Formal negative commands
To tell someone you address formally (usted or ustedes) not to do something, simply put no in front of the affirmative formal command.
Negative formal commands use the same forms as affirmative ones: take the present yo form, drop the -o, and add the "opposite" vowel ending.
- For -ar verbs, add -e (usted) or -en (ustedes).
- For -er and -ir verbs, add -a (usted) or -an (ustedes).
| Verb | Present "yo" | Negative "usted" | Negative "ustedes" |
|---|---|---|---|
| pisar | piso | no pise | no pisen |
| interrumpir | interrumpo | no interrumpa | no interrumpan |
| Sir, do not step on the grass, please. | Señor, no pise el césped, por favor. |
| This is an exclusive club, please do not enter here. | Este es un club exclusivo, por favor no entren aquí. |
| Do not interrupt the member, he is very busy. | No interrumpan al socio, está muy ocupado. |
Stem and spelling changes
Because formal commands are built from the present tense yo form, any stem changes also appear in the command.
Additionally, verbs ending in -car, -gar, and -zar require spelling changes to keep their pronunciation consistent (for example, the g in jugar becomes gu before an e).
| The garden area is exclusive, do not play there. | El área del jardín es exclusiva, no jueguen ahí. |
Pronouns in negative commands
Just as with informal commands, whenever you make a command negative, any object pronouns must be placed immediately before the conjugated verb (after the no).
| The grass is wet, do not step on it. | El césped está húmedo, no lo pisen. |
| Sir, do not allow it. The club is very exclusive. | Señor, no lo permita. El club es muy exclusivo. |
Your questions are stored by us to improve Elon.io
