cavar Affirmative Imperative Conjugation
cavar — to dig
Use imperative forms like 'cava' (tú) and 'caven' (ustedes) for direct commands related to digging.
cavar Affirmative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Affirmative Imperative
The imperative is for giving direct commands. For 'cavar', you'd use it to tell someone to dig, like '¡Cava un hoyo!' (Dig a hole!) or '¡Caven aquí!' (Dig here!).
Notes on cavar in the Affirmative Imperative
The affirmative imperative of 'cavar' is regular for -ar verbs, except for the 'vosotros' form, which follows the pattern for -ar verbs, and the 'nosotros' form, which is like the present subjunctive.
Example Sentences
¡Cava un hoyo para plantar el árbol!
Dig a hole to plant the tree!
tú
Señores, ¡caven con cuidado!
Gentlemen, dig carefully!
ustedes
¡Cavad este jardín antes del mediodía!
Dig this garden before noon!
vosotros
¡Cave usted un poco más profundo!
Dig a little deeper!
usted
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the present indicative instead of imperative for commands.
Correct: Use imperative forms like 'cava' or 'caven' for commands.
Why: The indicative describes actions, while the imperative directly commands them.
Mistake: Forgetting the 'nosotros' form should align with the present subjunctive.
Correct: The 'nosotros' imperative form is 'cavemos', similar to the present subjunctive.
Why: This is a standard conjugation pattern for verbs ending in -ar when forming the nosotros imperative.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: cavo
Use the present tense like 'cavo' (yo) and 'cavan' (ellos) for current actions, habits, or general truths about digging.
Preterite
yo: cavé
Use preterite forms like 'cavé' (yo) and 'cavaron' (ellos) for completed digging actions in the past.
Imperfect
yo: cavaba
Use the imperfect like 'cavaba' (yo) and 'cavaban' (ellos) for ongoing or habitual past actions (used to dig, was digging).
Future
yo: cavaré
Future forms like 'cavaré' (yo) and 'cavarán' (ellos) indicate actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: cavaría
Use conditional forms like 'cavaría' (yo) and 'cavarían' (ellos) for hypothetical ('would dig') or polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: cave
Use present subjunctive forms like 'cave' (yo) and 'caven' (ellos) after expressions of doubt, desire, or emotion.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: cavara
Use the imperfect subjunctive like 'cavara' or 'cavase' for past hypotheticals, wishes, or polite requests.
Negative Imperative
yo: no caves
Use negative commands like 'no caves' (tú) and 'no caven' (ustedes) to tell someone not to dig.