lavar Affirmative Imperative Conjugation
lavar — to wash
The affirmative imperative of lavar is: lava (tú), lave (usted), lavemos (nosotros), lavad (vosotros), laven (ustedes).
lavar Affirmative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Affirmative Imperative
Use this to give direct orders or instructions on how to wash something.
Notes on lavar in the Affirmative Imperative
Lavar is regular. The 'tú' command is the same as the third-person present indicative (lava).
Example Sentences
Lava tus manos antes de cenar.
Wash your hands before dinner.
tú
Lave la fruta con abundante agua.
Wash the fruit with plenty of water.
usted
Lavad la ropa sucia ahora.
Wash the dirty clothes now.
vosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'lave' for a friend (tú).
Correct: lava
Why: 'Lave' is the formal (usted) command; 'lava' is the informal (tú) command.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: lavo
The present of lavar is regular: lavo, lavas, lava, lavamos, laváis, lavan.
Preterite
yo: lavé
The preterite of lavar is regular: lavé, lavaste, lavó, lavamos, lavasteis, lavaron.
Imperfect
yo: lavaba
The imperfect of lavar is regular: lavaba, lavabas, lavaba, lavábamos, lavabais, lavaban.
Future
yo: lavaré
The future of lavar is regular: lavaré, lavarás, lavará, lavaremos, lavaréis, lavarán.
Conditional
yo: lavaría
The conditional of lavar is regular: lavaría, lavarías, lavaría, lavaríamos, lavaríais, lavarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: lave
The present subjunctive of lavar is regular: lave, laves, lave, lavemos, lavéis, laven.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: lavara
The imperfect subjunctive of lavar is regular: lavara, lavaras, lavara, laváramos, lavarais, lavaran.
Negative Imperative
yo: no laves
The negative imperative of lavar uses the present subjunctive: no laves, no lave, no lavemos, no lavéis, no laven.