Informal commands (tú and vosotros)

Informal commands (tú and vosotros)

This article explains how to make and use informal commands (the imperative) in Spanish for two familiar forms of address: tú (singular, informal) and vosotros (plural, informal — used mainly in Spain). You will learn what they mean, when to use them, how to form affirmative and negative commands, where to put object and reflexive pronouns, common irregulars, and frequent mistakes to avoid. Many clear, natural examples are included.

What are informal commands and when do I use them?

Tú is the singular informal “you” (use with friends, family, people you know well). Examples: "Ven aquí" (Come here), "Come la fruta" (Eat the fruit).

Vosotros is the plural informal “you” used in Spain to speak to a group of people you know well. In Latin America, speakers generally use "ustedes" instead. Examples: "Venid aquí" (Come here, plural), "Comed la fruta" (Eat the fruit, plural).

How do I form affirmative tú commands?

For regular verbs, the affirmative tú command uses the 3rd person singular (él/ella/usted) form of the present indicative.

- -ar verbs: hablar → habla (Speak) — "Habla más despacio." (Speak more slowly.)
- -er verbs: comer → come (Eat) — "Come la manzana." (Eat the apple.)
- -ir verbs: vivir → vive (Live) — "Vive aquí." (Live here.)

Examples
- "Habla más despacio." (Speak more slowly.)
- "Come la manzana." (Eat the apple.)
- "Vive aquí." (Live here.)

A short list of very common irregular affirmative tú forms you should memorize (mnemonic: Ven Di Sal Haz Ten Ve Pon Sé):
- venir → ven — "Ven aquí." (Come here.)
- decir → di — "Di la verdad." (Tell the truth.)
- salir → sal — "Sal ahora." (Leave now.)
- hacer → haz — "Haz la tarea." (Do the homework.)
- tener → ten — "Ten cuidado." (Be careful.)
- ir → ve — "Ve al supermercado." (Go to the supermarket.)
- poner → pon — "Pon la mesa." (Set the table.)
- ser → sé — "Sé paciente." (Be patient.)

Reflexive / pronoun attachment (affirmative tú)

Attach object or reflexive pronouns to the end of affirmative tú commands. Often you must add an accent to keep the original stress. Examples:
- levantarse → levántate — "Levántate ahora." (Get up now.)
- decir + me + lo → dímelo — "Dímelo." (Tell it to me.)
- poner + te + lo → póntelo — "Póntelo ahora." (Put it on.)
- dar + me + lo → dámelo — "Dámelo, por favor." (Give it to me, please.)

How do I form negative tú commands?

Negative informal commands use the present subjunctive for tú, and the word "no" goes before the verb:
- hablar → no hables — "No hables tan rápido." (Don’t speak so quickly.)
- comer → no comas — "No comas tanto." (Don’t eat so much.)
- vivir → no vivas — "No vivas con miedo." (Don’t live in fear.)

Pronouns (negative tú)

In negative commands, pronouns go before the verb (after "no").
- "No te levantes todavía." (Don’t get up yet.)
- "No me lo digas." (Don’t tell me it.)
- "No se lo des." (Don’t give it to him/her.)

Common negative irregulars (from present subjunctive)

These negative commands reflect irregular subjunctive stems:
- no vengas (venir) — "No vengas tarde." (Don’t come late.)
- no digas (decir) — "No digas mentiras." (Don’t tell lies.)
- no salgas (salir) — "No salgas sin abrigo." (Don’t go out without a coat.)
- no hagas (hacer) — "No hagas eso." (Don’t do that.)
- no tengas (tener) — "No tengas miedo." (Don’t be afraid.)
- no vayas (ir) — "No vayas allí." (Don’t go there.)
- no seas (ser) — "No seas tonto." (Don’t be silly.)
- no des (dar) — "No des excusas." (Don’t give excuses.)
- no estés (estar) — "No estés triste." (Don’t be sad.)
- no sepas (saber) — "No lo sepas todavía." (Don’t know it yet.)

How do I form affirmative vosotros commands?

For regular verbs, form the affirmative vosotros command by replacing the final -r of the infinitive with -d:
- hablar → hablad — "Hablad más bajo." (Speak more quietly.)
- comer → comed — "Comed la cena." (Eat dinner.)
- vivir → vivid — "Vivid el momento." (Live the moment.)

Reflexive vosotros (special step)

When you attach the reflexive pronoun "os" to an affirmative vosotros command, drop the final -d of the imperative and add "os":
- sentar → sentad → sentaos — "Sentaos aquí." (Sit down here.)
- levantar → levantad → levantaos — "Levantaos a las siete." (Get up at seven.)
- irse → id → idos — "¡Idos ya!" (Go away now!)

Note: attaching pronouns to affirmative forms may require an accent to preserve the original stress (see examples above).

How do I form negative vosotros commands?

Negative vosotros commands use no + the present subjunctive vosotros form. Remember the accent marks in the subjunctive endings:
- hablar → no habléis — "No habléis tan alto." (Don’t speak so loudly.)
- comer → no comáis — "No comáis en clase." (Don’t eat in class.)
- vivir → no viváis — "No viváis así." (Don’t live like that.)

Reflexive negative vosotros

Reflexive pronoun "os" goes before the verb with no:
- "No os levantéis temprano." (Don’t get up early.)
- "No os vayáis sin avisar." (Don’t leave without warning.)

Pronoun placement and order (concise rules)

- Affirmative commands: attach pronouns to the end of the verb (enclitic). Examples: "Dímelo." (Tell it to me.), "Póntelo." (Put it on.)
- Negative commands: pronouns go before the verb (proclitic). Examples: "No me lo digas." (Don’t tell me it.), "No te lo pongas." (Don’t put it on.)

Order of pronouns

When both indirect and direct object pronouns appear, the order is: indirect (me/te/le/nos/os/les → le/les become "se" before lo/la/los/las) + direct (lo/la/los/las).
- "Dímelo." (Di + me + lo → Dímelo.)
- "Dáselo." (Da + se + lo → Dáselo.)
- "No me lo digas." (No + me + lo + digas.)

Irregulars and common spelling notes

Ven, di, sal, haz, ten, ve, pon, sé (venir, decir, salir, hacer, tener, ir, poner, ser).

Examples: "no vayas" (ir), "no seas" (ser), "no des" (dar), "no estés" (estar), "no sepas" (saber), "no vengas" (venir), "no digas" (decir).

Some verbs undergo spelling changes in certain forms to preserve pronunciation (this is most visible in subjunctive forms and some imperative forms derived from them). Examples include verbs with -car/-gar/-zar changes in the subjunctive (no busques, no llegues, no empieces → "no empieces" from empezar). These affect negative commands (because they use subjunctive) but affirmative tú is often the present indicative form (so the change may already appear there).

Common mistakes to avoid

- Using the indicative instead of subjunctive in negative commands: Wrong: "No hablas" → Correct: "No hables."
- Putting pronouns in the wrong place: Wrong: "No digaslo" or "Dime no." → Correct: "No lo digas." / "Dímelo."
- Forgetting to change "le/les" to "se" before lo/la/los/las in double pronoun combinations: Wrong: "Dale lo" → Correct: "Dáselo."
- Using vosotros forms where they aren’t used (Latin America): In most of Latin America, use "ustedes" + subjunctive: "hablen, coman, vivan" instead of "hablad, comed, vivid."
- Not dropping the final -d before adding "os" in affirmative vosotros reflexive commands: Wrong: "Levantados" → Correct: "Levantaos." (i.e., "Levantad" + "os" → drop the d → "Levantaos.")

Quick reference: templates and examples

- Affirmative tú: 3rd person present indicative
- hablar → habla — "Habla claro." (Speak clearly.)
- comer → come — "Come ahora." (Eat now.)
- vivir → vive — "Vive feliz." (Live happily.)

- Negative tú: no + present subjunctive (tú)
- no hables, no comas, no vivas — "No hables en clase." (Don’t speak in class.)

- Affirmative vosotros: infinitive minus -r + d
- hablar → hablad — "Hablad entre vosotros." (Talk among yourselves.)
- comer → comed — "Comed todo." (Eat it all.)
- vivir → vivid — "Vivid con alegría." (Live with joy.)
- reflexive: levantad → levantaos — "Levantaos." (Get up.)

- Negative vosotros: no + present subjunctive (vosotros)
- no habléis, no comáis, no viváis — "No habléis tan alto." (Don’t talk so loudly.)

- Pronouns: affirmative = attached; negative = before the verb
- Affirmative tú: "Dímelo." (Tell it to me.)
- Negative tú: "No me lo digas." (Don’t tell me it.)
- Affirmative vosotros reflexive: "Sentaos." (Sit down.)
- Negative vosotros reflexive: "No os sentéis." (Don’t sit down.)

Glossary (short)</b]

- Imperative: the verb form used to give orders, instructions, or advice (commands).
- Affirmative command: tells someone to do something (e.g., "Come").
- Negative command: tells someone not to do something (e.g., "No comas").
- Subjunctive: a mood used after certain expressions and to form negative commands in Spanish. For tú negative commands we use the tú form of the present subjunctive.
- Enclitic: a pronoun attached to the end of the verb (used in affirmative commands).

If you want, I can give a short printable cheat sheet (one page) with examples you use most often (e.g., cooking, classroom, house chores).