Informal Commands Exprésate 2 Capítulo 1 Gramática 2

Informal Commands ( tú) We use informal commands when speaking to someone who is a friend, or who is younger. Informal commands are unusual because there are separate forms for affirmative and negative commands.

Informal Negative Commands Informal negative commands are formed in the same way as formal commands. Formation (three steps): Start with the “yo” form of the present indicative. Drop the “o”. Add the opposite tú form ending.

Example salir salgo salg salgas Elena, no salgas ahora. Espera diez minutos más.

Informal Affirmative Commands Formation (two steps): Start with the “tú” form of the present indicative. Drop the “s”.

Example escribir escribes escribe Mario, escribe una carta a tu abuelo.

Summary of model verbs Commandhablarcomerrepetir (e-i) Informal affirmative ¡Habla!¡Come!¡Repite! Informal negative ¡No hables! ¡No comas! ¡No repitas!

Irregular Informal Affirmative Commands There are a few infinitives which have irregular informal affirmative command forms. In class we referred to these as: Vin Diesel verbs. Here’s why:

Irregular Informal Affirmative Commands INIFINTIVECOMMANDMEANING venirvencome decirditell,say salirsalleave, go out hacerhazdo, make tenertenhave irvego ponerponput, set sersébe

Irregular Informal Negative Commands Ir, Dar, Estar, Ser, and Saber also have irregular informal negative commands. INFINITIVECOMMANDMEANING IRno vayasdon’t go DARno desdon’t give ESTARno estésdon’t be SERno seasdon’t be SABERno sepasdon’t know

-car, -gar, and –zar verbs -car, -gar, and –zar verbs will also have the following spelling changes in their informal negative command forms: -car, c → qu tocar no toques -gar, g → gu llegar no llegues -zar, z → c empezar no empieces

Using Object Pronouns with Affirmative Commands When using object pronouns with affirmative commands, attach them to the end of the command and add an accent mark to commands of two or more syllables. Paco, come el sándwich. ¡Cómelo!

Using Object Pronouns with Negative Commands With negative commands, place the pronoun between the no and the verb form. Paco, no comas el sándwich. ¡No lo comas!

References Exprésate 2,2006, Humbach, Nancy, et. al., Holt, Rinehart and Winston, pg.26.