Introduction
Are you looking to learn how to give informal commands in Spanish? Whether you’re planning a trip to a Spanish-speaking country, working with Spanish-speaking clients or colleagues, or just want to add to your language skills, it’s essential to know how to give informal commands. In this article, we’ll show you tips and tricks for giving an informal command in Spanish.
What Are Informal Commands?
In Spanish, informal commands (also known as “familiar commands”) are used when addressing friends, family members, or people you know well. It’s a way of speaking to someone comfortably, without any sense of formality. Informal commands are used when you want to give orders, directions, or suggestions. In Spanish, there are two types of informal commands: positive commands and negative commands.
Positive Informal Commands
Positive informal commands are used when you want to tell someone what to do. To create a positive informal command in Spanish, follow these simple tips:
- Start with the infinitive form of the verb. For example, “hablar” (to speak).
- Remove the “-ar” ending from the infinitive form of the verb and replace it with an “-a” ending. For example, “habla” (speak).
- If the verb is an “-er” or “-ir” verb, remove the “-er” or “-ir” ending from the infinitive form of the verb and replace it with an “-e” ending. For example, “come” (eat) and “vive” (live).
Negative Informal Commands
Negative informal commands are used when you want to tell someone not to do something. To create a negative informal command in Spanish, follow these simple tips:
- Start with the infinitive form of the verb. For example, “hablar” (to speak).
- Remove the “-ar” ending from the infinitive form of the verb and replace it with an “-es” ending. For example, “no hables” (don’t speak).
- If the verb is an “-er” or “-ir” verb, remove the “-er” or “-ir” ending from the infinitive form of the verb and replace it with an “-as” ending. For example, “no comas” (don’t eat) and “no vivas” (don’t live).
Examples of Informal Commands in Spanish
Here are some examples of how to use informal commands in Spanish:
- ¡Habla en español! (Speak in Spanish!)
- ¡Come más verduras! (Eat more vegetables!)
- ¡No hables tan alto! (Don’t speak so loudly!)
- ¡No vivas en el pasado! (Don’t live in the past!)
Conclusion
Learning how to give informal commands in Spanish is an essential part of mastering the language. With these tips and tricks, you’ll be able to confidently give orders, directions, and suggestions to friends, family members, and colleagues. Remember, practice makes perfect, so keep practicing and using these commands in real-life situations to master them.
