Giving instructions (Edexcel GCSE Spanish): Revision Notes
Giving instructions
What is the imperative?
The imperative is the verb form used when you want to give commands or instructions to someone. In Spanish, the way you form imperatives depends on who you're speaking to - whether it's one person using tú or multiple people using vosotros/as.
Key point: At Foundation level, you only need to know tú commands. At Higher level, you must learn both tú and vosotros/as forms.
Forming tú commands
Regular tú imperatives
The formation of regular tú commands follows a simple pattern that applies to most verbs. To create a tú command, take the tú form of the present tense and remove the -s.
| Infinitive | Tú (present) | Tú (imperative) | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| hablar | hablas | habla | speak! |
| comer | comes | come | eat! |
| escribir | escribes | escribe | write! |
Worked Example: Using Regular Tú Commands
- Habla más despacio. (Speak more slowly.)
- Come la verdura. (Eat the vegetables.)
- Escribe una carta. (Write a letter.)
Irregular tú imperatives
While most verbs follow the regular pattern, some verbs have completely irregular tú command forms that you must memorise. These irregular forms don't follow any predictable pattern, making memorisation essential.
The following irregular tú imperatives must be memorised as they don't follow the standard formation rule:
| Infinitive | Irregular tú imperative | English |
|---|---|---|
| ser | ¡sé! | be! |
| hacer | ¡haz! | do/make! |
| ir | ¡ve! | go! |
| dar | ¡da! | give! |
| salir | ¡sal! | go out/leave! |
| tener | ¡ten! | have! |
| poner | ¡pon! | put! |
| venir | ¡ven! | come! |
Worked Example: Using Irregular Tú Commands
- Sé bueno. (Be good.)
- Haz los deberes. (Do the homework.)
- Ve a casa. (Go home.)
Forming vosotros/as commands
The formation of vosotros/as commands is more straightforward than tú commands because there are no irregular exceptions to learn. For vosotros/as commands, take the infinitive, remove the -r and add -d.
| Infinitive | Vosotros/as form | English |
|---|---|---|
| hablar | hablad | speak! |
| comer | comed | eat! |
| escribir | escribid | write! |
Worked Example: Using Vosotros/as Commands
- Hablad con la profesora. (Speak to the teacher.)
- Comed las verduras, niños. (Eat the vegetables, children.)
- Escribid vuestros nombres. (Write your names.)
Important: There are no irregular forms for vosotros/as imperatives - they all follow the same pattern, making them easier to learn than tú commands.
Position of pronouns
When using imperatives with pronouns, there's a special rule for their placement. Object pronouns and reflexive pronouns are attached to the end of imperative verbs, creating one word.
Worked Example: Pronouns with Imperatives
- Levántate, Carmen. (Get up, Carmen.)
- Mándalos a tu amiga. (Send them to your friend.)
Translation practice
Practice is essential for mastering imperatives. Try translating these commands into English to test your understanding:
Foundation level practice:
- Escribe a tu primo. (Write to your cousin.)
- Pon las flores en la mesa. (Put the flowers on the table.)
- Coge el autobús número diez. (Take bus number ten.)
Higher level practice:
- Comed las verduras, niños. (Eat the vegetables, children.)
- Hablad con la directora. (Speak to the headteacher.)
- Subid las fotos a Internet. (Upload the photos to the Internet.)
Key Points to Remember:
- Tú commands: Remove the -s from the present tú form
- Vosotros/as commands: Replace the infinitive -r with -d
- Irregular tú forms must be memorised (sé, haz, ve, da, sal, ten, pon, ven)
- Pronouns attach to the end of imperatives
- Foundation tier: Focus on tú commands only; Higher tier: Learn both forms