Breakdown of Yo hago la ensalada, añade el aceite.
yo
I
hacer
to do / to make
la ensalada
salad
añadir
to add
el aceite
oil
Questions & Answers about Yo hago la ensalada, añade el aceite.
Why is the command añade instead of añades if I am telling "you" to do it?
When you give a direct instruction to someone using the informal "you" (tú), you drop the final 's' from their normal present tense form. So, instead of the statement tú añades (you add), the command becomes just añade (add!). This makes the informal command look exactly like the él/ella present tense form.
How would I say this if I wanted to be formal (usted)?
Hacer (to make) is a normal -er verb. Why is the "I" form hago instead of "haco"?
The verb hacer has a highly irregular yo (I) form in the present tense, which is hago. It is a very common exception that you just have to memorize! The rest of its present tense forms follow the regular rules (like tú haces and él hace).
The English translation says "I am making". Doesn't Spanish have a different tense for actions happening right now?
Spanish does have a tense for that, but it is much more common to just use the simple present tense (like hago) for things happening right now. In Spanish, hago can translate to "I make" (a general habit) or "I am making" (at this exact moment), depending entirely on the context.
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