esconderse Affirmative Imperative Conjugation
esconderse — to hide (oneself)
Commands like 'hide!' or 'let's hide!' for esconderse.
esconderse Affirmative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Affirmative Imperative
Use the imperative for direct commands. For 'tú', it's a direct command to one person you know well, like telling a child 'escóndete' (hide yourself). For 'vosotros', it's for a group you know well, like telling friends 'escondeos'. The plural 'ustedes' and formal 'usted' forms are also direct commands, but to people you address formally or as a group.
Notes on esconderse in the Affirmative Imperative
Esconderse is irregular in the imperative. The 'tú' form drops the 'r' from the infinitive and adds 'd' before the reflexive pronoun 'te' to become 'escóndete'. The 'vosotros' form adds 'os' directly to the infinitive: 'esconderos', but this becomes 'escondeos' with the stress shift.
Example Sentences
¡Escóndete detrás del árbol!
Hide behind the tree!
tú
Amigos, ¡escondeos!
Friends, hide!
vosotros
Señores, escóndanse rápido.
Gentlemen, hide quickly.
ustedes
Vamos, ¡escondámonos antes de que nos vean!
Come on, let's hide before they see us!
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the infinitive 'esconderse' as a command.
Correct: Use the correct imperative form like 'escóndete' or 'escondámonos'.
Why: The infinitive is not used for direct commands; specific imperative conjugations are required.
Mistake: Forgetting the accent in 'escóndete'.
Correct: It should be 'escóndete' with an accent on the 'o'.
Why: The accent is needed because the stress shifts to the stem when the 'd' is added for the 'tú' command.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'esconderse' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Present
yo: me escondo
Describes current actions or habits of hiding.
Preterite
yo: me escondí
Describes completed past actions of hiding.
Imperfect
yo: me escondía
Describes ongoing or habitual past actions of hiding.
Future
yo: me esconderé
Expresses future actions or probability of hiding.
Conditional
yo: me escondería
Expresses hypothetical or polite situations of hiding.
Present Subjunctive
yo: me esconda
Subjunctive mood for wishes, doubts, emotions, and uncertainty about hiding.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: me escondiera
Past subjunctive for hypothetical situations or past wishes with esconderse.
Negative Imperative
yo: no te escondas
Negative commands like 'don't hide!' for esconderse.