"You need to come see me!" a command?

Question

You need to come see me! as spoken to an employee.
You need to come see me! as spoken to your son

Would you use faltar or necesitar and is "need" the command or "see"?

I am working with the imperative and find this very difficult. Some commands are really very simple but just forming the English on the harder ones is a real task.

Some members are so great at forming games and this would be a good one to initiate.

Gracias

Answer 1

Also when you get into more complex sentences (where there is a subordinate clause and a subject change) you will enter into the topic of verbs of volition with the subjunctive mood.

subjunctive mood + volition

ooh la la gfreed, this is going to be a real challenge! gracias - foxluv, Aug 25, 2010

better wait until I get home, since my boss will wring my neck if I go clicking your link. - foxluv, Aug 25, 2010

Answer 2

Your sentences do not use imperative, but present tense. In Spanish you can also give orders using the present tense pretty much the same way. Give it a go! (use "Tener que + infinitive")

Thanks lazarus. How would you change the sentence to use the imperative mood then? I must not be understanding this at all, gracias. - foxluv, Aug 25, 2010

Answer 3

Hi, foxluv,

There are various ways to tell others what you want them to do, in both English and Spanish. The indicative present tense, which is used to describe what is happening, as a matter of fact, in the present time, can serve as one way: "You need to come see me" is an example.

The imperative, also known as the command form, is another way: "Come see me."

Spanish has a number of ways to use indicative, present tense verbs to express polite or low-key commands. Tener + que + infinitive is one of these low-key options. It is similar to the English "have to" - You have to do something.

Imperative or command forms, which can be found in the conjugation tool under the reference tab of the more option at the top of the page, are blunt ways of directly giving an order.

Lazarus is much better at explaining this than I am, so hopefully he will elaborate further!

Ok revmaf, I think I get it. The 1st case is a very polite command not very forceful whereas the 2nd is more forceful so there isn't any room to change the meaning. - foxluv, Aug 25, 2010

Yes. Use the imperative or command form when you want to be clear that this is the action you are ordering the person to take. If you shouldn't give orders to the person, use a politer form. - revmaf, Aug 25, 2010

Answer 4

Your sentences do not use imperative, but present tense. In Spanish you can also give orders using the present tense pretty much the same way.

So if I understand this correctly then "Go sit down"; "Shut the door!" can be either an imperative or used in the present tense with an infinitive? Since the imperative is a mood, then before I can use the imperative, I must be in a bossy mood?

Well, no. The English sentences you use in this example are imperative but not the ones in your original question. "Mood" is a technical term about verbs. Go to reference, under more at the top of the page, and click on verbs to see descriptions. - revmaf, Aug 25, 2010