3rd person imperative...?
So the 3rd person imperative of the verb "hablar" is "hable". But, other than commanding someone you would refer to as "Usted", what is it used for? Is it still a command if you're talking about someone else?
5 Answers
Well, really, it´s the 2nd person formal form, Usted, which just happens to be the same as the 3rd person verb in general. But commanding in 3rd person doesn´t really make any sense.
The verbs are normally listed as el-ella-usted and ellos-ellas-ustedes, but in the imperative, it´s only the usted and ustedes forms that make any sense.
Its a unique and intially confusing feature in Spanish that one of the 2nd person forms and one of the 3rd person forms, ends up being the same.
So getting back to the final bit of your question, No, there´s really no such thing as commanding 3rd parties (because you have to be talking to someone to command them, and that makes them 2nd person by definition)
When looking at the imperative forms, just mentally scribble out el, ella, ellos, y ellas.
I understand that you use the 3rd Person Command as the Usted Command. I was confused as to why it's not just called "Usted Command" or "2nd Person Respect Command". The name "3rd Person Command" suggests it has something to do with ordering people around while not talking to them (hence the 3rd person). I was confused as this made no sense to me.
Well, you can command a first and a third person… with the use of subjunctive. Think of English "let" and "may": • let me make you some tea (1st p.sg.), • let us begin, let's go (1st p.pl.) • may he approach (3rd p.sg.) • may they live long (3rd p.pl.) So you just do that using que + subjunctive in Spanish as far as I know. It generally means you are transfering the command through the person you are talking with (I am telling you to tell your brother to clean his room).
This is how it works, third person imperative for no commands, and second person imperative for commands.
Démelo, por favor.
Dígame.
cómprelo.
Le recomiendo que lea el libro.
"commands" is a rough way of thinking about it. You can also use it in pleas and suggestions.
Hello Rog, The poster asked for other uses (whatever exactly that means) so she/he now has alternative uses. Aside from that, I'll link you to where you can learn about indirect commands. By the way, commands are referred to as the imperative, my mention of suggestions and pleas do NOT fall in that bracket (que yo sepa).
