Informal Imperative in Spanish

The informal imperative (command form) for tú is used to give commands, requests, or advice to people you address informally (e.g. friends or family members).

Rules for formation:

• Positive form: For most verbs, the imperative is formed from the third person singular of the present indicative.
  
  
  • Regular verbs ending in -ar: hablar → habla
  • Regular verbs ending in -er: comer → come
  • Regular verbs ending in -ir: escribir → escribe
    
    
• Irregular verbs:
  
  
  • decir → di
  • hacer → haz
  • ir → ve
  • poner → pon
  • salir → sal
  • ser → sé
  • tener → ten
    
    
• Negation: For the negative form, use no + present subjunctive in the second person singular (tú).
  
  
  • Formation: stem of the first person singular of the present indicative + ending:
    • For -ar verbs: take the stem and add es: hablar → hables
    • For -er/-ir verbs: take the stem and add as: comer → comas, vivir → vivas
  • Irregular verbs follow special patterns (e.g. ir → no vayas, dar → no des, estar → no esté)

Examples:

• "Hablar" (to speak): Habla now! (Speak now!)
• Negation: No hables now! (Do not speak now!)
• "Comer" (to eat): Come early! (Eat early!)
• Negation: No comas late! (Do not eat late!)
• "Decir" (to say): Di the truth! (Tell the truth!)
• Negation: No digas lies! (Do not tell lies!)