Imperative sentences in Spanish are used to give commands, make requests, or express instructions. They are commonly used in everyday communication to convey direct and concise messages. Learning how to form and use imperative sentences is essential for anyone looking to communicate effectively in Spanish. In this guide, we will explore the key elements of Spanish imperative sentences, including their formation, usage, and some example sentences.
Formation of Spanish Imperative Sentences:
In Spanish, the formation of imperative sentences depends on whether you are addressing someone informally (using “tú” or “vosotros”) or formally (using “usted” or “ustedes”). Let’s take a closer look at each form:
a. Informal Singular (using “tú” or “vosotros”):
To form the imperative in the informal singular, the conjugated verb is generally the same as the present indicative form, but without the subject pronoun. For regular -ar verbs, the -ar ending is replaced with -a (for “tú”) or -ad (for “vosotros”). For regular -er and -ir verbs, the -er or -ir ending is replaced with -e (for “tú”) or -ed (for “vosotros”).
Example:
Hablar (to speak):
Tú: Habla (Speak)
Vosotros: Hablad (Speak)
b. Formal Singular (using “usted”):
To form the imperative in the formal singular, you use the present subjunctive form of the verb. The subject pronoun “usted” is not necessary since the verb form itself indicates the formal address.
Example:
Comer (to eat):
Usted: Coma (Eat)
c. Informal Plural (using “vosotros”):
The formation of the imperative in the informal plural follows a similar pattern to the informal singular, but with the -r dropped and the -d added for regular -ar and -er verbs. For regular -ir verbs, the -ir ending is replaced with -id.
Example:
Escribir (to write):
Vosotros: Escribid (Write)
d. Formal Plural (using “ustedes”):
To form the imperative in the formal plural, you use the present subjunctive form of the verb. Similar to the formal singular, the subject pronoun “ustedes” is not necessary.
Example:
Abrir (to open):
Ustedes: Abran (Open)
Usage of Spanish Imperative Sentences:
Imperative sentences are commonly used in various situations in Spanish, including giving orders, making requests, offering advice, giving instructions, and expressing suggestions. Here are some examples to illustrate their usage:
Giving orders:
¡Cierra la puerta! (Close the door!)
¡Estudia para el examen! (Study for the exam!)
Making requests:
Por favor, tráeme un vaso de agua. (Please bring me a glass of water.)
Haz el favor de apagar las luces. (Please turn off the lights.)
Offering advice:
Come más frutas y verduras. (Eat more fruits and vegetables.)
Habla con sinceridad. (Speak honestly.)
Giving instructions:
Dobla a la derecha en la siguiente esquina. (Turn right at the next corner.)
Limpia la casa antes de que lleguen los invitados. (Clean the house before the guests arrive.)
Expressing suggestions:
Ve al cine con tus amigos. (Go to the movies with your friends.)
Toma un descanso y relájate un poco. (Take a break and relax for a while.)
It’s important to note that in Spanish, the subject pronouns can be omitted in imperative sentences, as the verb form itself implies the subject. However, including the subject pronoun can add emphasis or clarity to the command or request.
Special Cases and Irregular Imperative Forms:
While most imperative forms follow a regular pattern, there are a few irregular verbs that have unique imperative forms. Here are a few examples of irregular imperatives:
Ser (to be):
Tú: Sé (Be)
Usted: Sea (Be)
Vosotros: Sed (Be)
Ustedes: Sean (Be)
Ir (to go):
Tú: Ve (Go)
Usted: Vaya (Go)
Vosotros: Id (Go)
Ustedes: Vayan (Go)
Decir (to say):
Tú: Di (Say)
Usted: Diga (Say)
Vosotros: Decid (Say)
Ustedes: Digan (Say)
It’s important to familiarize yourself with these irregular imperative forms as they are commonly used in Spanish.
In conclusion, imperative sentences in Spanish are an essential part of communication, allowing you to give commands, make requests, and express instructions. By understanding the formation and usage of imperative sentences, you will be better equipped to communicate effectively in Spanish. Practice using imperative sentences in various contexts and become familiar with irregular forms to enhance your command of the language.
Quick quiz
Exercise 1: Fill in the blank with the correct imperative form of the verb “hablar” (to speak).
Example sentence: _ con claridad. (Speak clearly.)
a) Hablas
b) Habla
c) Hablad
d) Hablen
Answer: b) Habla
Explanation: The correct imperative form for the singular “tú” is “habla” in this case. It is used to give a command to someone informally.
Exercise 2: Choose the appropriate imperative form of the verb “comer” (to eat) for the formal singular “usted.”
Example sentence: __ la comida. (Eat the food.)
a) Comes
b) Coma
c) Coman
d) Comed
Answer: b) Coma
Explanation: The correct imperative form for the formal singular “usted” is “coma” in this case. It is used to give a command or instruction politely.
Exercise 3: Select the correct imperative form of the verb “escribir” (to write) for the informal plural “vosotros.”
Example sentence: _ las respuestas. (Write the answers.)
a) Escribís
b) Escribid
c) Escribimos
d) Escribidme
Answer: b) Escribid
Explanation: The correct imperative form for the informal plural “vosotros” is “escribid” in this case. It is used to give a command or instruction to a group of people informally.
Exercise 4: Fill in the blank with the appropriate imperative form of the verb “abrir” (to open) for the formal plural “ustedes.”
Example sentence: _ la ventana. (Open the window.)
a) Abren
b) Abrís
c) Abran
d) Abranme
Answer: c) Abran
Explanation: The correct imperative form for the formal plural “ustedes” is “abran” in this case. It is used to give a command or instruction to a group of people politely.
Exercise 5: Choose the irregular imperative form of the verb “ser” (to be) for the informal singular “tú.”
Example sentence: _ honesto. (Be honest.)
a) Eres
b) Sé
c) Seáis
d) Sean
Answer: b) Sé
Explanation: The irregular imperative form for the informal singular “tú” of the verb “ser” is “sé” in this case. It is used to give a command or instruction to someone informally.
Exercise 6: Select the irregular imperative form of the verb “ir” (to go) for the formal singular “usted.”
Example sentence: _ al mercado. (Go to the market.)
a) Vas
b) Ve
c) Vaya
d) Vayan
Answer: c) Vaya
Explanation: The irregular imperative form for the formal singular “usted” of the verb “ir” is “vaya” in this case. It is used to give a command or instruction politely.
Exercise 7: Fill in the blank with the irregular imperative form of the verb “decir” (to say) for the informal plural “vosotros.”
Example sentence: __ la verdad. (Say the truth.)
a) Dices
b) Di
c) Decid
d) Digan
Answer: c) Decid
Explanation: The irregular imperative form for the informal plural “vosotros” of the verb “decir” is “decid” in this case. It is used to give a command or instruction to a group of people informally.
Exercise 8: Choose the correct imperative form of the verb “tener” (to have) for the formal plural “ustedes.”
Example sentence: __ paciencia. (Have patience.)
a) Tenéis
b) Ten
c) Tengan
d) Tened
Answer: c) Tengan
Explanation: The correct imperative form for the formal plural “ustedes” of the verb “tener” is “tengan” in this case. It is used to give a command or instruction to a group of people politely.
Exercise 9: Fill in the blank with the appropriate imperative form of the verb “ver” (to see) for the informal singular “tú.”
Example sentence: _ la película. (Watch the movie.)
a) Ves
b) Ve
c) Véis
d) Veis
Answer: b) Ve
Explanation: The correct imperative form for the informal singular “tú” of the verb “ver” is “ve” in this case. It is used to give a command or instruction to someone informally.
Exercise 10: Choose the correct imperative form of the verb “dormir” (to sleep) for the formal singular “usted.”
Example sentence: __ bien. (Sleep well.)
a) Duermes
b) Duerme
c) Duerman
d) Duermanme
Answer: b) Duerme
Explanation: The correct imperative form for the formal singular “usted” of the verb “dormir” is “duerme” in this case. It is used to give a command or instruction politely.
Originally posted 2023-07-18 23:23:28.