The imperativo (affirmative commands) addresses the listener directly: tú or vos, vosotros, usted, or ustedes. Use it for a clear instruction (Gira a la izquierda), a request or invitation (Ven conmigo), or advice (Toma un descanso). The tú and vosotros forms have their own conjugations; usted and ustedes use the subjunctive.
Regular Conjugations
| Pronoun | -AR | -ER | -IR |
|---|---|---|---|
| tú | -a | -e | -e |
| vos | -á | -é | -í |
| vosotros | -ad | -ed | -id |
| usted | -e | -a | -a |
| ustedes | -en | -an | -an |
The tú command is the él form of the present: habla.
Regular -AR verb: hablar in Imperativo
-er verbs work the same way, so the tú command is come.
Regular -ER verb: comer in Imperativo
-ir verbs match -er in the command and differ only in vosotros: vivid.
Regular -IR verb: vivir in Imperativo
Common Irregular Verbs
A few tú commands are one syllable. The usted and ustedes forms stay with the subjunctive.
| Verb | tú | vosotros | usted | ustedes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| decir | di | decid | diga | digan |
| hacer | haz | haced | haga | hagan |
| ir | ve | id | vaya | vayan |
| poner | pon | poned | ponga | pongan |
| salir | sal | salid | salga | salgan |
| ser | sé | sed | sea | sean |
| tener | ten | tened | tenga | tengan |
| venir | ven | venid | venga | vengan |
Important Notes
- The vos command drops the -r of the infinitive and takes an accent on the last vowel: hablá, comé, viví (ir → andá).
- With reflexive commands, attach the pronoun: siéntate, levántense. Only infinitive-based forms drop a final -r.
- For many regular tú commands, use the third-person singular present form (habla, come, vive); learn the irregular forms in the table.
- Vosotros form is created by changing final -r to -d (except ir → id)
- Usted/ustedes forms use the present subjunctive