Giving instructions (AQA GCSE Spanish): Revision Notes
Giving instructions
What is the imperative?
The imperative is the grammatical structure we use when we want to give instructions, commands, or tell someone what to do in Spanish. Think of it as the "bossy" form of verbs - you're telling someone to do something rather than just describing what they do.
The way you form the imperative depends on who you're speaking to. In Spanish, there are two main forms you need to know:
- Tú commands - when speaking to one person informally
- Vosotros/as commands - when speaking to more than one person (mainly used in Spain)
At Foundation level, you primarily need to focus on the tú commands, whilst at Higher level, you should know both forms.
Forming tú commands
The good news is that forming tú commands follows a simple pattern for regular verbs. You take the tú form of the present tense and simply remove the final -s.
Here's how it works:
| Infinitive | Tú (present) | Tú (imperative) | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| hablar | hablas | habla | speak! |
| comer | comes | come | eat! |
| escribir | escribes | escribe | write! |
When radical-changing verbs (stem-changing verbs) form the imperative, they keep the same vowel changes that occur in the present tense. For example:
- ¡Vuelve pronto! (Come back soon!)
- Despierta a los niños. (Wake the children up.)
Forming vosotros/as commands
For the vosotros/as form, the process is different but equally straightforward. You take the infinitive, remove the final -r, and add -d instead.
| Infinitive | Vosotros/as form | English |
|---|---|---|
| hablar | hablad | speak! |
| comer | comed | eat! |
| escribir | escribid | write! |
The great thing about vosotros commands is that there are no radical changes or irregular forms to worry about!
Irregular tú commands
Unfortunately, some common verbs have irregular imperative forms that you'll need to memorise:
| Verb | Irregular tú command | English |
|---|---|---|
| ser | ¡Sé! | Be! |
| hacer | ¡Haz! | Do!/Make! |
| ir | ¡Ve! | Go! |
| salir | ¡Sal! | Go out!/Leave! |
| tener | ¡Ten! | Have! |
| poner | ¡Pon! | Put! |
| venir | ¡Ven! | Come! |
These irregular forms are quite common in everyday Spanish, so it's worth spending time learning them properly.
Using object and reflexive pronouns
When you want to add pronouns (like 'me', 'te', 'lo', 'la') to imperative verbs, they attach to the end of the verb rather than going before it. This creates one single word:
Examples of Pronouns with Imperatives
- ¡Levántate, Carmen! (Get up, Carmen!)
- Mándalos a tu amiga. (Send them to your friend.)
Key vocabulary for instructions
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| escribe | write |
| pon/poned | put |
| coge/coged | take/catch |
| haz/haced | do/make |
| prepara/preparad | prepare |
| ven/venid | come |
| lee/leed | read |
| baila/bailad | dance |
| compra/comprad | buy |
| bebe/bebed | drink |
Learning these common imperative verbs will help you give clear instructions in everyday situations.
Example sentences
Here are some practical examples of imperatives in action:
Practical Imperative Examples
- Toma la primera calle a la derecha. (Take the first street on the right.)
- Tomad la primera calle a la derecha. (Take the first street on the right - plural.)
- Escribe a tu primo. (Write to your cousin.)
- Haz tus deberes ahora. (Do your homework now.)
- Prepara la cena para la familia. (Prepare dinner for the family.)
Grammar and pronunciation tips
Accent Rules Remember that when you add pronouns to the end of imperatives, you may need to add an accent to maintain the correct stress pattern.
Regional Differences The vosotros form is primarily used in Spain - in Latin America, they tend to use ustedes commands instead.
Study Strategy Practice the irregular tú commands separately as they don't follow the normal pattern.
Negative Commands When giving negative commands (telling someone NOT to do something), the formation is completely different and uses the subjunctive.
Translation practice
Translation Practice
Spanish to English:
- Coge el autobús número diez.
- Hablad con la directora.
English to Spanish: 3. Write to your cousin. 4. Put the flowers on the table.
Answers:
- Take/Catch bus number ten.
- Speak to the headteacher.
- Escribe a tu primo/prima.
- Pon las flores en la mesa.
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
- The imperative is used for giving instructions and commands
- Tú commands are formed by removing -s from the present tú form
- Vosotros commands are formed by changing infinitive -r to -d
- Common irregular tú commands must be memorised (sé, haz, ve, sal, ten, pon, ven)
- Pronouns attach to the end of positive imperatives
- At Foundation level, focus on tú commands; at Higher level, learn both forms