alabar Negative Imperative Conjugation
alabar — to praise
Negative commands use the present subjunctive: 'no alabes' (you), 'no alaben' (they/you all).
alabar Negative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Negative Imperative
This is used to tell someone *not* to do something. For 'alabar', you might tell someone not to praise something insincerely or not to praise a bad action.
Notes on alabar in the Negative Imperative
All negative commands in Spanish use the present subjunctive. Therefore, 'alabar' follows the regular present subjunctive pattern: 'no alabe' (usted), 'no alaben' (ustedes), 'no alabes' (tú), 'no alabemos' (nosotros), 'no alabéis' (vosotros).
Example Sentences
No alabes algo solo por quedar bien.
Don't praise something just to look good.
tú
No alabemos sus malas decisiones.
Let's not praise their bad decisions.
nosotros
No alaben al político por promesas vacías.
Don't praise the politician for empty promises.
No alabéis la injusticia.
Don't you all (Spain) praise injustice.
vosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the infinitive or indicative instead of the subjunctive.
Correct: Use the present subjunctive, e.g., 'no alabar' or 'no alabas' is incorrect; it should be 'no alabes'.
Why: Negative commands require the subjunctive mood.
Mistake: Incorrectly conjugating the subjunctive form.
Correct: Ensure the subjunctive endings are correct: 'no alabe', 'no alaben', 'no alabes', etc.
Why: Learners sometimes mix up indicative and subjunctive endings.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'alabar' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Present
yo: alabo
The present tense of 'alabar' is regular: alabo, alabas, alaba, alabamos, alabáis, alaban.
Preterite
yo: alabé
The preterite of 'alabar' is regular: alabé, alabaste, alabó, alabamos, alabasteis, alabaron.
Imperfect
yo: alababa
The imperfect of 'alabar' is regular: alababa, alababas, alababa, alabábamos, alababais, alababan.
Future
yo: alabaré
The future tense of 'alabar' is regular: alabaré, alabarás, alabará, alabaremos, alabaréis, alabarán.
Conditional
yo: alabaría
The conditional of 'alabar' is regular: alabaría, alabarías, alabaría, alabaríamos, alabaríais, alabarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: alabe
Use 'alabar' in the present subjunctive ('alabe', 'alaben') after doubt, wishes, emotions, or impersonal expressions.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: alabara
Use the imperfect subjunctive ('alabara'/'alabarais') for past hypotheticals or wishes.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: alaba
Use 'alabar' for direct commands like '¡Alaba tú!' or '¡Alabemos nosotros!'.