Commands and Imperatives

Commands (imperatives) are closely related to the subjunctive. In fact, most command forms in Spanish are subjunctive forms. In this lesson, we will cover all types of commands: formal (usted/ustedes), negative informal (tú/vosotros), and affirmative informal (tú/vosotros), including the famously irregular ones.

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How Commands Connect to the Subjunctive

When you give a command, you are telling someone what to do. You are not stating a fact — you are expressing a desire for action. This is why Spanish uses subjunctive forms for commands in most situations:

Command type	Uses subjunctive forms?
Formal (usted/ustedes)	Yes — all forms
Negative tú	Yes
Negative vosotros	Yes
Affirmative tú	No — has its own forms
Affirmative vosotros	No — has its own forms
Nosotros ("let's")	Yes

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Formal Commands: Usted and Ustedes

Formal commands use the present subjunctive forms directly. If you know the present subjunctive, you already know the formal commands:

Formation