alternar Affirmative Imperative Conjugation
alternar — to alternate
Use 'alterna' (tú), 'alterne' (usted), 'alternemos' (nosotros), 'alternen' (ustedes), 'alternad' (vosotros) for direct commands.
alternar Affirmative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Affirmative Imperative
The imperative mood is for giving direct commands or making requests. For 'alternar,' you'd use it to tell someone to alternate something, like switching between tasks or colors.
Notes on alternar in the Affirmative Imperative
Alternar is regular in the imperative mood. The tú form is 'alterna', dropping the 'r' from the infinitive.
Example Sentences
¡Alterna los colores en tu diseño!
Alternate the colors in your design!
tú
Alternemos las responsabilidades cada semana.
Let's alternate responsibilities each week.
nosotros
Por favor, alternen los turnos de limpieza.
Please, alternate the cleaning shifts.
ustedes
Alternad la mirada entre el libro y la pantalla.
Alternate your gaze between the book and the screen.
vosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the present subjunctive instead of the imperative for commands.
Correct: Use the imperative forms like 'alterna' or 'alternemos' for direct commands.
Why: The imperative mood is specifically for commands, while the subjunctive is used for wishes, doubts, or hypothetical situations.
Mistake: Forgetting the vosotros imperative form 'alternad'.
Correct: Remember the 'd' ending for the vosotros imperative of regular -ar verbs: alternad.
Why: The vosotros imperative has a distinct form that is often forgotten by learners.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: alterno
The present tense 'alterno', 'alternas', 'alterna', 'alternamos', 'alternáis', 'alternan' describes habitual actions, current actions, and general truths.
Preterite
yo: alterné
The preterite of 'alternar' is regular: alterné, alternaste, alternó, alternamos, alternasteis, alternaron.
Imperfect
yo: alternaba
The imperfect 'alternaba', 'alternabas', 'alternaba', 'alternábamos', 'alternabais', 'alternaban' describes habitual or ongoing past actions.
Future
yo: alternaré
The future tense 'alternaré', 'alternarás', 'alternará', 'alternaremos', 'alternaréis', 'alternarán' indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: alternaría
The conditional 'alternaría', 'alternarías', 'alternaría', 'alternaríamos', 'alternaríais', 'alternarían' expresses hypotheticals ('would') and polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: alterne
The present subjunctive (alterne, alternes, alternemos, alternen, alternéis) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: alternara
The imperfect subjunctive (alternara/alternase) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, and polite requests.
Negative Imperative
yo: no alternes
Negative commands use 'no' + present subjunctive: 'no alternes' (tú), 'no alterne' (usted), 'no alternemos' (nosotros), 'no alternen' (ustedes), 'no alternéis' (vosotros).