Inklingo
A storybook illustration of an adult pointing at a simple drawing of a sun on a whiteboard, clearly explaining a concept to a child who is listening attentively and nodding.

explicar Negative Imperative Conjugation

explicar — to explain

A1regular (-ar ending) with a minor spelling change (c to qu) to maintain the hard 'k' sound in some forms. -ar★★★★★
Quick answer:

The negative imperative of explicar always uses the 'qu' spelling change: no expliques, no explique, no expliquen.

explicar Negative Imperative Forms

túno expliques
ustedno explique
nosotrosno expliquemos
vosotrosno expliquéis

When to Use the Negative Imperative

Use this to tell someone not to explain something: 'Don't explain it to him yet.'

Notes on explicar in the Negative Imperative

Since negative commands use the present subjunctive forms, every person includes the 'qu' spelling change.

Example Sentences

  • No me expliques tus excusas.

    Don't explain your excuses to me.

    tú

  • No explique nada todavía.

    Don't explain anything yet.

  • No expliquen el final de la película.

    Don't explain (spoil) the end of the movie.

    ellos/ellas/ustedes

Common Mistakes

  • Mistake: Saying 'no explica' instead of 'no expliques'.

    Correct: no expliques

    Why: Negative commands must use the subjunctive form, not the present indicative.

Master Spanish verbs in context

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Related Tenses

Present

yo: explico

The present tense of explicar is regular: explico, explicas, explica, explicamos, explicáis, explican.

Preterite

yo: expliqué

The preterite of explicar has a spelling change only in the 'yo' form: expliqué.

Imperfect

yo: explicaba

The imperfect of explicar is regular: explicaba, explicabas, explicaba, explicábamos, explicabais, explicaban.

Future

yo: explicaré

The future tense of explicar is fully regular: explicaré, explicarás, explicará, explicaremos, explicaréis, explicarán.

Conditional

yo: explicaría

The conditional of explicar is regular: explicaría, explicarías, explicaría, explicaríamos, explicaríais, explicarían.

Present Subjunctive

yo: explique

The present subjunctive of explicar features a 'c' to 'qu' spelling change: explique, expliques, explique, expliquemos, expliquéis, expliquen.

Imperfect Subjunctive

yo: explicara

The imperfect subjunctive of explicar is regular: explicara, explicaras, explicara, explicáramos, explicarais, explicaran.

Affirmative Imperative

yo: explica

The affirmative imperative of explicar uses 'explica' (tú) and 'explique' (usted).