How to Use Informal Imperative in Spanish: A Beginner’s Guide

Using Informal Imperative in Spanish: A Beginner’s Guide

Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, with over 500 million speakers. As a beginner, learning how to use informal imperative can be a bit intimidating. Informal imperative is used to give commands or make requests in a more casual, friendly way. In this article, we’ll provide you with a beginner’s guide on how to use informal imperative in Spanish.

Introduction to Informal Imperative in Spanish

Imperative mood is used to express a command or a request in Spanish. Informal imperative is the type of imperative used in informal or familiar settings. It’s more commonly used when talking to friends, family, or peers.

The informal imperative in Spanish is formed by using the present tense of the verb, omitting the subject pronoun, and affixing some endings to the verb according to the pronoun.

Examples:

– ¡Come! (Eat!)
– ¡Sal! (Go out!)
– ¡Estudia! (Study!)
– ¡Escucha! (Listen!)

Using Informal Imperative in Affirmative Sentences

To form informal imperative in an affirmative sentence, follow the following steps:

1. Take the present tense form of the verb.
2. Remove the subject pronoun.
3. Add the relevant ending to the verb according to the pronoun.

The following table shows the endings of the verbs according to the pronoun:

| Pronoun | Ending |
|———|——–|
| tú | -a |
| vos | -e |

Examples:

– Tú habla en español. (You speak in Spanish.) => ¡Habla en español! (Speak in Spanish!)
– Vos tomás el té. (You drink tea.) => ¡Tomá el té! (Drink tea!)

Using Informal Imperative in Negative Sentences

To form informal imperative in a negative sentence, follow the following steps:

1. Take the present tense form of the verb.
2. Remove the subject pronoun.
3. Add the word “no” before the verb.
4. Add the relevant ending to the verb according to the pronoun.

Examples:

– Tú no fumes. (You don’t smoke.) => ¡No fumes! (Don’t smoke!)
– Vos no llegués tarde. (Don’t be late.) => ¡No llegués tarde! (Don’t be late!)

Exceptions

There are some irregular verbs that don’t follow the standard rules of informal imperative. They are listed below:

| Verb | Affirmative |
|———-|————-|
| Decir | Di |
| Hacer | Haz |
| Ir | Ve |
| Poner | Pon |
| Salir | Sal |
| Ser | Sé |
| Tener | Ten |
| Venir | Ven |

Examples:

– Di la verdad. (Tell the truth.)
– Haz las tareas. (Do your homework.)
– Ve con cuidado. (Be careful.)
– Pon la mesa. (Set the table.)
– Sal de aquí. (Get out of here.)
– Sé amable. (Be nice.)
– Ten paciencia. (Be patient.)
– Ven conmigo. (Come with me.)

Conclusion

If you’re learning Spanish, mastering the informal imperative can greatly improve your communication skills. While it might seem complicated at first, with practice and repetition, it can become second nature. Remember, the informal imperative is used in casual or familiar settings, so keep that in mind when deciding when to use it. Start practicing with the examples listed here and soon enough, you’ll be speaking Spanish like a pro.

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