suban
/SOO-bahn/
Go up
As a formal plural command (Ustedes), 'suban' means 'Go up!'
suban(Verb)
Go up
?Formal plural command (Ustedes)
,Get on
?Boarding transportation (Formal plural command)
Raise
?Referring to an object (Formal plural command)
,Climb
?Formal plural command
📝 In Action
¡Suban al tercer piso para la reunión!
A2Go up to the third floor for the meeting!
Señores, suban sus maletas al tren.
B1Gentlemen, bring your suitcases onto the train.
Suban el volumen, por favor, no oigo nada.
A2Turn up the volume, please, I can't hear anything.
💡 Grammar Points
Formal Plural Command
"Suban" is the command form used when addressing a group of people formally (like saying 'You all, go up'). It comes from the 'ustedes' form of the imperative mood.
Negative Commands
To tell a group NOT to go up, you just add 'no' in front: '¡No suban aquí!' (Don't go up here!).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Formal and Informal
Mistake: "Using 'suban' when speaking informally to friends in Spain (where 'vosotros' is used)."
Correction: For informal plural commands in Spain, use 'subid'. In Latin America, 'suban' is used for both formal and informal plural commands.
⭐ Usage Tips
Using 'Suban' for Price Increase
Even though it's a command form, you often hear '¡Que suban los precios!' (Let the prices rise!) which is a way of expressing a wish or hope.
In the present subjunctive form (ellos/ellas), 'suban' means '(that) they go up.'
suban(Verb)
(that) they go up
?Present Subjunctive (ellos/ellas)
,(that) you all go up
?Present Subjunctive (ustedes)
(that) they rise
?Referring to inanimate objects like water or temperatures
📝 In Action
Dudo que suban la montaña antes de la noche.
B2I doubt that they will climb the mountain before night.
Es necesario que ustedes suban la evidencia al sistema.
B1It is necessary that you all upload the evidence to the system.
Ojalá que los salarios suban pronto.
B1Hopefully, the salaries rise soon.
💡 Grammar Points
The Subjunctive Trigger
This form of 'suban' is used after certain phrases (like 'dudar que' or 'es necesario que') that express uncertainty, desire, or emotion about an action carried out by 'ellos' or 'ustedes'.
Opposite Vowel Rule
For '-ir' verbs like 'subir,' the special verb form ('suban') uses the vowel sound normally found in '-ar' verbs (the 'a'), which is a key pattern for the present subjunctive.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the Wrong Mood
Mistake: "Saying 'Dudo que ellos suben' (using the normal present tense)."
Correction: When you express doubt or hope, Spanish requires the special verb form: 'Dudo que ellos suban'.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: suban
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'suban' as a direct, formal command?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'suban' formal or informal?
'Suban' is the formal plural form of the command ('ustedes'). However, in most of Latin America, 'ustedes' is used for both formal and informal groups, making 'suban' the standard plural command everywhere outside of Spain.
How do I know if 'suban' is a command or a subjunctive statement?
If 'suban' is the very first word in the sentence (often with an exclamation mark, like '¡Suban!'), it is almost certainly a direct command. If it follows 'que' and a phrase expressing emotion, doubt, or necessity (like 'Espero que...'), it is the subjunctive form.