Formal Formal (usted/ustedes) (usted/ustedes)

CommandsCommands

Formal Formal (usted/ustedes) (usted/ustedes)

CommandsCommandsSra. Roberta KuonenSra. Roberta Kuonen

rkuonen@warren.k12.in.usrkuonen@warren.k12.in.us

English Connection

In English, we form commands by removing the subject “you”

Statement: You eat vegetables.

Command: Eat the vegetables.

Use Ud. Commands:

• To tell someone respectfully to do something.

• To tell someone respectfully to not do something.

• If the subject is plural, use Uds. commands.

Formation of Ud./Uds. Commands

Begin with the yo form present-tense of the verbcantar

drop the “o” endingThen, for Ud. commands, add an –e ending for –ar verbs and an –a ending for –er or –ir ending verbs.

For Uds. commands add an –en for –ar verbs and an –an for –er or –ir ending verbs.

canto can

to

CantarUd.- ¡Cante! = Sing! (Speaking to one person)

Uds.- ¡Canten! = Sing! (to more than one person)

To make the command negative, just put “no” in front of the command form.

Ud.- ¡No cante! = Don’t sing!Uds.-¡No canten! = Don’t sing!

-er/-ir ending verbsVender

Venda VendanNo venda No

vendan*Regular –ir ending verbs will end this

same way.vivir viv viva/vivan

vend

o

o

Irregular yo formsSalir

Salga Salgan No salga No salgan *Notice the importance of

beginning with the YO form stem.

Salgo

Very irregular yo formsSome verbs have very irregular yo forms

and are therefore irregular in the command form…you have to MEMORIZE these irregulars! Ud./Uds.

Verb Yo form command

Dar (doy) dé/den Estar (estoy) esté/estén

Ir (voy) vaya/vayanSaber (sé) sepa/sepanSer (soy) sea/sean

-car/-gar/-zar Ending Verbs

In order to retain the same sound, -car, -gar, and –zar ending verbs have a spelling

change in the formal command forms.-car -que/-quen practique/practiquen-gar -gue/-guen juegue/jueguen-zar -ce/-cen empiece/empiecen

Commands with Pronouns

Reflexive Verbs and Affirmative CommandsAttach the reflexive pronoun to the end of the affirmative command.For a formal command, the reflexive pronoun will always be “se”.

Examples: ¡Váyase! – Go away! (1 person) ¡Duérmanse! – Go to sleep! (all of you)

Don’t forget the accent mark!

Negative CommandsPlace the reflexive pronoun (se) in

front of the command. Examples:¡No se vaya! – Don’t go!¡No se duerman! – Don’t fall asleep!

Commands with Object Pronouns

If a direct or indirect object pronoun is used with a command, use the same placement procedures as with reflexive commands.

Examples: ¡Déme el dinero! – Give me the money!

¡Dígannos la verdad! – Tell us the truth!

¡No lo ponga aquí! – Don’t put it here!

PrácticaChange the following verbs to

commands.Bailar(Ud.) Dance!Hacer la (Uds.) Do it!Comprar les (Ud.) Don’t buy for them!Mirarse (Uds.) Look at yourselves!Repetir (Ud.) Repeat!Abrir los (Uds.) Don’t open them!

Comer lo (Ud.)- Don’t eat it!

Respuestas

Baile

HáganlaNo les compre

Mírense

Repita

No los abran

No lo coma

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