estar Negative Imperative Conjugation
estar — to be
Negative commands for estar use the present subjunctive: no estés, no esté, no estemos, no estéis, no estén.
estar Negative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Negative Imperative
Use these to tell someone not to be in a certain state or place (e.g., 'Don't be sad').
Notes on estar in the Negative Imperative
These forms are identical to the present subjunctive forms.
Example Sentences
No estés triste.
Don't be sad.
tú
No estén nerviosos.
Don't be nervous (plural).
Common Mistakes
Mistake: no está
Correct: no estés
Why: Negative commands must use the subjunctive, not the indicative 'tú' form.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: estoy
The present tense of estar is irregular in the 'yo' form (estoy) and requires accents on most other forms (estás, está, están).
Preterite
yo: estuve
The preterite of estar uses an irregular 'estuv-' stem: estuve, estuviste, estuvo, estuvimos, estuvisteis, estuvieron.
Imperfect
yo: estaba
Estar is regular in the imperfect: estaba, estabas, estaba, estábamos, estabais, estaban.
Future
yo: estaré
Estar is regular in the future tense: estaré, estarás, estará, estaremos, estaréis, estarán.
Conditional
yo: estaría
Estar is regular in the conditional: estaría, estarías, estaría, estaríamos, estaríais, estarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: esté
The present subjunctive of estar is irregular and all forms except 'nosotros' have accents: esté, estés, esté, estemos, estéis, estén.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: estuviera
The imperfect subjunctive uses the 'estuv-' stem: estuviera, estuvieras, estuviera, estuviéramos, estuvierais, estuvieran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: está
The imperative of estar is used to tell someone to 'be' in a certain state: está, esté, estemos, estad, estén.