Today we are going to learn a new verb mood in Spanish: el imperativo.
Important: the imperative is a mood, not a tense.
The imperative is directed at the listener.
| Who? | Spanish |
|---|---|
| one person, informal | tú |
| one person, formal | usted |
| several people, informal | vosotros / vosotras |
| several people | ustedes |
There is no “yo” imperative. We do not give an order to ourselves as the speaker.
In this unit, we focus on the forms used to address other people directly.
Imperative does not always sound like an order. It is also very common in advice, recipes, instructions and health recommendations.
A very useful shortcut:
| Present | Imperative | |
|---|---|---|
| compras | → | compra |
| comes | → | come |
| vives | → | vive |
For regular verbs, this rule is simple and reliable.
If the present tense changes the stem, the tú imperative keeps that change.
| Present | Imperative | |
|---|---|---|
| piensas | → | piensa |
| duermes | → | duerme |
| pides | → | pide |
Think of the same shortcut: present tú − s.
These forms must be memorised.
Another very simple rule:
| Infinitive | Imperative | |
|---|---|---|
| comprar | → | comprad |
| comer | → | comed |
| vivir | → | vivid |
Just replace the final -r of the infinitive with -d.
Change the final vowel.
compra → compre
compran → compren
come → coma
viven → vivan
For now, focus on the form. We will connect these forms with the subjunctive later.
| COMPRAR | COMER | VIVIR | |
|---|---|---|---|
| tú | compra | come | vive |
| vosotros/as | comprad | comed | vivid |
| usted | compre | coma | viva |
| ustedes | compren | coman | vivan |
Three key shortcuts: tú = present − s · vosotros = infinitive − r + d · usted/ustedes = opposite final vowel.
With the affirmative imperative, pronouns go after the verb.
Lo compras.
Te lavas.
Cómpralo.
Lávate.
When pronouns are attached, the word becomes longer. An accent mark may be needed to keep the original stressed syllable.
LA-va
LÁ-va-te
COM-pra
CÓM-pra-lo
The accent mark is not decorative. It preserves the correct stress.
Vosotros + os: the final -d disappears: lavad + os → lavaos.
Use the affirmative imperative.
Now use these forms to give health advice: Duerme más. Haz ejercicio. Come bien. Bebe agua.