Formal Commands: being polite

Unidad 3 ~ Etapa 1

español 3

Usted

•When giving a formal command to one person.

Ustedes

•When giving a formal command to two or more people.

-ar formal commands (in usted form)

1.conjugate in yo form

2.drop the –o

3.add new ending –e• hablar = hablo = hable

-ar formal commands (in the ustedes form)

1.conjugate in yo form

2.drop the –o

3.add new ending –en

• hablar = hablo = hablen

-er and –ir formal commands

(in usted form)1.conjugate in yo form

2.drop the –o

3.add new ending –a

• comer = como = coma

-er and –ir formal commands (in the ustedes form)

1.conjugate in yo form2.drop the –o ending3.add new ending –an• comer = como = coman

ustedes

Sample Sentences

1. Exercise in gym. = Hagan Uds. ejercicio en el gimnasio.

2. Speak in Spanish. = Hable Ud. en español.

The irregularsFormal Commands

Memorize the following irregular verbs to use as formal commands in the usted and ustedes forms.

• dar = dé, den

• estar = esté, estén

• ir = vaya, vayan

• saber = sepa, sepan

• ser = sea, sean

Totally irregular

-car, -gar, -zar verbsThese verbs need a spelling change to maintain

their natural sound. The changes are made for formal commands in the usted and ustedes forms. Remember the rap from Spanish 2?

-car = c to the qu

-gar = g to the gu -zar = z to the c

Sample Sentences1. Go to the library. = Vayan Uds. a

la biblioteca.

2. Take out the trash. = Saque Ud. la basura.