Formal CommandsEstudien mucho

Rules of formal commands – imperative – mandatos - imperativo

Affirmative Formal Command - used to tell someone to do something.

Create the command by

1. Conjugate the word in the present yo form 2. Take off the o 3. Add the opposite vowel - AR to e and ER, IR to a 4. If using an Uds. command add an n

infinitive usted formal command

ustedes formal command

hablar hable hablen

comer coma coman

vivir viva Vivan

Formal commands are used when addressing people in a formal manner. Use formal commands when addressing people you do not know well, people older than you, or people that you generally show respect (boss, teacher, priest, etc.) For all countries other than Spain, also use these commands to address any group of people.

Singular (usted)

Pague la cuenta, por favor. (Pay the bill, please.)

Sea amable. (Be nice.)

Abra la ventana. (Open the window.)

Plural (ustedes)

Damas y caballeros, pasen por aquí. (Ladies and gentlemen, go this way.)

Vengan más temprano mañana. (Come earlier tomorrow.)

Estudiantes, abran sus libros. (Students, open your books.)

Stem changing verbs:

Pensar - - piense volver - - vuelva pedir - - pida dormir - - duerma

Verbs that end in –car, -gar, zar

These verbs have a spelling change to preserve the –c, -g, and –z sounds

Buscar - - busque pagar - - pague empezar - - empiece

Verbs with irregular present tense yo forms

Conocer - - conozca decir - - diga hacer - - haga oír - - oiga salir - - salga tener - - tenga

Traer - - traiga venir - - venga

Irregular formal commands

Dar - - dé (den Uds.) estar - - esté ir - - vaya

saber - - sepa ser - - sea ver - - vea

Negative Formal Commands

Negative formal commands couldn’t be easier. All you have to do is add a negative word such as no in front of the affirmative formal command.

No saquen sus libros. (Do not take out your books.)

No ponga su bolsa aquí. (Do not put your purse here.)

No vengan mañana. (Do not come tomorrow.)

Pronoun Placement in Affirmative Formal Commands

Direct object and reflexive pronouns must follow affirmative commands and be attached to them. In order to maintain the original stress of the verb form, an accent mark is added to the stressed vowel if the original command has two or more syllables.

Pronoun placement: the pronoun(s) is/are attached to the end of affirmative commands. To preserve the original stress of the verb in case it has more than one syllable, a written accent is added.

Tráigamelo. (Bring it to me.)

Cómalo. (Eat it.)

Some reflexive verbs:

Acostarse - Acuéstese Despertarse - despiértese Levantarse - levántese

Sentarse - siéntese

Pronoun Placement in Negative Formal Commands

Pronoun placement: the pronoun precedes the verb in negative commands and follows the negative word.

No se levante antes de leer el artículo. (Don’t get up before you read the article.) Nunca les compre dulces a los niños. (Never buy candy for the children.) Nunca se los compre. (Never buy it for them.)

Now that you know how to form formal commands, be sure to use them carefully when speaking to native speakers of Spanish. Commands are strong forms in any language. It is wise to soften formal commands with por favor and by using polite tone. Just as you would in English.

Assignments:

Now go to conjuguemos.com and log in

Click on the Spanish verbs on the left

Scroll down to #29 Ud. commands – click

Click verb chart

Study verbs

Write a sentence – command for each of the verbs – you may type or write it on a piece of paper (40 – 20 points possible)

Go back to verb activity

Do 3 five minute sessions of practice for theses verbs – make sure you Record/send the results (5 points for 25 or less correct: 10 points for 26 or more correct – 5 points possible for each 5 minute session)

All due today – turn in your 40 command sentences