Be nice / Be good

Question

Sé amable/agradable/bueno. Is it good spanish to use the verb 'ser' like this in the imperative, or would you use another verb like 'comportarse'?

I guess my broader question is in regards to the use of ser (or estar) as a command. In English, we use the verb "to be" very generally, and as a helping verb, when we could actually use an active verb:

Be all you can be. Be patient/good/quiet , ,, Be more considerate. Be careful. Be home on time. Be my Valentine.

I don't notice this usage in Spanish and I wonder if Ser and Estar are used as imperatives.

Answer 1

Yes, both can be used in Imperative case. Be good/nice, however, is most commonly said as, Pórtate bien.

IMPERATIVO Ser sé (tú / vos) sed (vosotros) / sean (ustedes)

Real Academia Española © Todos los derechos reservados

IMPERATIVO Estar está (tú / vos) estad (vosotros) / estén (ustedes)

Real Academia Española © Todos los derechos reservados

Gracias. - lkelly, Aug 7, 2010

Answer 2

You can say " sé bueno contigo" (be good to yourself) so I think the use you suggest is acceptable, but perhaps a native or fluent speaker can confirm this?

Thanks for the new phrase. - lkelly, Aug 7, 2010

Answer 3

I hear mothers telling their children, Compórtate, which means more like Behave.

The conjugation tool has 'sé' for 2nd person singular - lkelly, Aug 7, 2010

Quite right! - silverlake, Aug 7, 2010

You're right. I was thinking Ud. - KevinB, Aug 7, 2010

No problem. Thanks for the response. - lkelly, Aug 7, 2010

Answer 4

From one friend to another, Qué estés bien (be good).

Thanks. - lkelly, Aug 7, 2010

Answer 5

You can also use the subjunctive - as you desire the person to be that way but there's no guarantees that they will:

Sea tan amable de no mencionar el asunto.

Be so kind as to not mention the matter.

Very good. Thank you. - lkelly, Aug 7, 2010

Answer 6

I think you would use the subjunctive, such as:

Quiero que seas bueno. I want you to be good.

¡Que seas bueno! Be good!

Quiero que llegues en casa a tiempo. I want you to arrive home on time.

Thank you. I wasn't even thinking of the subjunctive. - lkelly, Aug 7, 2010