add 2 pronouns, the accent goes over the vowel of the command.
1. Give them to them. (them = the papers, Ud. command)
= Déselas.
When you add only 1 pronoun, you do not add an accent.
1. Give me. (Ud. command)
= Deme.
**If the command is negative, then the pronoun(s) MUST precede the command.**
Examples:
1. Don’t write me it. (it = la carta, Ud. command)
= No me la escriba Ud.
2. Don’t buy him it. (it = el perro, Ud. command)
= No se lo compre Ud.
3. Don’t go to sleep (Ud. command)
= No se duerma Ud.