The command form is used to express direct orders, requests or suggestions. Because of its direct nature, we only use it in the second person form. Note that all four different conjugations are equivalent to "you" in English:
Imperative conjugation (regular verbs)
hablar (-ar)
comer (-er)
abrir (-ir)
(tú) habla
(vosotros)
hablad
come
comed
abre
abrid
(usted)
hable
ustedes
(hablen)
coma
coman
abra
abran
The following are the endings in the command form. Note that these endings apply only to regular verbs:
Command form endings (regular verbs)
-ar
-er
-ir
-a
-ad
-e
-ed
-e
-id
-e
-en
-a
-an
-a
-an
(Note that the singular forms of "-er" and "-ir" verbs
have the same conjugation.)
Normally, Spanish speakers do not use the personal pronoun with the command form. If we use it, we place the pronoun after the conjugated verb:
- ¡Abre tú la puerta! (Open the door!)
- Conteste usted el teléfono. (Answer the telephone.)
- ¡Comed vosotros ahora! (Eat now!)
- ¡Salten ustedes! (Jump (you guys)!
Also, keep in mind that actions in the command form are always in the present tense, and we use adverbs of time to stress the urgency of the command, or to indicate to the listener when the action should be carried out:
- ¡Abre la puerta ahora! (Open the door now!)
- Conteste el teléfono inmediatamente. (Answer the phone immediately.)
- Coman (ustedes) esta tarde a las seis. (Eat (you guys) this evening at six o´clock.)
Command form: irregular verb conjugation
decir
(to say)
hacer
(to do)
ir
(to go)
poner
(to put)
salir
(to leave)
venir
(to come)
di
haz
ve
pon
sal
ven
diga
haga
vaya
ponga
salga
venga
decid
haced
id
poned
salid
venid
digan
hagan
vayan
pongan
salgan
vengan
(Use the formal command form with a person you are not familiar with. )
It is a very good idea to familiarize yourself with the command form conjugation, as it is the same conjugation used in the subjunctive mood.
Click here to practice the commands and many other
aspects of Spanish grammar.
