clavar Negative Imperative Conjugation
clavar — to nail
Use 'no claves' (tú), 'no clave' (usted), 'no clavemos' (nosotros), 'no claven' (ustedes), 'no clavéis' (vosotros) for negative commands with clavar.
clavar Negative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Negative Imperative
This form is used to tell someone NOT to do something. For 'clavar', you might say 'Don't nail that there' or 'Don't nail it too hard'.
Notes on clavar in the Negative Imperative
Negative commands in Spanish are formed using the present subjunctive. Clavar is regular in the present subjunctive, so its negative imperative forms are straightforward.
Example Sentences
No claves ese clavo tan cerca del borde.
Don't nail that nail so close to the edge.
tú
Por favor, no clave la tabla ahí.
Please, don't nail the board there.
usted
No claven la madera todavía, esperen mi señal.
Don't nail the wood yet, wait for my signal.
ustedes
No clavéis los clavos con tanta fuerza.
Don't hammer the nails with so much force.
vosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the affirmative imperative form with 'no', like 'No clava'.
Correct: Negative commands always use the subjunctive mood: 'No claves'.
Why: The structure for negative commands is different from affirmative ones.
Mistake: Confusing the 'vosotros' form, writing 'no claven' instead of 'no clavéis'.
Correct: The correct vosotros negative imperative is 'no clavéis'.
Why: The vosotros subjunctive form ends in -éis for -ar verbs.
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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.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: clava
Use 'clava' (tú), 'clave' (usted), 'clavemos' (nosotros), 'claven' (ustedes), 'clavad' (vosotros) for direct commands with clavar.