Cheatsheet: Imperative and verb phrases
Imperative and verb phrases
Affirmative Imperative
| Point | Rule | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form | tú: the él form of the present | Habla más despacio, por favor. | Speak more slowly, please. |
| Form | usted: -ar verbs end in e, -er and -ir verbs in a | Pase, por favor. | Come in, please. |
| Form | ustedes: the usted form with n | Abran los libros. | Open your books. |
| Form | vosotros: the r of the infinitive becomes d | Abrid los libros. | Open your books. |
| Irregular verbs | tú: di / haz / pon / sal / ten / ven / ve / sé | Ven aquí. | Come here. |
| B1Irregular verbs | usted: esté / sepa, from estar and saber | Esté tranquilo, señor. | Don't worry, sir. |
| Pronouns | object and reflexive pronouns join the end of the verb | Cómpralo. / Siéntate. | Buy it. / Sit down. |
| Use | instructions, directions and requests | Sigue por esta calle y gira a la derecha. | Go along this street and turn right. |
| Use | invitations and offers | Pasa y siéntate. | Come in and sit down. |
| Fixed forms | mira / oye call for attention; perdona / perdone say sorry | Oye, ¿tienes un lápiz? | Hey, have you got a pencil? |
| Trap | the tú imperative has no final s: hablas → habla | Escucha, por favor. | Listen, please. |
Negative Imperative
| Point | Rule | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form | tú: -ar verbs end in es, -er and -ir verbs in as | No hables tan alto. | Don't speak so loudly. |
| Form | usted / ustedes: the affirmative form after no | No fume aquí, por favor. | Please don't smoke here. |
| Form | vosotros: -ar verbs end in éis, -er and -ir verbs in áis | No habléis tan alto. | Don't speak so loudly. |
| Irregular verbs | the stem of the yo form: no digas / no hagas / no vengas | No digas eso. | Don't say that. |
| Pronouns | before the verb, after no | No lo toques. | Don't touch it. |
| Use | prohibitions and warnings | No toques el horno: está caliente. | Don't touch the oven: it's hot. |
| Use | advice and reassurance | No te preocupes. | Don't worry. |
| Trap | the negative never takes the affirmative form: ven → no vengas | No vengas tarde. | Don't come late. |
| Trap | the pronoun moves before the verb: siéntate → no te sientes | No te sientes ahí. | Don't sit there. |
Can, Must, Should: poder, saber, deber, tener que, hay que
| Point | Rule | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Permission | ¿Puedo + infinitive: asking if something is allowed | ¿Puedo abrir la ventana? | Can I open the window? |
| Requests | ¿Puedes + infinitive: asking someone to do something | ¿Puedes repetir, por favor? | Can you repeat that, please? |
| Skills | saber + infinitive: something someone has learned to do | Sé nadar. | I can swim. |
| Ability now | poder: whether someone is able to do something now | Hoy no puedo salir. | I can't go out today. |
| Obligation | tener que + infinitive: what one person needs to do | Tengo que trabajar el sábado. | I have to work on Saturday. |
| Obligation | hay que + infinitive: what everyone needs to do, with no subject | Hay que pagar antes de entrar. | You have to pay before going in. |
| Pronouns | before the conjugated verb, or at the end of the infinitive | Lo tengo que hacer. / Tengo que hacerlo. | I have to do it. / I have to do it. |
| B1Duty | deber + infinitive: what is right or required | Debes decir la verdad. | You must tell the truth. |
| B1Advice | deberías + infinitive: a piece of advice | Deberías descansar. | You should rest. |
| Trap | tener takes que before the infinitive | Tengo que irme. | I have to go. |
| B1Trap | no tener que: not necessary; no deber: mustn't, as a duty or advice; no poder: not allowed | No tienes que venir. / No debes mentir. / No puedes fumar aquí. | You don't have to come. / You mustn't lie. / You can't smoke here. |
Verb Phrases: acabar de, volver a, soler
| Form | Meaning | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| acabar de + infinitive | something that has just happened | Acabo de llegar. | I've just arrived. |
| empezar a + infinitive | the start of an action | Empiezo a trabajar a las ocho. | I start work at eight. |
| volver a + infinitive | an action again | Vuelve a llover. | It's raining again. |
| B1dejar de + infinitive | the end of a habit or an action | Dejé de fumar el año pasado. | I stopped smoking last year. |
| B1soler + infinitive | a habit | Suelo levantarme temprano. | I usually get up early. |
| B1seguir + gerund | an action that goes on | Sigo viviendo en Lima. | I still live in Lima. |
| B1ponerse a + infinitive | a sudden start | El niño se puso a llorar. | The child started crying. |
| B1estar a punto de + infinitive | something about to happen | El tren está a punto de salir. | The train is about to leave. |
| Trap | the preposition stays: de, a | Empiezo a entender. | I'm beginning to understand. |
| B1Trap | seguir takes the gerund | Sigo estudiando. | I'm still studying. |