1. Informal Commands
WALK!
SLEEP!
EAT!

2. In Spanish…
When we want to tell a friend to do something we use informal (tú) commands…
¡Come! – EAT!
¡Camina!- WALK!
¡Duerme!- SLEEP!

3. Informal Commands Commands are used for both do’s and don’ts
Lets begin with the do’s.
To state the do’s of most verbs, drop the –s off of the regular tú form.
STATEMENT COMMAND
(tú) caminas ¡Camina! Walk!
(tú) comes ¡Come! Eat!
(tú) duermes ¡Duerme! Sleep!
Hablar
Habla s

4. Los Irregulares
venir = ven decir = di salir = sal hacer = haz tener = ten ir = ve poner = pon ser = sé (mantener= mantén)
* ir and ver have the same
tú command, context will
determine the meaning.
Ver
Ven di sal haz ten ve pon sé
Vin Diesel has ten weapons, eh!

6. Placement of reflexive and object pronouns in tú commands.
Pronouns are attached to affirmative commands. If the command has two or more syllables, a written accent mark is added to maintain the original stress pattern.
Ex: alegrarse ¡Alégrate! (Be happy! )
sentarse ¡siéntate (Sit down! )
pedir ¡Pídeselo! (Ask her for it!)
* Remember when using direct and indirect object pronouns. Indirect object pronouns come first (people come first).
Rules for Accent Marks
1 pronoun, 3rd syllable back
2 pronouns, 4th syllable back

7. Practiquemos… ¡Abre la ventana! Open the window!… Verb Abrir
Put it in the tú form = tú abres
Drop the –s = abre
¡Abre la ventana!

8. Más prática… ¡Habla ahora! Speak now!... Verb hablar
Put hablar in the tú form= hablas
Drop the –s = habla
¡Habla ahora!

9. Más práctica… ¡Bebe agua! Drink water!... Verb beber
Put beber in the tú form= bebes
Drop the –s = bebe
¡Bebe agua!

10. Negative Commands To state the don’ts- negative (tú) commands
Start with the present tense “yo”
Drop the “o”
Add the opposite tú ending.
(-as for er/ir verbs)
(-es for ar verbs)
STATEMENT COMMAND
(yo) fumo (tú) fumas ¡No fumes! Don’t smoke!
(yo) corro (tú) corres ¡No corras! Don’t run!
(yo) duermo; duermes ¡No duermas! Don’t sleep!

11. Irregulares: dishes
dar = no des ir = no vayas saber = no sepas hacer = no hagas estar = no estés ser = no seas
* Place reflexive and object pronouns before the verb in a negative command.
Ex: No te sientas triste. Don’t feel sad
No me lo digas Don’t tell me (it).

12. Let’s work on negative commands…
Don’t buy pizza!...
Verb comprar
Put comprar in the yo form= compro
Put comprar in the tú form= compras
Change the –as to –es= compres
¡No compres la pizza!

13. Let’s work on negative commands…
Don’t open the door!...
Verb abrir
Put abrir in the yo form= abro
Put abrir in the tú form= abres
Change the –es to –as= abras
¡No abras la puerta!

14. Let’s work on negative commands…
Don’t drink soda!...
Verb beber
Put beber in the yo form= bebo
Put beber in the tú form= bebes
Change the –es to –as= bebas
¡No bebas los refrescos!

15. Let’s work on negative commands…
Don’t have a party!...
Verb tener
Put tener in the yo form= tengo
Put tener in the tú form= tienes
Change the –es to –as= tengas
¡No tengas una fiesta!

16. Let’s work on negative commands…
Don’t go out!...
Verb salir
Put salir in the yo form= salgo
Put salir in the tú form= sales
Change the –es to –as= salgas
¡No salgas!

17. Any stem changes or spelling changes in the “yo” form still remain in negative commands.
hablar = no hables traer = no traigas decir = no digas salir = no salgas conocer = no conozcas

18. 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. Verbs ending in –car like
Practicar - ¡No practiques!
-c changes to a qu to keep the hard k sound
2. Jugar - ¡No juegues!
- g changes to gu to keep the hard g sound
3. Empezar - ¡No empieces!
- z changes to c to keep the “th” sound in Spain

19. Let’s work on negative commands…
These next verbs have spell changes…
Either g changes to gue OR c changes to a que
Don’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!

20. Let’s work on negative commands…
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!
Don’t arrive late!
¡No llegues tarde!

21. Te toca a ti… Eat more fruit! ¡Come más frutas! Sleep 8 hours a day!
¡Duerme ocho horas al día!

22. Te toca a ti… Don’t run in the house! ¡No corras en casa!
Don’t open the book!
¡No abras el libro!