No hables así con tu mamá.

Don’t speak like that with your mom.

Breakdown of No hables así con tu mamá.

• hablar: to speak
• con: with
• la mamá: the mom
• tu: your

Questions & Answers about No hables así con tu mamá.

Why is it hables and not hablas?

Hables is the negative command form (negative tú imperative), which uses the present subjunctive in Spanish.

• Hablas = you speak / you talk (simple present, indicative): Tú hablas español.
• (No) hables = don’t speak / don’t talk (negative command to tú): No hables así.

For negative commands with tú, Spanish does not use the normal imperative (habla). It switches to the present subjunctive:

• Hablar → present subjunctive tú form: hables → No hables…

So what verb form is hables exactly, and how is it formed?

Hables is present subjunctive, second person singular (tú) of hablar.

To form it (for -ar verbs like hablar):

1. Take the yo form in the present: hablo
2. Drop the -o: habl-
3. Add the -er/-ir present subjunctive endings for tú → -es:
   
   • hables

This subjunctive form is used:

• for negative tú commands: No hables así.
• in other subjunctive contexts: Quiero que hables.

Why does the sentence start with No? Could I put no somewhere else?