Formal Commands

Question

Overview

These commands are used when addressing people in a formal manner. Use this when addressing people you do not know well, people older than you, or people that you generally show respect (boss, teacher, priest, etc.) For all countries other than Spain, use these commands to address any group of people.

Affirmative Formal Commands

All Ud. (usted) and Uds. (ustedes) commands are the same as the Ud. and Uds. present subjunctive forms.

How to Form Affirmative Formal Commands

infinitive	Ud. present subjunctive	Ud. command	Uds. present subjunctive	Uds. command
hablar	hable	hable	hablen	hablen
comer	coma	coma	coman	coman
vivir	viva	viva	vivan	vivan

Singular

• Pague la cuenta, por favor. (Pay the bill, please.)
• Sea amable. (Be nice.)
• Abra la ventana. (Open the window.)

Plural

• Damas y caballeros, pasen por aquí. (Ladies and gentlemen, go this way.)
• Vengan más temprano mañana. (Come earlier tomorrow.)
• Estudiantes, abran sus libros. (Students, open your books.)

Irregular Present Subjunctives can be found here.

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Pronoun Placement

Pronoun placement: the pronoun(s) is/are attached to the end of affirmative commands.

• Tráigamelo. (Bring it to me.)

Negative Formal Commands

Negative formal commands couldn´t be easier:

Negative Formal Command Formula

add no in front of the affirmative command

• No saquen sus libros. (Do not take out your books.)
• No ponga su bolsa aquí. (Do not put your purse here.)
• No vengan mañana. (Do not come tomorrow.)

Pronoun Placement

Pronoun placement: the pronoun precedes the verb in negative commands.

• No se levante antes de leer el artículo. (Don´t get up before you read the article.)

Exercises

1) Conjugate the verb in parenthesis to both singular and plural formal commands.

Example: (Entrar) a la oficina. -> Entre, Entren

1. (Seguir) las instrucciones.
2. No (hablar), por favor.
3. (Encontrar) un compañero.
4. (Traer) un ensayo mañana.
5. No (llegar) tarde.

Answers

1. Siga, Sigan
2. Hable, Hablen
3. Encuentre, Encuentren
4. Traiga, Traigan
5. Llegue, Lleguen

• Shouldn't the answer to number 5 be Llegue, Lleguen? - fatchocobo 11 de Feb, 2010
• i agree. i think it is llegue and lleguen too. - wojo 9 de Sep, 2010