Formal commands
The formal commands are used when you address people who are older than you, a boss, or any person you would use usted or ustedes.
the usted and ustedes commands are formed by using the yo form of the present tense, dropping the -o, and adding -e (usted) -en (ustedes) for AR verbs and -a (usted) -an (ustedes) for ER and IR.
| Comer | Com |
No coma / No coman |
You keep all the irregularities you have in the YO forms. Irregular Yo forms, stem-changing verbs
| Tener | Yo- teng |
No tenga / no tengan |
Verbs ending in CAR, GAR and ZAR have a spelling change
| YO | NOSOTROS/NOSOTRAS |
| TÚ | VOSOTROS/VOSOTRAS |
| ÉL/ELLA/USTED | ELLOS/ELLAS/USTEDES |
CAR– “c” changes to “qu” Buscar= yo busco Command: buscqu+e/en
GAR– “g” changes to “gu” Cargar= yo cargo—– Command: cargu+ e/en
ZAR– “z” changes to “c” Empezar= yo empiezo Command: empiec+e/en
Use of pronouns in commands.
The placement of the pronouns is different if the command is affirmative or if it is negative.
In affirmative commands, the pronouns are attached to the command adding an accent mark on the second to last syllable.
| Lavarse | lávese / lávense |
In negative commands, you place the pronoun between the “no” and the command.
| Lavarse | No se lave / No se laven |