Negative informal commands
To tell a friend, family member, or child not to do something, use no followed by the negative tú command form.
Start with the present yo form, drop the final -o, and add the opposite vowel ending plus -s:
- For -ar verbs, add -es.
- For -er and -ir verbs, add -as.
| Verb | Present "yo" | Negative "tú" command |
|---|---|---|
| entrar | entro | no entres |
| correr | corro | no corras |
| Do not run near the swimming pool, please. | No corras cerca de la piscina, por favor. |
| The swimming pool is very deep, do not go in. | La piscina es muy honda, no entres. |
| Do not walk on the edge, you can slip. | No camines por el bordillo, puedes resbalar. |
Spelling changes: -car, -gar, -zar
Just like with formal commands, verbs ending in -car, -gar, and -zar have a spelling change to maintain their pronunciation:
- -car becomes -ques (e.g., salpicar -> no salpiques)
- -gar becomes -gues (e.g., tragar -> no tragues)
- -zar becomes -ces (e.g., empezar -> no empieces)
| Do not splash your sister, she is angry. | No salpiques a tu hermana, está enfadada. |
| Do not swallow pool water, it is dirty. | No tragues agua de la piscina, está sucia. |
Pronoun placement in negative commands
In affirmative commands, you attach object pronouns directly to the end of the verb. However, in negative commands, pronouns must always go before the verb.
| Do not splash your brother and do not push him. | No salpiques a tu hermano y no lo empujes. |
Irregular "yo" forms
Because negative commands are built from the yo form, verbs with irregular yo forms keep that irregularity. For example, the yo form of poner is pongo, so the negative command becomes no pongas.
| Do not put your hands on the edge. | No pongas las manos en el bordillo. |
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