Negative Imperatives

Question

I thought I knew this... maybe I did and forgot?

I was listening to Michel Thomas last night and he was explaining negative imperatives:

No me diga. Don't tell me. (formal)

No me digas. Don't tell me. (informal)

No salga. Don't leave. (formal)

No salgas. Don't leave. (informal)

If you look up the Imperative of Decir and Salir, the informal forms are Di and Sal, respectively... not Digas and Salgas.

Are Di and Sal only used in Positive Imperatives?

What am I missing? Or forgetting?

Answer 1

Yes, negative informal tú commands use the 2nd person, singular endings of the present tense, subjunctive mood. (no salgas/no digas)

Formal usted commands use the 3rd person, singular endings of the present tense of the subjunctive mood whether negative or affirmative. (salga/no salga; diga, no diga)

Remember that with affirmative commands the pronouns are attached to the verb.

With negative commands the pronouns precede the verb.

Affirmative tú command: (sal/ di)

Answer 2

I've studied Michel Thomas too! As I understand it you are right. You only remove the 'go' endings in the positive command.

Answer 3

No te vayas , Don't go