cepillar Negative Imperative Conjugation
cepillar — to brush
Use 'no' + present subjunctive for negative commands: ¡no cepilles (tú), no cepille (usted), etc.!
cepillar Negative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Negative Imperative
This form is used to tell someone *not* to do something. You'd use it to forbid an action, like telling someone not to brush something specific they shouldn't touch.
Notes on cepillar in the Negative Imperative
Negative commands use the present subjunctive. Cepillar is regular in the present subjunctive, so the forms are straightforward: no cepilles (tú), no cepille (usted), etc.
Example Sentences
No cepilles la pintura todavía, está fresca.
Don't brush the paint yet, it's still wet.
tú
Por favor, no cepille esos cables.
Please, don't brush those wires.
usted
No cepillemos el mantel con el cepillo de alambre.
Let's not brush the tablecloth with the wire brush.
nosotros
No cepilléis la ropa delicada con tanta fuerza.
Don't brush the delicate clothes so hard.
vosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the present indicative instead of the subjunctive.
Correct: For negative commands, always use 'no' followed by the present subjunctive form (e.g., 'no cepilles', not 'no cepillas').
Why: Spanish grammar requires the subjunctive mood for negative commands.
Mistake: Confusing 'tú' and 'usted' negative commands.
Correct: Remember 'no cepilles' for 'tú' and 'no cepille' for 'usted'.
Why: These forms come from different present subjunctive conjugations.
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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.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: cepilla
Use the imperative of cepillar for direct commands: ¡cepilla (tú), cepille (usted), etc.!