distinguir Affirmative Imperative Conjugation
distinguir — to tell apart
Give commands to distinguish: distingue (tú), distinga (usted), distingamos (nosotros), distinguid (vosotros), distingan (ustedes).
distinguir Affirmative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Affirmative Imperative
Use this when you are telling someone to identify or differentiate between things.
Notes on distinguir in the Affirmative Imperative
The 'tú' form is regular (distingue). The forms for 'usted', 'nosotros', and 'ustedes' follow the subjunctive spelling (no 'u').
Example Sentences
Distingue bien entre estas dos opciones.
Distinguish well between these two options.
tú
Distingan ustedes los colores primarios.
You all, distinguish the primary colors.
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'distingue' for the 'usted' command.
Correct: distinga
Why: Formal commands (usted) always use the subjunctive form.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: distingo
The present of distinguir is mostly regular, but the 'yo' form changes to 'distingo' to keep the sound right.
Preterite
yo: distinguí
Distinguir is completely regular in the preterite: distinguí, distinguiste, distinguió, distinguimos, distinguisteis, distinguieron.
Imperfect
yo: distinguía
The imperfect of distinguir is regular: distinguía, distinguías, distinguía, distinguíamos, distinguíais, distinguían.
Future
yo: distinguiré
The future of distinguir is regular: just add the endings to the infinitive (distinguiré).
Conditional
yo: distinguiría
The conditional of distinguir is regular: añadiría, añadirías... wait, I mean: distinguiría, distinguirías, etc.
Present Subjunctive
yo: distinga
The present subjunctive follows the 'yo' form change: distinga, distingas, distinga, distingamos, distingáis, distingan.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: distinguiera
The imperfect subjunctive uses the preterite stem: distinguiera, distinguieras, distinguiera...
Negative Imperative
yo: no distingas
Negative commands use the present subjunctive: no distingas, no distinga, no distingamos, no distingáis, no distingan.