Imperative Help

Question

Dose anyone know how imperative works? It's one of those tenses that bugs me a lot because I can't quite understand it. Thanks a lot

Also refer to the posting: "Questions about learning the subjunctive and Imperative moods" in the Q&A section. - Jubilado, Feb 3, 2013

Answer 1

The imperative is the "command" form of the verb. Grammatically it's not a Tense but a Mood. Each verb has a form to agree with tú, usted, vosotros, and usteds either as a positive command (Do this!) or as a negative command (Don't do this!).

Try this: Using the conjugate selection on the blue bar at the top of the page, type in any verb infinitive (ir, tomar, venir, etc.) and then find the Imperative forms in the conjugation table. After looking at several regular and irregular you should get a better understanding.

Answer 2

I agree with Jubilado.

Also note that many times people mistakenly consider phrases like "¡Quiero que lo hagas!" (I want you to do it!) a command, but this is just an emotional statement in present tense 1st person singular.

The imperative (command) form is "¡Hazlo" (Do it!) second person (familiar) singular.

Very good point, I think I saw that misunderstanding just earlier today, or maybe yesterday. If it´s an expression of emotion, a desire, or an attempt to influence, it still isn´t a command, and thus takes the subjunctive mood, rather than the imperative - rogspax, Feb 4, 2013

... which to add confusion, can look the same in the affirmative. - rogspax, Feb 4, 2013

I'd just add that the nosotros form of the imperative is equivalent to "let's (verb)" such as let's eat (comamos) - BigMike, Feb 5, 2013