encarcelar Affirmative Imperative Conjugation
encarcelar — to imprison
The imperative of encarcelar has commands like '¡Encarcela!' (you, singular) and '¡Encarcelad!' (you, plural, Spain).
encarcelar Affirmative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Affirmative Imperative
Use the imperative of encarcelar for direct commands, telling someone to imprison someone or something. For example, telling a judge to imprison a criminal or a warden to lock up a prisoner.
Notes on encarcelar in the Affirmative Imperative
Encarcelar is regular in the imperative, but watch out for the usted/ustedes forms which use the present subjunctive stem: 'encarciele' and 'encarcielen'. The tú form 'encarciela' is a direct command form. The vosotros form 'encarcelad' is regular.
Example Sentences
¡Juez, encarcela al culpable!
Judge, imprison the guilty one!
tú
¡Guardias, encarcelen a los prisioneros inmediatamente!
Guards, imprison the prisoners immediately!
ustedes
¡Encarcelad a los que rompan las reglas!
Imprison those who break the rules!
vosotros
Si eres el rey, ¡encarcelo a tus enemigos!
If you are the king, imprison your enemies!
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the infinitive 'encarcelar' instead of a command form.
Correct: Use 'encarcela', 'encarciele', 'encarcielen', etc., depending on who you're commanding.
Why: The infinitive is a verb form, not a direct command.
Mistake: Forgetting the 'no' in negative commands.
Correct: Negative commands always need 'no' before the verb (e.g., 'no encarcieles').
Why: Spanish negative commands are formed using the subjunctive, which requires 'no'.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: encarcielo
The present tense of encarcelar means 'to imprison' or 'is imprisoning,' like 'Yo encarcielo' (I imprison).
Preterite
yo: encarcelé
The preterite of encarcelar is regular: encarcelé, encarcelaste, encarceló, encarcelamos, encarcelasteis, encarcelaron.
Imperfect
yo: encarcelaba
The imperfect of encarcelar describes ongoing or habitual past imprisonment, like 'Yo encarcelaba' (I used to imprison).
Future
yo: encarcelaré
The future tense of encarcelar indicates future actions, like 'Yo encarcelaré' (I will imprison).
Conditional
yo: encarcelaría
The conditional of encarcelar expresses hypothetical actions, like 'Yo encarcelaría' (I would imprison).
Present Subjunctive
yo: encarciele
The present subjunctive of encarcelar is used for wishes, doubts, and emotions, like 'Espero que encarcieles' (I hope you imprison).
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: encarcelara
The imperfect subjunctive of encarcelar expresses past hypotheticals or wishes, like 'si encarcelara' (if I were to imprison).
Negative Imperative
yo: no encarcieles
Negative commands with encarcelar use the present subjunctive, like '¡No encarceles!' (you, singular).