excavar Negative Imperative Conjugation
excavar — to dig
Negative commands like 'no excaves' or 'no excaven' all use the present subjunctive.
excavar Negative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Negative Imperative
Use negative commands when you want to tell someone NOT to do something. For 'excavar', this means telling someone not to dig.
Notes on excavar in the Negative Imperative
All negative commands, including 'excavar', are formed using 'no' plus the present subjunctive form of the verb. So, 'no excaves' (tú), 'no excuse' (usted), etc.
Example Sentences
¡No excaves cerca de las raíces!
Don't dig near the roots!
tú
No excavemos en la lluvia.
Let's not dig in the rain.
nosotros
¡No excaven por aquí, es propiedad privada!
Don't dig around here, it's private property!
No excabéis sin permiso.
Don't dig without permission.
vosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the affirmative imperative for negative commands.
Correct: Always use 'no' + present subjunctive for negative commands (e.g., 'no excaves' not 'no excava').
Why: Spanish uses the subjunctive mood for negative commands to express prohibition or disapproval.
Mistake: Forgetting the 'no'.
Correct: Always start negative commands with 'no' (e.g., 'No excaves').
Why: The 'no' is essential to indicate a prohibition.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: excavo
The present tense 'excavo' is used for actions happening now or habitual digging.
Preterite
yo: excavé
The preterite of excavar is regular: excavé, excavaste, excavó, excavamos, excavasteis, excavaron.
Imperfect
yo: excavaba
The imperfect 'excavaba' describes ongoing or habitual digging in the past.
Future
yo: excavaré
The future tense 'excavaré' is used for actions that will definitely happen.
Conditional
yo: excavaría
The conditional 'excavaría' is used for hypothetical 'would' scenarios and polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: excave
The present subjunctive 'excave' is used for wishes, doubts, and recommendations.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: excavara
The imperfect subjunctive 'excavara' or 'excavase' is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or doubts.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: excava
Commands like 'excava!' or 'excavemos!' use the imperative, with 'tú' being regular: excava.