imperative affirmativevsimperative negative
/im-peh-ra-TEE-vo a-fir-ma-TEE-vo/
/im-peh-ra-TEE-vo ne-ga-TEE-vo/
💡 Quick Rule
Positive commands: Attach pronouns to the end. Negative commands: Put pronouns before the verb.
Think: Positive? Stick together! (¡Hazlo!). Negative? Stay apart! (No lo hagas).
- The 'tú' form changes completely (e.g., 'Habla' becomes 'No hables'). The negative form uses the present subjunctive.
📊 Comparison Table
| Context | imperative affirmative | imperative negative | Why? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular 'tú' command (-ar) | ¡Habla! | ¡No hables! | The affirmative uses the present tense 'él/ella' form. The negative uses the present subjunctive. |
| Regular 'tú' command (-er) | ¡Come! | ¡No comas! | The verb ending flips for the negative command ('-e' becomes '-as'). |
| Irregular 'tú' command (hacer) | ¡Haz la tarea! | ¡No hagas la tarea! | Irregular affirmative forms (like 'haz') have completely different negative forms ('hagas'). |
| Command with a pronoun | ¡Dime! | ¡No me digas! | Pronoun attaches to the end in affirmative, but goes before the verb in negative. |
| Formal 'usted' command | ¡Hable! | ¡No hable! | For formal commands, the verb form is the same. You just add 'no'. |
✅ When to Use "imperative affirmative" / imperative negative
imperative affirmative
Used to give direct commands, orders, or suggestions TO DO something.
/im-peh-ra-TEE-vo a-fir-ma-TEE-vo/
Giving a direct order
¡Abre la puerta!
Open the door!
Making a friendly suggestion
Prueba este postre.
Try this dessert.
Giving instructions
Gira a la izquierda.
Turn left.
Attaching pronouns to the end
¡Dímelo ahora!
Tell it to me now!
imperative negative
Used to tell someone NOT to do something.
/im-peh-ra-TEE-vo ne-ga-TEE-vo/
Giving a prohibition
¡No abras la puerta!
Don't open the door!
Giving a warning
No toques eso, está caliente.
Don't touch that, it's hot.
Giving negative advice
No comas tan rápido.
Don't eat so fast.
Placing pronouns before the verb
¡No me lo digas!
Don't tell it to me!
🔄 Contrast Examples
With "imperative affirmative":
¡Hazlo ahora!
Do it now!
With "imperative negative":
¡No lo hagas ahora!
Don't do it now!
The Difference: This shows the two biggest differences side-by-side: the verb form changes ('haz' vs 'hagas') and the pronoun placement changes ('-lo' attached vs 'lo' before).
With "imperative affirmative":
¡Preocúpate por tus cosas!
Worry about your own things!
With "imperative negative":
¡No te preocupes!
Don't worry!
The Difference: With reflexive verbs, the rule is the same. The pronoun 'te' sticks to the end for the positive command but moves before the verb for the negative one.
With "imperative affirmative":
¡Ve a la tienda!
Go to the store!
With "imperative negative":
¡No vayas a la tienda!
Don't go to the store!
The Difference: The verb 'ir' is highly irregular. The affirmative 'tú' command is just 've', while the negative is 'no vayas'. You simply have to memorize these.
🎨 Visual Comparison
Affirmative commands tell you what TO DO. Negative commands tell you what NOT TO DO.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
¡No hazlo!
¡No lo hagas!
Two errors: in negative commands, the pronoun ('lo') goes BEFORE the verb, and the verb form changes from 'haz' to 'hagas'.
¡No habla!
¡No hables!
This is a common mix-up. The negative command for 'tú' doesn't use the same verb form as the affirmative. It uses the subjunctive: 'hables'.
¡Lávatelo!
¡Lávatelas! (manos)
This isn't an affirmative/negative error, but a common command mistake. When attaching pronouns, remember they must match the gender and number of the noun. 'Las manos' -> 'Lávatelas'.
📚 Related Grammar
Want to understand the grammar behind this pair? Explore these lessons for a deep dive:
Forming Commands (Imperative Mood)
The main grammar lesson covering how to form all types of commands.
Present Subjunctive
Negative commands use the present subjunctive verb forms, so understanding it is key.
Object Pronoun Placement
Explains the rules for where to place pronouns like 'me', 'te', 'lo', 'la'.
🏷️ Key Words
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: Imperative Affirmative vs Negative
Question 1 of 2
Choose the correct way to say 'Tell me!'
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the verb change so much in the negative 'tú' command, like from 'haz' to 'hagas'?
It's because the negative command for 'tú' borrows its form from a different mood: the present subjunctive. The affirmative 'tú' command is often irregular and unique, while the negative one follows a more predictable (though different) pattern based on the subjunctive.
Is the pronoun rule always 'attach for positive, before for negative'?
Yes, for commands, this is a very reliable rule! If you're telling someone TO DO something, the pronouns stick to the end. If you're telling them NOT TO DO something, the pronouns go in front of the verb. This is one of the clearest rules in Spanish grammar.
What about commands for 'nosotros' (let's...)?
The same rules apply! '¡Sentémonos!' (Let's sit down!) - pronoun attached. '¡No nos sentemos!' (Let's not sit down!) - pronoun before the verb. The verb forms also come from the present subjunctive for both.