cagar Affirmative Imperative Conjugation
cagar — to mess up
Use 'cagar' commands directly: 'caga' (tú), 'caguen' (ustedes), etc.
cagar Affirmative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Affirmative Imperative
You use the imperative to give direct orders or commands. With 'cagar,' this is usually informal and can be quite strong, often used in frustration or anger, like telling someone to 'just do it' or to 'shut up' in a crude way.
Notes on cagar in the Affirmative Imperative
Cagar is regular in the imperative, following the standard pattern for -ar verbs, except for the tú form, which is 'caga' (like the present indicative) instead of the expected 'cáge'.
Example Sentences
¡Caga ya y vete!
Just do it already and leave!
tú
¡Caguen todo y vámonos!
Mess it all up and let's go!
Caga la atención a lo que digo.
Pay attention to what I'm saying.
tú
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the subjunctive form like 'cagues' for a command.
Correct: For direct commands, use the imperative forms like 'caga' or 'caguen'.
Why: The imperative mood is specifically for giving commands, while the subjunctive is used for wishes, doubts, or emotions.
Mistake: Forgetting the 'vosotros' form 'cagad'.
Correct: The vosotros imperative is 'cagad'.
Why: This is a common oversight for learners not accustomed to using vosotros.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: cago
Use present for current actions or habits: 'cago' (I mess up), 'cagan' (they mess up).
Preterite
yo: cagué
Use preterite for completed past actions: 'cagué' (I messed up), 'cagó' (he/she messed up).
Imperfect
yo: cagaba
Use imperfect for ongoing/habitual past actions: 'cagaba' (I used to mess up), 'cagaban' (they used to mess up).
Future
yo: cagaré
Use future for predictions: 'cagaré' (I will mess up), 'cagarán' (they will mess up).
Conditional
yo: cagaría
Use conditional for hypotheticals ('would'): 'cagaría' (I would mess up), 'cagarían' (they would mess up).
Present Subjunctive
yo: cague
Use present subjunctive after doubts, wishes, emotions: 'espero que cagues', 'dudo que cague'.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: cagara
Use 'cagar' imperfect subjunctive for past hypotheticals or wishes: 'si cagara,' 'ojalá cagase'.
Negative Imperative
yo: no cagues
Negative commands use 'no' + present subjunctive: 'no cagues' (tú), 'no caguen' (ustedes).