prender Affirmative Imperative Conjugation
prender — to turn on
Use 'prende' for tú, 'prendan' for ustedes to command someone to turn something on.
prender Affirmative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Affirmative Imperative
The imperative is for giving direct commands. Think of telling someone to turn on the lights, the TV, or a device. The 'tú' form 'prende' is informal, while 'prenda' for 'usted' is more formal.
Notes on prender in the Affirmative Imperative
Prender is regular in the affirmative imperative, following the standard pattern for -er verbs.
Example Sentences
¡Prende la luz, por favor!
Turn on the light, please!
tú
Prenda el televisor, que empieza el partido.
Turn on the television, the game is starting.
usted
Prendamos los ventiladores, hace calor.
Let's turn on the fans, it's hot.
nosotros
Prendan la estufa antes de cocinar.
Turn on the stove before cooking.
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the present tense like 'Tú prendes la luz'.
Correct: For a direct command, use '¡Tú prende la luz!'.
Why: The present indicative describes actions, while the imperative gives orders.
Mistake: Confusing 'prenda' (usted imperative) with 'prenda' (present subjunctive).
Correct: In context, 'Prenda la luz' can be a command or a wish. If it's a command, it's imperative. If it's a wish like 'Espero que prenda la luz', it's subjunctive.
Why: The forms are identical, so context is key to understanding the speaker's intent.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: prendo
Use 'prendo', 'prendes', 'prende' for actions happening now or habitually, like 'I turn on the TV'.
Preterite
yo: prendí
Use 'prendí', 'prendiste', 'prendió' for completed actions like 'I turned on the light'.
Imperfect
yo: prendía
Use 'prendía' for ongoing or habitual past actions, like 'I used to turn on'.
Future
yo: prenderé
Use 'prenderé', 'prenderás' for actions that will happen, like 'I will turn on'.
Conditional
yo: prendería
Use 'prendería' for hypothetical situations, like 'I would turn on'.
Present Subjunctive
yo: prenda
Use 'prenda' for wishes, doubts, or emotions, like 'I hope you turn on'.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: prendiera
Use 'prendiera' or 'prendiera' for past hypotheticals or wishes, like 'if I turned on'.
Negative Imperative
yo: no prendas
Use 'no prendas' for tú, 'no prendan' for ustedes to forbid someone from turning something on.