Introduce the imperative forms of the -ar verbs. The following chart illustrates the endings for -ar verbs in the imperative with examples:
Introduce the imperative forms of the -er verbs. The following chart illustrates the endings for -er verbs in the imperative with examples:
Introduce the imperative forms of the -ir verbs. The following chart illustrates the endings for -ir verbs in the imperative with examples:
Discuss the eight common verbs that have irregular singular affirmative imperative forms. The following Spanish verbs have irregular affirmative tú commands in the imperative mood:
- decir – di
- hacer – haz
- ir – ve
- poner – pon
- salir – sal
- ser – sé
- tener – ten
- venir – ven
Explain the difference in use between the familiar and formal forms of the imperative mood in Spanish. The second person pronouns tú and vosotros, which are both you in English, are familiar forms. Familiar forms should be used only with family members, close friends, children, peers, and animals. For example, habla "speak" can be said to a student by a teacher or to a child by a parent.
The second person pronouns usted and ustedes, which are both are also you in English, are formal forms. Formal forms are always used with strangers, casual acquaintances, superiors, professional colleagues, people with formal titles, and others not well know to the speaker. For example, beba "drink" can be said to a supervisor by an employee or to a parent by a child.
Explain the use and position of subject pronouns with the Spanish imperative. The grammatical subject of imperative sentences in Spanish is also always one of the four the second person personal pronoun: tú, vosotros, usted, and ustedes. Similar to the optionality of the understood you in the English imperative, the subject pronoun is also optional in the Spanish imperative.
However, the subject pronouns can also be inserted back into Spanish imperative sentences, especially in the formal forms to make the commands more formal or more polite. Unlike the word order of Spanish declarative sentences (subject-verb), the word order for imperative sentences in Spanish with stated subjects is verb-subject. For example, the following sentences are examples of Spanish imperative sentences with stated subjects:
- Pregunte usted. "Ask."
- Crea usted. "Believe."
- Olvide usted. "Forget."
- Expliquen ustedes. "Explain."
- Aprendan ustedes. "Learn."
- Miren ustedes. "Look."