CSG186

Unit 16

The Commands

Commands (los mandatos) in the imperative mood (el iinperativo) are used to give direct orders, instructions, or guidelines. A com-mand can only be given directly to the second-person you, singular or plural. Review the subject pronouns used in Spanish to des-ignate the second person:

•    Familiar singular: tu    Familiar plural: vosotros/vosotras

• Formal (polite) singular:    Formal (polite) plural:

usted (Ud.)    ustedes (Uds.)

Ali four are the equivalent ofyou in English. As in English, the subject pronoun is generally not used in the Spanish imperative. When used in Spanish, the subject pronoun usually follows the impera-tive form. In formal commands it signals extra politeness. Occa-sionally the subject pronoun is used with familiar commands; there it emphasizes or clarifies the subject.

Entre Ud., jpor favor!    Come in, please!

Estudia tri. y pasaras el    Study and you 71 pass the

exam. examen.

Actions in the imperative mood are always in the present. Adver-bial expressions of time may be used to stress the urgency of the message or to direct the listener to follow the command at a cer-tain time.

Abre la puerta.    O pen the door.

Contesta el telefono aliora. Answer thephone no w.

If the speaker expects the action to be carried out later, he or she may indicate the time with appropriate adverbs or adverbial phrases.

Paga la cuenta la semana    Pay the bill next week.

que viene.

Trae el dinero mańana.    Bring the money tomorro w.

With affirmative or negative commands the speaker tells another person or persons to do or not do an action.

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