In Portuguese, giving an affirmative command to someone you address as tu (informal) usually means using the ele/ela present tense form. While the verb ser has a unique command form, most highly irregular core verbs still follow this rule. Because you use these verbs every day to give advice or instructions, it is helpful to learn them as a core group.
| Verb | tu Command |
|---|---|
| ser (to be) | sê |
| ir (to go) | vai |
| ter (to have) | tem |
| estar (to be) | está |
| dar (to give) | dá |
| fazer (to do/make) | faz |
| dizer (to say/tell) | diz |
The Verb Ser (To Be)
The verb ser has a completely irregular imperative form: sê. We use this frequently when telling someone to adopt a certain attitude.
| Be kind to your brother. | Sê gentil com o teu irmão. |
| Be brave when you are afraid of the dog. | Sê corajoso quando tens medo do cão. |
Short Forms: Dizer and Fazer
For dizer (to say) and fazer (to do/make), the command forms are just short, single syllables: diz and faz (matching their ele/ela present tense).
Remember that in affirmative commands, object pronouns attach to the end of the verb. To say "tell me," attach -me with a hyphen to create diz-me.
| Tell me the truth and be sincere. | Diz-me a verdade e sê sincero. |
| Make an effort for your family. | Faz um esforço pela tua família. |
| Do your work with a lot of attention. | Faz o teu trabalho com muita atenção. |
Dar, Ter, Estar, and Ir
The command forms for these verbs (dá, tem, está, and vai) are identical to their ele/ela present tense forms.
| Give me a hug immediately. | Dá-me um abraço imediatamente. |
| Set the example and have respect for your colleagues. | Dá o exemplo e tem respeito pelos teus colegas. |
| Be attentive to the class today. | Está atento à aula hoje. |
| Go to school immediately. | Vai para a escola imediatamente. |
Combining Commands
When giving advice, you will often string multiple commands together to support and guide the people close to you.
| Be brave and give a big hug to your mom. | Sê corajoso e dá um grande abraço à tua mãe. |
| Be attentive to your boss and make an effort. | Está atento ao teu chefe e faz um esforço. |
| Go for a walk with the dog when you have free time. | Vai passear com o cão quando tens tempo livre. |
