This document is an organized collection of notes explaining formal and informal commands in Spanish. This document also contains examples describing both the affirmative and negative forms. These notes are taken during an International Academy Spanish Honors class, containing a full summary of Man...
Commands are used when ordering or telling someone to do something. Spanish has both a
formal and informal style of speech (tú & Ud.). This distinction applies to and changes the
conjugation of commands.
Formal: Compre (Ud.) el anillo. Informal: Compra (tú) el anillo.
Buy the ring. (formal) Buy the ring. (familiar)
1. FORMAL COMMANDS (usted y ustedes):
The formal commands are formed the same way as the : present subjunctive
1) Start with the yo form of the present indicative, 2) drop the o, 3) then add the following
endings:
Since formal commands address either usted or ustedes, you’ll only need: a/e or an/en
hablar: comer: escribir:
Hable Ud. más lentamente. Coma Ud. la cena. Escriba Ud. la carta
Hablen Uds. más lentamente. Coman Uds. la cena. Esciban Uds. la carta.
*Remember, if the first person singular (yo) form is irregular, that irregularity is carried over into
the formation of the formal command. (JUST LIKE SUBJUNCTIVE!)
Tengan Uds. un buen viaje. Traiga Ud. el dinero. Venga Ud. conmigo.
*This also applies to stem-changing verbs: Vuelvan Uds. pronto.(volver) Pida
dinero.(pedir)
Irregular Formal Commands:
Just like the subjunctive mood, there are five irregular verbs for formal commands.
(Haber isn’t included because it won’t be used as a command)
infinitivo indicativo usted ustedes
dar doy dé den
ir voy vaya vayan
ser soy sea sea
estar estoy esté estén
saber sé sepa sepan
Cambio de Ortografia: (Car, Gar, Zar)
In order to keep the original pronunciation and meaning of the verb, some orthographic
(spelling) changes are necessary in the formal command forms.
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