Imperative Mood: Commands in Spanish
Quick Answer: Affirmative tú commands use the third-person singular present indicative form. Negative tú commands use the present subjunctive.
How to tell people what to do (and what not to do)
Category: Verb Tenses
The Rule
Affirmative tú commands use the third-person singular present indicative form. Negative tú commands use the present subjunctive. Usted/ustedes commands always use the subjunctive, whether affirmative or negative.
Why This Matters
Spanish commands are tricky because the form depends on: (1) who you're talking to (tú vs usted), (2) whether it's affirmative or negative, and (3) where pronouns attach. There are also 8 irregular tú affirmative commands.
Examples
• ¡Habla más despacio! — "Speak more slowly!" [Affirmative tú: 3rd person present] • ¡No hables tan rápido! — "Don't speak so fast!" [Negative tú: subjunctive] • Hable con el gerente, por favor. — "Speak with the manager, please." [Usted command: subjunctive] • ¡Dime la verdad! — "Tell me the truth!" [Irregular: decir → di + pronoun attached]
Common Mistakes
❌ ¡No habla! ✅ ¡No hables! → Negative tú commands must use the subjunctive form (hables), not the indicative (habla). ❌ ¡Hace tu tarea! ✅ ¡Haz tu tarea! → 'Hacer' has an irregular tú command: 'haz,' not 'hace.'
Quick Tip
Memorize the 8 irregular tú commands with a mnemonic: 'Ven Di Sal Haz Ten Ve Pon Sé' (Come Say Leave Do Have Go Put Be). Pronouns attach to affirmative commands (dímelo) but go before negative ones (no me lo digas).
Memorize the 8 irregular tú commands with a mnemonic: 'Ven Di Sal Haz Ten Ve Pon Sé' (Come Say Leave Do Have Go Put Be). Pronouns attach to affirmative commands (dímelo) but go before negative ones (no me lo digas).
Examples
Common Mistakes
Incorrect: ¡No habla! → Correct: ¡No hables!. Negative tú commands must use the subjunctive form (hables), not the indicative (habla).
Incorrect: ¡Hace tu tarea! → Correct: ¡Haz tu tarea!. 'Hacer' has an irregular tú command: 'haz,' not 'hace.'
Quiz
Which are the 8 irregular affirmative tú commands?