obedecer Affirmative Imperative Conjugation
obedecer — to obey
The imperative uses 'obedece' for 'tú' and 'obedezca/n' for formal commands.
obedecer Affirmative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Affirmative Imperative
Use this to give direct orders to someone to follow a rule or instruction.
Notes on obedecer in the Affirmative Imperative
The 'tú' command is regular (obedece), but the 'usted/ustedes' commands use the 'zc' from the subjunctive.
Example Sentences
¡Obedece a tu madre!
Obey your mother!
tú
Obedezcan las normas del hospital, por favor.
Obey the hospital rules, please.
Obedezcamos la ley.
Let's obey the law.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Obedezca (to a friend).
Correct: Obedece.
Why: 'Obedezca' is formal (usted). Use 'obedece' for someone you know well (tú).
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: obedezco
Obedecer is mostly regular in the present, except for the 'yo' form which changes to 'obedezco'.
Preterite
yo: obedecí
Obedecer is completely regular in the preterite: obedecí, obedeciste, obedeció, obedecimos, obedecisteis, obedecieron.
Imperfect
yo: obedecía
Obedecer is regular in the imperfect: obedecía, obedecías, obedecía, obedecíamos, obedecíais, obedecían.
Future
yo: obedeceré
Obedecer is regular in the future: just add the endings to the infinitive (obedeceré, obedecerás...).
Conditional
yo: obedecería
Obedecer is regular in the conditional: obedecería, obedecerías, obedecería, obedeceríamos, obedeceríais, obedecerían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: obedezca
The present subjunctive uses the 'zc' stem for all persons: obedezca, obedezcas, obedezca, etc.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: obedeciera
Formed from the 'ellos' preterite: obedeciera, obedecieras, obedeciera, obedeciéramos, obedecierais, obedecieran.
Negative Imperative
yo: no obedezcas
All negative commands use the 'zc' stem: no obedezcas, no obedezca, no obedezcamos, no obedezcáis, no obedezcan.