tapar Negative Imperative Conjugation
tapar — to cover
Use no tapes, no tape, no tapemos, no tapéis, no tapen for negative commands with tapar.
tapar Negative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Negative Imperative
This is for telling someone NOT to do something. 'No tapes el hueco' means 'Don't cover the hole'.
Notes on tapar in the Negative Imperative
Tapar is regular in the negative imperative, using the present subjunctive forms.
Example Sentences
No tapes la comida, se va a enfriar.
Don't cover the food, it's going to get cold.
tú
No tape el micrófono cuando hable.
Don't cover the microphone when you speak.
usted
No tapéis los ojos, quiero que lo veáis.
Don't cover your eyes, I want you to see it.
vosotros
No tapen la salida de emergencia.
Do not cover the emergency exit.
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Forgetting the 'no' before the verb.
Correct: Always include 'no' before the verb in negative commands: 'No tapes', not 'Tapes'.
Why: The 'no' is essential to change a command into a prohibition.
Mistake: Using the infinitive instead of the subjunctive form.
Correct: Use the present subjunctive forms: 'no tape', 'no tapes', etc., not 'no tapar'.
Why: Negative commands in Spanish use the present subjunctive.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'tapar' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Present
yo: tapo
Use tapo, tapas, tapa, tapamos, tapáis, tapan for actions happening now, habits, or general truths.
Preterite
yo: tapé
The preterite of tapar is regular: tapé, tapaste, tapó, tapamos, tapasteis, taparon.
Imperfect
yo: tapaba
Use tapaba, tapabas, tapaba, tapábamos, etc., for ongoing or habitual past actions, and descriptions.
Future
yo: taparé
Use 1st person singular taparé, taparás, etc., for actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: taparía
Use taparía, taparías, etc., for hypotheticals ('would cover'), polite requests, and future-in-the-past.
Present Subjunctive
yo: tape
Use tape, tapes, tapemos, etc., after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, and uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: tapara
Use tapara, taparas, tapáramos, etc., for past wishes, hypothetical situations, and polite requests.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: tapa
Use tapa, tape, tapemos, tapad, tapen for direct commands with tapar.