How do you conjugate informal commands in the affirmative and negative?

Question

In the negative, I believe it would look something like this:

ex. Tú no hables español. ( Don't speak spanish)

How would you do that in the affirmative?

Answer 1

The former would be "Tú, no hables español". Or, better, "No hables tú el español." Or simply "No hables español."

"Habla español" would be the affirmative. The second person singular imperative takes the form of the first person indicative in the affirmative ("Habla"). The third person singular imperative would be "Hable", and the third person plural would be "Hablen".

the form of the 3rd person singular - samdie, Nov 30, 2009

Answer 2

"Habla español" would be the affirmative. The second person singular imperative takes the form of the first person indicative in the affirmative ("Habla"). The third person singular imperative would be "Hable", and the third person plural would be "Hablen".

I totally agree with your answer except for your terminology. The formal and informal commands (ignoring the 1st person, plural Let's command) are 2nd person, informal and 2nd personal formal. There is no 3rd person command.

This misconception arises from the fact that the 2nd personal, formal take 3rd person verb ending, but the person is still You (usted), 2nd person. The persons in Spanish are just the same as in English. I, we-first person you- 2nd person he/ she/( it)/they - 3rd person.

Textbooks (I've seen some that list them properly) usually list which subject pronouns take which verb endings when they conjugate verbs, so usted is listed with those that take 3rd person verb endings, but it is still 2nd person, formal; not 3rd person.

Pay closer attention when you see the verb person listed and you will see that Spanish has a 1st person singular, plural, a 2nd person singular, plural, informal (tú, vosotros), a 2nd person singular, plural, formal (usted, ustedes) and a 3rd person, singular, plural.

Answer 3

Hi Ted. Welcome to the forum

Here's a great article from the Reference section on Informal Commands.

Answer 4

Go to "learn Spanish" - lessons 2.12 and 2.13 - Paralee is a great teacher!