cuidar Affirmative Imperative Conjugation
cuidar — to take care of
The imperative of cuidar provides direct commands: cuida (tú), cuidad (vosotros), cuide (usted).
cuidar Affirmative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Affirmative Imperative
Use the imperative to give advice or instructions on how to look after someone, or to simply say 'Take care!' when saying goodbye.
Notes on cuidar in the Affirmative Imperative
Cuidar is regular in the imperative. The tú form is the same as the present third-person singular (cuida).
Example Sentences
¡Cuida a tu hermano pequeño!
Take care of your little brother!
tú
Cuide su equipaje en todo momento.
Take care of your luggage at all times.
usted
¡Cuidad las plantas mientras no estoy!
Take care of the plants while I'm away!
vosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: cuida (for usted)
Correct: cuide
Why: The formal 'usted' command must use the subjunctive-based ending -e, not the -a ending.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: cuido
The present tense of cuidar is regular: cuido, cuidas, cuida, cuidamos, cuidáis, cuidan.
Preterite
yo: cuidé
Cuidar is regular in the preterite: cuidé, cuidaste, cuidó, cuidamos, cuidasteis, cuidaron.
Imperfect
yo: cuidaba
The imperfect of cuidar follows the regular -aba pattern: cuidaba, cuidabas, cuidaba, cuidábamos.
Future
yo: cuidaré
The future of cuidar uses the infinitive plus standard endings: cuidaré, cuidarás, cuidará.
Conditional
yo: cuidaría
The conditional of cuidar is regular: cuidaría, cuidarías, cuidaría, cuidaríamos, cuidaríais, cuidarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: cuide
The present subjunctive of cuidar uses -e endings: cuide, cuides, cuide, cuidemos, cuidéis, cuiden.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: cuidara
The imperfect subjunctive of cuidar uses the preterite stem: cuidara, cuidaras, cuidara, cuidáramos.
Negative Imperative
yo: no cuides
The negative imperative of cuidar uses 'no' plus the present subjunctive: no cuides, no cuide.