callar Negative Imperative Conjugation
callar — to be silent
The negative imperative of callar uses 'no' plus the present subjunctive forms.
callar Negative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Negative Imperative
Use this to tell someone NOT to be silent, or to encourage someone to speak up and share information.
Notes on callar in the Negative Imperative
The negative imperative is regular and follows the present subjunctive forms exactly.
Example Sentences
No calles lo que sientes.
Don't keep what you feel to yourself.
tú
No callen la verdad ante el juez.
Don't withhold the truth before the judge.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
No calléis vuestras opiniones en la reunión.
Don't (you all) silence your opinions in the meeting.
vosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the affirmative form with 'no' (e.g., 'no calla').
Correct: Use the subjunctive form: 'no calles'.
Why: Negative commands in Spanish always require the subjunctive mood.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: callo
The present tense of callar is regular: callo, callas, calla, callamos, calláis, callan.
Preterite
yo: callé
The preterite of callar is regular: callé, callaste, calló, callamos, callasteis, callaron.
Imperfect
yo: callaba
The imperfect of callar is regular: callaba, callabas, callaba, callábamos, callabais, callaban.
Future
yo: callaré
The future of callar is regular: callaré, callarás, callará, callaremos, callaréis, callarán.
Conditional
yo: callaría
The conditional of callar is regular: callaría, callarías, callaría, callaríamos, callaríais, callarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: calle
The present subjunctive of callar is regular: calle, calles, calle, callemos, calléis, callen.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: callara
The imperfect subjunctive of callar is regular: callara, callaras, callara, calláramos, callarais, callaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: calla
The imperative of callar uses calla (tú), callad (vosotros), and subjunctive forms for others.