Affirmative tú-commands

Gramática II, Unidad 7

The majority of the time (with the exception of our 8 main verbs that have irregular affirmative tú-commands, which we'll see later), forming affirmative tú-commands is simple.

• All you do is use the 3rd-person-singular (él/ella/usted) form of that verb in the present tense.
   
• I know this may seem weird, but if you just accept it, it will make your life so much easier.
   
• Crucial to bear in mind: NO affirmative tú-command will ever end in S. All regular affirmative tú-commands will end in either A or E.
   
• Note that negative tú-commands (ie, "Don't do X") are formed completely differently. They are not a focus for us in Unidad 7.

Let's practice with this.

To tell a friend (or anyone else you'd treat as tú) to do the following actions, use these forms:
 

• infinitive: practicar (AR verb)
• remember: affirmative tú command is the same as 3rd-person-singular present tense form
• affirmative tú command: practica

• infinitive: pensar (stem-changing AR verb)
• remember: affirmative tú command is the same as 3rd-person-singular present tense form
• affirmative tú command: piensa

More practice:

To tell a friend (or anyone else you'd treat as tú) to do the following actions, use these forms:
 

• infinitive: comer (ER verb)
• remember: affirmative tú command is the same as 3rd-person-singular present tense form
• affirmative tú command: come

• infinitive: volver (stem-changing ER verb)
• remember: affirmative tú command is the same as 3rd-person-singular present tense form
• affirmative tú command: vuelve

Still more practice:

To tell a friend (or anyone else you'd treat as tú) to do the following actions, use these forms:
 

• infinitive: compartir (IR verb)
• remember: affirmative tú command is the same as 3rd-person-singular present tense form
• affirmative tú command: comparte

• infinitive: repetir (stem-changing IR verb)
• remember: affirmative tú command is the same as 3rd-person-singular present tense form
• affirmative tú command: repite

So, that was the really easy part.

Now we need to talk about the 8 core verbs that have irregular one-syllable affirmative tú-commands.

Like anything in Spanish that's irregular, these verbs' affirmative tú-command forms must be memorized. Here are the first four:

• infinitive: decir
• irregular 1-syllable affirmative tú command: di
   
• infinitive: hacer
• irregular 1-syllable affirmative tú command: haz
   
• infinitive: ir
• irregular 1-syllable affirmative tú command: ve
   
• infinitive: poner
• irregular 1-syllable affirmative tú command: pon

Verbs with irregular one-syllable affirmative tú-commands, con't.

Remember, these verbs' affirmative tú-commands must be memorized.

Here are the last four:

• infinitive: salir
• irregular 1-syllable affirmative tú command: sal
   
• infinitive: ser
• irregular 1-syllable affirmative tú command: sé
   
• infinitive: tener
• irregular 1-syllable affirmative tú command: ten
   
• infinitive: venir
• irregular 1-syllable affirmative tú command: ven

EXAM-FORMAT PRACTICE

In this section, you must do 2 things:

• First, choose the correct verb for meaning from the word bank.
• Second, give the correct affirmative tú-command form of the verb you select.
   
• OUR BANK:
• comer  beber  hacer  poner   ir
  ganar   perder  esquiar  participar
   
• ________ una dieta equilibrada con muchas frutas y verduras.
• ____________ en una liga universitaria para aprender un deporte nuevo.
• ____________ ejercicio tres veces por semana, como mínimo.
• ____________ mucha agua
• ____________ al gimnasio por la mañana para empezar bien el día.

EXAM-FORMAT PRACTICE

Remember:

• First, choose the correct verb for meaning from the word bank.
• Second, give the correct affirmative tú-command form of the verb you select.
• OUR BANK:
• comer  beber  hacer  poner   ir
  ganar   perder  esquiar  participar
   
• ________ una dieta equilibrada con muchas frutas y verduras.
   
• ____________ en una liga universitaria para aprender a jugar un deporte nuevo.
   
• ________ ejercicio tres veces por semana, como mínimo.
• ________ mucha agua.
• _________ al gimnasio por la mañana para empezar bien el día.

Remember:

• First, choose the correct verb for meaning from the word bank.
• Second, give the correct affirmative tú-command form of the verb you select.
• OUR BANK:
• comer  beber  hacer  poner   ir
  ganar   perder  esquiar  participar
   
• Come una dieta equilibrada con muchas frutas y verduras.
• Participa en una liga universitaria para aprender a jugar un deporte nuevo.
• _________ ejercicio tres veces por semana, como mínimo.
   
• ________ mucha agua.
   
• ________ al gimnasio por la mañana para empezar bien el día.