Informal Commands

In Spanish…• When we want to tell a friend, a kid,

or someone you know on a first name basis to do something, we use informal (tú) commands…

• Commands are used for both do’s and don’ts

• Lets begin with the do’s.

To state affirmative commands, conjugate the verb in tú form and drop the “s.” STATEMENT COMMAND(tú) caminas ¡Camina! Walk!(tú) comes ¡Come! Eat!(tú) duermes ¡Duerme! Sleep!

Informal Commands

Hablar

Habla s

Informal Affirmative Irregular Commands

venir = vendecir = disalir = salhacer = haztener = tenir = veponer = ponser = sé(mantener= mantén)

Ven di sal haz ten ve pon sé

Vin Diesel has ten weapons, eh!

* ir and ver have the same tú command, context will determine the meaning.

Placement of reflexive and object pronouns in tú commands.

- Placement of pronouns follows the same rules as in formal commands (Ud. and Uds.).

- Pronouns are attached to commands. If the command has two or more syllables, a written accent mark is added to maintain the original stress pattern. Use the pronoun TE with reflexive verbs when using informal commands.

Ex: alegrarse ¡Alégrate! (Be happy! ) sentarse ¡siéntate (Sit down! ) pedir ¡Pídetelo! (Ask her for it!)

* Remember when using direct and indirect object pronouns. Indirect object pronouns come first (people come first).

•1 pronoun, 3rd syllable back•2 pronouns, 4th syllable back

Rules for Accent Marks

Prácticamos…

• Open the window!…– Verb Abrir

• Conjugate in the tú form and drop the s.• abre

¡Abre la ventana!

• Speak now!...- Verb hablar

- habla

¡Habla ahora!

Más prática…

• Drink water!...- Verb beber

- bebe

¡Bebe agua!

Más práctica…

Negative Commands

• To state negative (tú) commands- Start with the present tense “yo”- Drop the “o”- Add the opposite tú form ending - (-as for er/ir verbs)- (-es for ar verbs)

STATEMENT COMMAND(tú) dice ¡No digas mentiras! Don’t say lies!(tú) corres ¡No corras! Don’t run!(tú) duermes ¡No duermas! Don’t sleep!

• Don’t buy pizza!...- Verb comprar

- Put comprar in the “YO” form= compro- Drop the “O” =comp- Opposite “tú” form ending –as to –es=

compres

¡No compres la pizza!

Let’s work on negative commands…

Irregulares : dies dar = no desir = no vayasestar = no estésser = no seas

* Place reflexive and object pronouns before the conjugated verb in a negative command.

Ex: No te sientas triste. Don’t feel sad No me lo digas. Don’t tell me (it).

Informal Negative Irregulars

• Don’t open the door!...- Verb abrir

¡No abras la puerta!

Let’s work on negative commands…

• Don’t drink soda!...- Verb beber

¡No bebas los refrescos!

Let’s work on negative commands…

Verbs with spelling changes: -car, -gar, and -zar

There are several verbs that change spelling when made into negative commands to keep their sound…

1. Jugar- ¡No juegues!- g changes to gue to keep the hard g sound

2. Verbs ending in –car like Practicar - ¡No practiques!-c changes to a que to keep the hard k sound

Any stem changes or spelling changes in the “yo” form still remain in negative

commands.

hablar = no hablestraer = no traigasdecir = no digassalir = no salgasconocer = no conozcas

• These next verbs have spell changes…– Either g changes to gue OR c changes

to a queDon’t play in the house!

- Verb jugar- in tú form = juegas- Change –as to –es and remember spelling change!= juegues

¡No juegues en la casa!

Let’s work on negative commands…

Don’t arrive late! ¡No llegues tarde!

Don’t touch the piano!-Verb tocar in tú form = tocas

-Change –as to –es and remember the spelling change!= toques

¡No toques el piano!

Let’s work on negative commands…

Eat more fruit!

¡Come más frutas!

Sleep 8 hours a day!

¡Duerme ocho horas al día!

Te toca a ti…

Don’t run in the house!

¡No corras en casa!

Don’t open the book!

¡No abras el libro!

Te toca a ti…

Negative Irregular SongThe song is to the tune of “Happy Birthday” in order to

remember the irregular forms of the negative tú commands. 

http://www.carla.umn.edu/strategies/sp_grammar/strategies/form/moods/commands/negativetu/asong.html

Informal Command Song (If Your Happy and you Know it)

If your commanding in the “tú,” just drop the “s” (in the tú form)

But if it’s negative, drop the “o” in the “yo”

And don’t forget, opposite “tú” form

endingolé

2x

Informal Command Songs