abstenerse Negative Imperative Conjugation
abstenerse — to refrain
Negative commands use the subjunctive: no te abstengas, no se abstenga.
abstenerse Negative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Negative Imperative
Use this to tell someone they *should* participate or *should not* hold back from an action.
Notes on abstenerse in the Negative Imperative
All negative commands for this verb use the 'absteng-' stem from the present subjunctive.
Example Sentences
No te abstengas de participar.
Don't refrain from participating.
tú
No se abstengan de preguntar dudas.
Don't refrain from asking questions.
No nos abstengamos de ayudar.
Let's not refrain from helping.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: No te abstente.
Correct: No te abstengas.
Why: Negative commands never use the affirmative imperative form; they always use the subjunctive.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: me abstengo
The present of abstenerse follows the pattern of tener: me abstengo, te abstienes, se abstiene.
Preterite
yo: me abstuve
The preterite uses the 'uv' stem: me abstuve, te abstuviste, se abstuvo.
Imperfect
yo: me abstenía
The imperfect is regular for abstenerse: me abstenía, te abstenías, se abstenía.
Future
yo: me abstendré
The future uses the stem 'abstendr-': me abstendré, te abstendrás, se abstendrá.
Conditional
yo: me abstendría
The conditional uses the stem 'abstendr-': me abstendría, te abstendrías.
Present Subjunctive
yo: me abstenga
The subjunctive uses the 'absteng-' stem: me abstenga, te abstengas, se abstenga.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: me abstuviera
The imperfect subjunctive uses the 'abstuv-' stem: me abstuviera, te abstuvieras.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: abstente
Direct commands: abstente (tú), absténgase (usted), absteneos (vosotros).