Imperatives... but what about "Don't be etc..."???

Question

So now I get the imperative mood in simple sentences. I've found plenty of those on the internet. But then I don't think I've ever seen example sentences for these kinds of imperatives... that we can see in english.

Por ejemplo,

"Don't be watching television when I come back."

or

"Be studying spanish when I come back."

I think the first sentence will go like

"No estes mirando la television cuando vuelvo.

But I don't think this sounds quite right....

Am I getting this wrong? Am I thinking too 'englishly? Should I rephrase the order into a non-order like "I don't want you to be watching tv when I come back?" or is it actually possible (and normal) to say imperatives like this in spanish?

Muchas gracias de antemano.

Hola,bienvenido al foro! - rac1, Jun 21, 2012

Great question amigo =] - DJ_Huero, Jun 21, 2012

Gracias! I always try to play around with my sentences :) - 0068f249, Jun 22, 2012

Answer 1

All forms of the imperative in Spanish , except positive commands in the familiar form, are taken from the present subjunctive mood. So I would have said,

No estés mirando a la tele cuando vuelva.

Estás estudiando el español cuando vuelva.

I agree Eddy, good answer. =] - DJ_Huero, Jun 21, 2012

Thanks DJ. - Eddy, Jun 22, 2012

Answer 2

No estés viendo la tele a mi vuelta.

Está estudiando español a mi vuelta.

In my area (Andalucía) Ver is definitely more common than Mirar when signifying watching as in Television or a spectator sport etc. Other regions / countries may differ. I believe that no article is necessary before Español when using Estudiar or Hablar.