Formal commandsFormal commandsFormal commandsFormal commands

Formal commands

• They are used to tell someone what to do.

• When you are talking to someone you are formal with, use an usted command.

• When you are talking to more than 1 person, use an ustedes command.

Forming usted commands

• Start with the yo form• Drop the o• Add an e to the end of an ar verb• Add an a to the end of an er/ir verb

• Escuchar → Escuche → Listen

• Comer → Coma → Eat

• Abrir → Abra → Open

To make a command negative, add no before it.

Forming ustedes commands

• Start with the yo form• Drop the o• Add en to the end of an ar verb• Add an to the end of an er/ir verb

• Hablar → Hablen → Speak

• Leer → Lean → Read

• Escribir → Escriban → Write

To make a command negative, add no before it.

Verbs with irregular yo forms

• hacer → hago → haga(n)

• salir → salgo → salga(n)• poner → pongo → ponga(n)• tener → tengo → tenga(n)• traer → traigo → traiga(n)

Spelling changes

• -car verbs: the c changes to qu• -gar verbs: the g changes to gu• -zar verbs: the z changes to a c• -ger verbs: the g changes to a j• -guir verbs: drop the u

• sacar saque saquen• llegar llegue lleguen• organizar organice organicen• recoger recoja recojan• seguir siga sigan

Irregular formal commands• dar dé den Give

• ser sea sean Be

• ir vaya vayan Go

• estaresté estén Be

Commands with Commands with pronounspronouns

Commands with Commands with pronounspronouns

• Attach pronouns to affirmative commands.

• ¿Escribimos el vocabulario?• Should we write the vocabulary?

• Sí, escríbanlo.• Yes, write it.

• Put the pronoun before a negative command.

• ¿Escribimos el vocabulario?

• No, no lo escriban.• No, don’t write it.