Verbs: Imperative Mood — Mexican Spanish Grammar

The imperative mood is used to give commands, make requests, offer suggestions, or provide instructions. The verb form changes depending on who you are talking to (the subject) and whether the command is positive (do something) or negative (don't do something).

Informal "Tú" Commands

These commands are used with friends, family, or people you would address with .

Positive "Tú" Commands

For most verbs, the positive command is the same as the third-person singular () form in the present tense.

¡Habla más despacio, por favor!
Speak more slowly, please!
¡Come toda tu verdura!
Eat all your vegetables!
¡Abre la ventana!
Open the window!

There are eight common verbs with irregular positive commands:

→ (say/tell)
→ (do/make)
→ (go)
→ (put)
→ (leave/go out)
→ (be)
→ (have)
→ (come)

¡Ten cuidado!
Be careful!
¡Haz tu tarea ahora!
Do your homework now!

Negative "Tú" Commands

Negative commands use the present subjunctive form. To form this, you place before the verb and change the ending. For -ar verbs, the ending becomes -es. For -er and -ir verbs, the ending becomes -as.

¡No hables con la boca llena!
Don't talk with your mouth full!
¡No comas tantos dulces!
Don't eat so many sweets!
¡No abras la puerta!
Don't open the door!

Formal & Plural Commands (Usted / Ustedes)

In Mexican Spanish, is used for formal singular "you," and is used for all plural "you" situations, both formal and informal. For both subjects, the positive and negative commands use the present subjunctive form.

"Usted" Commands (Formal "You")

For -ar verbs, the ending becomes -e. For -er and -ir verbs, the ending becomes -a.

Pase usted, por favor.
Come in, please.
No coma aquí.
Don't eat here.
Señor, firme en esta línea.
Sir, sign on this line.

"Ustedes" Commands (Plural "You")

For -ar verbs, the ending becomes -en. For -er and -ir verbs, the ending becomes -an.

Niños, ¡coman su cena!
Kids, eat your dinner!
¡Hablen con el gerente!
Speak with the manager!
Por favor, no lleguen tarde mañana.
Please, don't arrive late tomorrow.

"Let's" Commands (Nosotros)

To make a suggestion that includes yourself ("Let's..."), use the form of the present subjunctive. For -ar verbs, the ending is -emos. For -er and -ir verbs, the ending is -amos.

¡Comamos en ese restaurante nuevo!
Let's eat at that new restaurant!
Hablemos de otra cosa.
Let's talk about something else.
No salgamos hoy, está lloviendo.
Let's not go out today, it's raining.

Using Pronouns with Commands

Object and reflexive pronouns have a specific placement with imperative verbs.

With Affirmative Commands

Pronouns are attached to the end of the verb. If adding the pronoun creates a word of three or more syllables, a written accent is usually needed to maintain the original stress.

¿El libro? ¡Léelo!
The book? Read it!
¿Necesitas ayuda? ¡Dime!
Do you need help? Tell me!
¿La cuenta? ¡Tráigamela, por favor!
The check? Bring it to me, please!

With Negative Commands

Pronouns are placed before the verb and after the word .

Ese coche es muy caro. ¡No lo compres!
That car is very expensive. Don't buy it!
Es un secreto. ¡No se lo digas a nadie!
It's a secret. Don't tell it to anyone!
¡No te levantes todavía!
Don't get up yet!

A Note on "Vosotros"

In Spain, the pronoun is used for informal plural "you." It has its own imperative forms. For positive commands, the final -r of the infinitive is replaced with a -d (e.g., → ). This form is not used in Mexico or the rest of Latin America, where is the standard for all plural commands.

In the course

Sentences from Lingora’s Mexican Spanish course

37 of the course's 500 sentences use this, the first in lesson 23. A few of them, with the words “Verbs: Imperative Mood” is about in bold:

Vayan a ver la cocina. Es muy pequeña.
Go and check out (pl.) the kitchen. It is so small.
Lesson 322

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