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GRAMTICA
Command forms
Command forms in Spanish may be challenging because they differ depending on five possible
intervening factors:
whether the command is given informally (with "t") or formally (with "usted")
whether the command is negative or positive
whether the command is given to one person or many people
whether the verb is reflexive
whether there are direct or indirect object pronouns
Each of these five factors can be mixed together to create a wide variety of possibilities.
DIRECT COMMANDS
To form postive formal commands, start with the form of the verb that goes with the pronoun
"yo" (e.g., abro, muevo, vengo, etc.). Then take the "-o" off of that verb ending. If the verb is
an AR verb, replace the "-o" with "-e" If the verb is an ER or IR verb, replace the "-o" with "-a"
If the command is given to more than one person, the endings are "-en" and "-an" respectively.
If the verb is reflexive, put the reflexive pronoun "se" after the verb form. If there are object
pronouns (it, them) put them after the verb too. The following examples help to clarify.
Examples:
INFINITIVE
"YO" FORM
SINGULAR
PLURAL
me acuesto
acustese
acustense
me calmo
clmese
clmense
escribo
escriba
escriban
explico
explique
expliquen
me siento
sintese
sintense
Note: There are some irregular forms as well because the "yo" form does not end in an "-o" as
follows:
dar "to give"
doy
dn
estoy
est
estn
voy
vyase
vyanse
sepa
sepan
soy
sea
sean
The negative formal commands are similar to the positive ones. The difference is that the word
"no" goes before the verb and reflexive pronouns and object pronouns also go before the verbs.
No escriba.
No se calme.
No se vaya.
INDIRECT COMMANDS
Given the difficulty and the variety of direct command forms, one solution is to use indirect
command forms. These are easier to form and do not involve as many choices. There are three
phrases that are helpful in giving indirect commands: "hay que..." (one must), "favor de..."
(please do the favor of...) and "usted tiene que...." (you have to...). Each of these phrases is
followed by a verb in the infinitive. As such, it is not necessary to know the verb conjugation. Be
aware, however, sometimes the regular command form sounds much better.
Examples:
Hay que escucharme primero.
VOCABULARIO
avenida (f)
avenue
izquierda (f)
left
calle (f)
street
prolongacin (f)
continuation
camin (m)
bus, truck
salida (f)
exit
camioneta (f)
pick-up truck
seguir
to follow / to continue
cuadra (f)
block
vecindario (m)
neighborhood
derecha (f)
right
voltear
to turn
doblar
to turn
vuelta (f)
turn
esquina (f)
corner
FRASES
De la esquina, d vuelta a la derecha.