GrammarFormalCommandsC3G2L2

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formal commands

imperative

used with someone you would address as usted

to tell someone to do something

Commands are often used whn giving directions.

use the present tense first person singular (yo form) as the stem

replace the final - o with an -e for - ar verbs and an - a for - er and - ir verbs

ending is the opposite of the vowel using associated with the present tense of that verb

to make negative commands simply add no before the verb

Use -e for - ar verbs

infinitive	first person singular		command		negative command
preparar	(yo) preparo	Þ I prepare	prepare	Þ prepare	no prepare	Þ don't prepare

Use -a for - er verbs

infinitive	first person singular		command		negative command
beber	(yo) bebo	Þ I drink	beba	Þ drink	no beba	Þ don't drink

Use -a for - ir verbs

infinitive	first person singular		command		negative command
vivir	(yo) vivo	Þ I live	viva	Þ live	no viva	Þ don't live

To tell 2 or more people to do or not to do something, add -n to the singular formal command.

Use -e for - ar verbs

infinitive	command		plural command		negative plural command
preparar	prepare	Þ prepare	preparen	Þ prepare	no preparen	Þ don't prepare

Use -a for - er verbs

infinitive	command		plural command		negative plural command
beber	(yo) beba	Þ drink	beban	Þ drink	no beban	Þ don't drink

Use -a for - ir verbs

infinitive	command		plural command		negative plural command
vivir	viva	Þ live	vivan	Þ live	no vivan	Þ don't live

Verbs that end in - car, -gar, - zar, - ger, and - guir have spelling changes in their formal command to maintain the sound.

infinitive	command		negative command		negative plural command
buscar	busque	Þ Look for	no busque	Þ don't look for	busquen	look for
navegar	navegue	Þ sail	no navegue	Þ don't sail	naveguen	sail
cruzar	cruce	Þ cross	no cruce	Þ don't cross	crucen	cross
recoger	recoja	Þ pick up	no recoja	Þ don't pick up	recojan	pick up
seguir (i)	siga	Þ keep going	no siga	Þ don't keep going	sigan	keep going

infinitive	tú command	Negative tú command	Formal command	plural command	negative plural command
hablar	habla	no hables	hable	vivan	no vivan
beber	bebe	no bebas	beba	vivan	no vivan
vivir	vive	no vivas	viva	vivan	no vivan

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