motivar Negative Imperative Conjugation
motivar — to motivate
Negative commands for motivar use the present subjunctive: no motives (tú), no motive (usted), no motivemos (nosotros), no motiven (ustedes), no motivéis (vosotros).
motivar Negative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Negative Imperative
Use negative commands to tell someone NOT to do something directly. 'No motiven a los demás' means 'Don't motivate the others'.
Notes on motivar in the Negative Imperative
Motivar is regular in the negative imperative, which is formed using the present subjunctive forms with 'no'. The 'vosotros' form 'no motivéis' has an accent.
Example Sentences
No motives a la gente a hacer cosas peligrosas.
Don't motivate people to do dangerous things.
tú
No motiven a los niños a comer dulces antes de la cena.
Don't motivate the children to eat candy before dinner.
No motivéis la envidia entre hermanos.
Don't foster envy between siblings.
vosotros
No motivemos a la pasividad.
Let's not encourage passivity.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the infinitive instead of the subjunctive.
Correct: Use 'No motiven' not 'No motivar'.
Why: All negative commands in Spanish are formed using the present subjunctive.
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on the 'vosotros' form.
Correct: The correct form is 'no motivéis'.
Why: The accent on the 'i' is necessary for pronunciation and correct spelling in this form.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'motivar' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Present
yo: motivo
The present indicative of motivar (motivo, motivas, motiva, motivamos, motiváis, motivan) describes current actions, habits, or general truths.
Preterite
yo: motivé
The preterite of motivar is regular: motivé, motivaste, motivó, motivamos, motivasteis, motivaron.
Imperfect
yo: motivaba
The imperfect of motivar (motivaba, motivabas, motivaba, motivábamos, motivabais, motivaban) describes ongoing or habitual past actions.
Future
yo: motivaré
The future tense of motivar (motivaré, motivarás, motivará, motivaremos, motivaréis, motivarán) expresses actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: motivaría
The conditional of motivar (motivaría, motivarías, motivaría, motivaríamos, motivaríais, motivarían) is used for hypotheticals ('would'), polite requests, and future-in-the-past.
Present Subjunctive
yo: motive
The present subjunctive of motivar (motive, motives, motivemos, motiven, motivéis) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: motivara
The imperfect subjunctive of motivar (e.g., motivara, motivaras) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or suggestions.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: motiva
Commands in the imperative for motivar: motiva (tú), motive (usted), motivemos (nosotros), motiven (ustedes), motivad (vosotros).