lavar Negative Imperative Conjugation
lavar — to wash
The negative imperative of lavar uses the present subjunctive: no laves, no lave, no lavemos, no lavéis, no laven.
lavar Negative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Negative Imperative
Use this to tell someone NOT to wash something, like a delicate sweater or a dirty car in the sun.
Notes on lavar in the Negative Imperative
Lavar follows the standard rule: no + present subjunctive forms.
Example Sentences
No laves esa camiseta en agua caliente.
Don't wash that t-shirt in hot water.
tú
No lave los platos todavía, yo lo haré.
Don't wash the dishes yet, I will do it.
usted
No laven el coche hoy, va a llover.
Don't wash the car today, it's going to rain.
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Saying 'no lava' for a command.
Correct: no laves
Why: Negative commands must use the subjunctive forms, not the indicative.
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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.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: lava
The affirmative imperative of lavar is: lava (tú), lave (usted), lavemos (nosotros), lavad (vosotros), laven (ustedes).