FORMAL COMMAND FORM -- an introduction to the subjunctive

FORMAL COMMAND FORM -- an introduction to the subjunctive forms
Page 188 – Demonstrates “usted” and “ustedes” command forms, i.e., the forms you use when you tell people what to do.
Note: You can only command people (tell them what to do) in the present tense, but you won’t use present indicative tense. You have to use something called
the “subjunctive” – a word you don’t have to know at this time, although I’m using it in explanations.
The basic format for command form regular verbs is that you simply swap the –ar endings with -er/-ir endings for the Ud/Uds. forms.
So, you are accustomed to the “present indicative” in telling ABOUT what people are doing in the present tense:
hablar
--------------------------------------------------------habla
hablan
comer
--------------------------------------------------------come
comen
escribir
--------------------------------------------------------escribe
escriben
THEN, to command someone to do these actions, you must SWAP those endings. NOTICE THE CHANGE from above to below.
And remember, you’re only using usted and ustedes, because commands are a “you” and “you all” form. – present SUBJUNCTIVE
hablar
--------------------------------------------------------hable
hablen
comer
--------------------------------------------------------coma
coman
escribir
--------------------------------------------------------escriba
escriban
Page 188 also contains SOME of the many irregular forms:
dar
----------------dé
estar
----------------den
----------------esté
----------------estén
ir
----------------vaya
CONT’D: FORMAL COMMAND FORM
saber
----------------vayan
----------------sé
----------------sepa
ser
----------------sea
----------------sean
Yo-form GO-verbs
Their infinitives and their 1st person singular (“yo”) present tense forms and what they become in subjuntive usted/ustedes command form
poner
pongo
salir
salgo
ponga/pongan salga/salgan
tener
tengo
venir
vengo
hacer
hago
tenga/tengan
venga/vengan haga/hagan
decir
digo
oír
oigo
traer
traigo
caer
caigo
seguir
sigo
diga/digan
oiga/oigan
traiga/traigan
caigo/caigan
siga / sigan
-car, gar, and zar verbs IN THE FORMAL COMMAND FORM -- have the same spelling change as they do in the preterite BECAUSE the vowel following the c/g/z
is an “e” (remember???)
sacar = saque/saquen
tocar = toque / toquen
buscar = busque / busquen
practicar = practique / practiquen
explicar = explique / expliquen
AFFIRMATIVE FORMAL COMMANDS VERSUS
llegar = llegue/lleguen
jugar* (u ue) = juegue/jueguen
pagar = pague / paguen
NEGATIVE INFORMAL COMMANDS
Non-reflexive affirmative and negative FORMAL commands
Take some pictures.
Don’t take pictures.
empezar* (e ie) = empiece / empiecen
comenzar* (e ie) = comience / comiencen
almorzar* (o ue) = almuerce / almuercen
Saque unas fotos.
No saque fotos.
Reflexive affirmative and negative FORMAL commands.
Get dressed right now.
Don’t get dressed right now.
Vestirse (e i; e i)
Vístase ahora mismo.
No se vista ahora mismo.
(you all) Take a shower.
Don’t take a shower.
Ducharse
Dúchense.
No se duchen.
Copy and translate each of these commands using the usted or ustedes form
as stated in BOTH the affirmative and the negative.
1. Bañar se (usted) Take a bath. / Don’t take a bath.
Báñese. / No se bañe
2. maquillar se (ustedes) Put on make-up (one word) / Don’t put on make-up.
3. Maquíllense. / No se maquillen.
4. levantar se (ustedes) Get up. / Don’t get up.
5. Levántense. / No se levanten.
6. sentarse** (usted) Sit down. / Don’t sit down.
7. Siéntese. / No se siente.
8. Divertir se** (ustedes) Have a good time. / Don’t have a good time.
9. Diviértanse. / No se diviertan.
10. acostarse** (usted) Go to bed. / Don’t go to bed.
11. Acuéstese. / No se acueste.