Imperative · ¡habla! ¡ven! ¡hablad!
Telling a friend, or a group of friends, to do something. The tú command borrows the he/she present form (¡habla!), plus eight short irregulars (di, haz, ven…); the vosotros command ends in -d (¡hablad!).
Examples
- ¡Habla más despacio!Speak more slowly!
- ¡Abre la ventana!Open the window!
- ¡Dime la verdad!Tell me the truth!
How it works
The Spanish imperative (command form) gives orders or instructions. This lesson covers telling a friend (tú) or a group of friends (vosotros) to do something; "don't …!" comes later, after the subjunctive (the verb form for wishes and doubts).
Affirmative tú (informal singular) — same as the él / ella present:
Eight short irregulars to learn by heart:
Pronouns are attached to the end:
Affirmative vosotros (a group of friends, in Spain) — the infinitive (the dictionary form: hablar) with -r → -d:
Common mistakes:
What you'll practise
1. Affirmative tú (= 3rd-person present)
habla, come, vive — same as él/ella's present.
- ¡Habla!Speak!
- ¡Come la fruta!Eat the fruit!
2. Irregular tú forms (di, haz, pon, sal, ten, ven, ve, sé)
Memorise these short irregular imperatives (command form).
- ¡Dime!Tell me!
- ¡Ven aquí!Come here!
3. Affirmative vosotros (hablad, sentaos)
To a group of friends (in Spain): the infinitive (the dictionary form: hablar) with -r changed to -d: hablad, comed, venid. Before os the -d drops: sentaos, levantaos (only idos keeps it).
- ¡Hablad más despacio!Speak more slowly! (to friends)
- ¡Sentaos!Sit down! (to friends)
Practise it until it sticks
Short drills built on these 3 skills, with instant feedback on every answer. Free to start.