cepillar Affirmative Imperative Conjugation
cepillar — to brush
Use the imperative of cepillar for direct commands: ¡cepilla (tú), cepille (usted), etc.!
cepillar Affirmative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Affirmative Imperative
The imperative is for giving direct orders or instructions. For 'cepillar', you'd use it to tell someone exactly what to do, like telling a child to brush their teeth.
Notes on cepillar in the Affirmative Imperative
Cepillar is regular in the imperative. The tú form drops the 'r' and adds 'a' (cepilla), and the vosotros form adds 'd' (cepillad).
Example Sentences
¡Cepilla tus dientes antes de dormir!
Brush your teeth before sleeping!
tú
Señora, cepille el pelo de su hija.
Ma'am, brush your daughter's hair.
usted
¡Cepillemos el perro antes de que entre a casa!
Let's brush the dog before it comes inside!
nosotros
¡Cepillad bien vuestras zapatillas!
Brush your sneakers well!
vosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the present indicative (Cepillas) instead of the imperative (Cepilla) for 'tú'.
Correct: For a direct command to 'tú', use '¡Cepilla!'
Why: The present indicative describes an action happening now, while the imperative gives a command.
Mistake: Forgetting the 'd' on the vosotros imperative form.
Correct: The command form for 'vosotros' is 'cepillad', not 'cepilla'.
Why: The '-d' ending is characteristic of the vosotros imperative.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: cepillo
The present tense of cepillar (cepillo, cepillas, cepilla, etc.) describes habitual actions, things happening now, or general truths.
Preterite
yo: cepillé
The preterite of cepillar is regular: cepillé, cepillaste, cepilló, cepillamos, cepillasteis, cepillaron.
Imperfect
yo: cepillaba
The imperfect of cepillar (cepillaba, cepillabas, etc.) describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
Future
yo: cepillaré
The future tense of cepillar (cepillaré, cepillarás, etc.) indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: cepillaría
The conditional of cepillar (cepillaría, cepillarías, etc.) expresses 'would' actions, polite requests, or future-in-the-past.
Present Subjunctive
yo: cepille
The present subjunctive of cepillar (cepille, cepilles, etc.) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: cepillara
The imperfect subjunctive of cepillar (cepillara/cepillase) is used for past hypotheticals or polite requests.
Negative Imperative
yo: no cepilles
Use 'no' + present subjunctive for negative commands: ¡no cepilles (tú), no cepille (usted), etc.!