tomen
/TOH-men/
take
Use tomen when instructing a group to grab or accept something, like taking an apple.
tomen(Verb)
take
?to grab or accept something
grab
?to seize
,receive
?to accept something offered
📝 In Action
¡Tomen un asiento y esperen al doctor!
A1Take a seat and wait for the doctor!
Espero que los niños tomen la decisión correcta.
A2I hope the children make (take) the correct decision.
El jefe necesita que ustedes tomen más responsabilidades.
B1The boss needs you (plural, formal) to take more responsibilities.
💡 Grammar Points
Formal Plural Command
This form is the polite way to give a command to a group of people ('ustedes'). Think of it as saying, 'You all, please take...'
The 'Wish' Form (Subjunctive)
When used after verbs of desire or doubt (like 'esperar que' or 'querer que'), 'tomen' expresses what you want or need them to do: 'Quiero que ellos tomen el libro.'
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing Command Forms
Mistake: "Using 'toman' (the normal present tense) for a command to 'ustedes'."
Correction: The command form for 'ustedes' always changes the 'a' to 'e': use '¡Tomen!'
⭐ Usage Tips
Polite Requests
Using 'tomen' (the formal command) is often the safest and most polite way to ask a group of people to grab something, especially in professional settings or when addressing strangers.
Tomen can be used when telling a group of people to drink a liquid.
tomen(Verb)
drink
?to consume a liquid
take
?to ingest medicine
,have
?to have a drink (e.g., Have a coffee)
📝 In Action
¡Tomen esta medicina tres veces al día!
A1Take this medicine three times a day!
¿Quieren que tomen un poco de vino con la cena?
A2Do you want them to drink some wine with dinner?
Les sugiero que tomen un café antes de empezar.
B1I suggest that you (plural formal) have a coffee before starting.
💡 Grammar Points
Tomar vs. Beber
While 'beber' means 'to drink,' 'tomar' is often used interchangeably, especially for having a drink (coffee, soda) or for taking medicine.
⭐ Usage Tips
Medicine Instructions
When reading or giving instructions for medicine, 'tomen' is the standard verb used for 'take' or 'ingest'.
When talking about using transportation, tomen means 'take'.
tomen(Verb)
take
?to use transportation
catch
?to catch a bus/train
,board
?to get on a vehicle
📝 In Action
Recomiendo que tomen el metro en lugar del taxi.
A2I recommend that they take the subway instead of the taxi.
Si tienen prisa, ¡tomen el camino más corto!
B1If you (plural formal) are in a hurry, take the shortest path!
💡 Grammar Points
Transportation Choice
In Spanish, you 'take' transportation (tomar el bus) rather than 'ride' it, similar to English, making this usage easy to remember.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: tomen
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'tomen' as a direct, polite command?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'tomen' a command form or a subjunctive form?
'Tomen' is both! It is the formal plural command form ('ustedes') meaning 'Take!' or 'Drink!' and it is also the verb form used for 'ellos/ellas/ustedes' in the present subjunctive, which expresses wishes, doubts, or necessity.
How do I know if 'tomen' means 'take' or 'drink'?
Context is key. If the object is a liquid or medicine (tomen agua, tomen la pastilla), it means 'drink/ingest.' If the object is a seat, a bus, or a physical item (tomen el libro, tomen el tren), it means 'take/grab.'