Operating heavy machinery requires strict safety protocols. When reading manuals, warning signs, or public notices, you will notice a unique way of giving instructions.
Impersonal instructions with infinitives
Usually, when you tell someone to do something, you conjugate the verb into a command. However, for general directions—like those found in a safety manual, a recipe, or on a public sign—Spanish often uses the raw, unconjugated infinitive.
This makes the instruction "impersonal." It does not single out a specific tú or usted; instead, it applies broadly to anyone and everyone reading it.
Negative instructions
To forbid an action, the rule is incredibly simple: just place no directly in front of the infinitive. You have likely seen this structure on signs in public spaces, such as No fumar (No smoking) or No estacionar (No parking).
Attaching pronouns
When using an infinitive, any object or reflexive pronouns attach directly to the end of the verb to form one single word. This rule remains true even when giving an impersonal instruction, whether affirmative or negative.
Whether you are operating an industrial loom or writing out house rules, independent infinitives are the perfect tool for setting clear, universal boundaries.