Pronoun placement in negative commands
When giving an affirmative command, object and reflexive pronouns attach to the end of the verb. However, in a negative command, they are placed immediately before the verb, directly after no.
| Do not wait for me! I am going to the hair salon to buy the shampoo. | ¡No me esperes! Voy a la peluquería a comprar el champú. |
| The hairdresser has the hairdryer. Do not turn it on! | La peluquera tiene el secador. ¡No lo enciendas! |
Contrasting affirmative and negative commands
When using an affirmative command followed by a negative one, remember to shift the pronoun's position:
- Affirmative: Attached to the end of the verb.
- Negative: A separate word before the verb.
| The hairdresser needs the scissors. Look for them, but do not use them! | El peluquero necesita las tijeras. Búscalas, pero ¡no las uses! |
| I like this hairstyle with a fringe. Look at it, and do not touch it. | Me gusta este peinado con flequillo. Míralo y no lo toques. |
Using multiple pronouns
If a negative command has two pronouns, both go before the verb as separate words. The indirect object always comes first.
| I want the fringe long. Please, do not cut it for me. | Quiero el flequillo largo. Por favor, no me lo cortes. |
| My hair is straight. Wash it for me, but do not dry it for me. | Mi pelo es liso. Lávamelo, pero no me lo seques. |
As always, if you end up with two third-person pronouns starting with "l" (like le and las), the first pronoun changes to se.
| The scissors are dirty. Do not give them to the hairdresser. | Las tijeras están sucias. No se las des al peluquero. |
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