clavar Affirmative Imperative Conjugation
clavar — to nail
Use 'clava' (tú), 'clave' (usted), 'clavemos' (nosotros), 'claven' (ustedes), 'clavad' (vosotros) for direct commands with clavar.
clavar Affirmative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Affirmative Imperative
The imperative is for giving direct orders or instructions. For 'clavar', you might tell someone to nail something specific, like a picture or a board.
Notes on clavar in the Affirmative Imperative
Clavar is regular in the imperative. For the 'vosotros' form, remember to drop the 'r' from 'clavar' and add 'd'.
Example Sentences
¡Clava ese clavo en la pared!
Nail that nail into the wall!
tú
Señor, clave la madera aquí, por favor.
Sir, nail the wood here, please.
usted
Clavemos las tablas para la mesa.
Let's nail the planks for the table.
nosotros
¡Clavad bien los tornillos!
Nail the screws in well!
vosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the present subjunctive form for commands, like 'No claves' instead of 'Clava'.
Correct: Use the affirmative imperative 'Clava' for positive commands to 'tú'. Negative commands use the subjunctive.
Why: Learners often confuse affirmative and negative command structures.
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on 'clava' when addressing 'tú'.
Correct: The 'tú' imperative form is 'clava' with the accent on the 'a'.
Why: This is a regular pattern for -ar verbs in the affirmative tú imperative.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: clavo
Use 'clavo' (yo), 'clavas' (tú), 'clava' (él/ella/usted), 'clavamos' (nosotros), 'claváis' (vosotros), 'clavan' (ellos/ellas/ustedes) for habitual actions, things happening now, or general truths with clavar.
Preterite
yo: clavé
Use 'clavé' (yo), 'clavaste' (tú), 'clavó' (él/ella/usted), 'clavamos' (nosotros), 'clavasteis' (vosotros), 'clavaron' (ellos/ellas/ustedes) for completed actions in the past with clavar.
Imperfect
yo: clavaba
Use 'clavaba' (yo/él/ella/usted), 'clavabas' (tú), 'clavábamos' (nosotros), 'clavabais' (vosotros), 'clavaban' (ellos/ellas/ustedes) for ongoing or habitual past actions with clavar.
Future
yo: clavaré
Use 'clavaré' (yo), 'clavarás' (tú), 'clavará' (él/ella/usted), 'claremos' (nosotros), 'clararéis' (vosotros), 'clararán' (ellos/ellas/ustedes) for actions that will happen in the future with clavar.
Conditional
yo: clavaría
Use 'clavaría' (yo/él/ella/usted), 'clavarías' (tú), 'clavaríamos' (nosotros), 'clavaríais' (vosotros), 'clavarían' (ellos/ellas/ustedes) for hypothetical situations ('would') or polite requests with clavar.
Present Subjunctive
yo: clave
Use 'clava' (yo/él/ella/usted), 'clavas' (tú), 'clavemos' (nosotros), 'claven' (ellos/ellas/ustedes), 'clavéis' (vosotros) after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty with clavar.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: clavara
Use 'clavara' or 'clavase' (yo/él/ella/usted), 'clavaras' or 'clavases' (tú), 'claváramos' or 'clavásemos' (nosotros), 'clavaran' or 'clavasen' (ellos/ellas/ustedes), 'clavarais' or 'clavaseis' (vosotros) for past hypothetical situations or wishes with clavar.
Negative Imperative
yo: no claves
Use 'no claves' (tú), 'no clave' (usted), 'no clavemos' (nosotros), 'no claven' (ustedes), 'no clavéis' (vosotros) for negative commands with clavar.