Capítulo 10 Gramática Formal, nosotros, and informal commands

Formal commands

Formal commands

When telling someone to do something, we use commands (in Spanish, mandatos). Formal commands are used with people you would address with usted and ustedes.
To form these commands, drop the -o from present-tense first person (yo) form and add the opposite ending: -e(n) for -ar verbs, and -a(n) for -er and -ir verbs.

• Pida más información en el mostrador. (pedir)
  Ask for more information at the counter.

• Facturen su equipaje primero. (facturar)
  Check your bags first.

// NOTE: Verbs that have a stem change or are irregular in the present tense follow the same pattern in formal commands.

Negative formal commands

Negative formal commands are formed by placing no in front of the verb.

• No pierdan los pasaportes. (perder)
  Don’t lose the passports.
  

Infinitives with spelling changes

Infinitives that end in -car, -gar, and -zar have spelling changes in order to maintain the same sound as the infinitive.

• Ustedes busquen la salida del aeropuerto.

• Lorenzo y Carla lleguen a tiempo a la sala de espera.

• Ustedes empiecen a empacar las maletas para el viaje.

Irregular command forms

The following verbs have irregular command forms.

• dar → dé (den)

• estar → esté(n)

• ir → vaya(n)

• saber → sepa(n)

• ser → sea(n)
  

Nosotros commands

To make suggestions with “Let’s”, use commands in the nosotros form. Nosotros commands are very similar to formal commands.
Add -emos for -ar verbs, and -amos for -er and -ir verbs.

• Estamos atrasados. ¡Corramos! (correr)
  We are late. Let’s run!

• Salgamos por la mañana. (salir)
  Let’s leave in the morning.

Irregular nosotros commands

The nosotros forms of the irregular verbs are also similar to the formal commands.

• dar → demos

• estar → estemos

• saber → sepamos

• ser → seamos

Ir has two different nosotros command forms. The present tense vamos is commonly used with affirmative commands and vayamos is used with negative commands.

• ¡Vamos a Perú!
  Let’s go to Peru!

• No vayamos en tren.
  Let’s not go by train.
  

Nosotros commands with stem changes

-Ar and -er verbs with stem changes do not change in nosotros commands. However, -ir verbs do have a stem change (o → u & e → i).

Informal commands

Informal commands

Used with people you would address as tú. To form the affirmative informal commands, use the third person singular (él/ella) form of the present tense.

• Llama el hotel para hacer una reservación.
  Call the hotel to make a reservation.

• Pide servicio a la habitación.
  Ask for room service.

// NOTE: Stem-changing verbs keep their changes in the informal command forms.

Irregular affirmative informal commands

The following verbs have irregular forms for the affirmative informal commands.

• Haz la cama, por favor.
  Make the bed, please.

• Di la verdad.

• Sal del cuarto.

• Pon los boletos en la maleta.
  

Negative tú commands

When forming negative informal commands use the formal usted commands and add an -s.

• No dejes la llave en la puerta.
  Don’t leave the key in the door.

• No cuelgues las toallas sucias.
  Don’t hang up the dirty towels.

Vosotros commands

In Spain, ustedes commands are formal. To give commands to two or more friends/family members, the Spanish use the informal vosotros commands.

Vosotros affirmative commands are formed by dropping the -ir from the infinitive and replacing it with a -d.

Negative commands are formed by using the stem of the usted commands and adding the opposite vosotros ending (-éis, -áis).