Saying it twice
Repeating an imperative makes it urgent, or warmer when you invite someone. A reason often follows with que (because).
| Run, run, we're going to miss the train! | ¡Corre, corre, que perdemos el tren! |
Urgent: the train is leaving.
| Sit down, sit down, I'll bring you a coffee now. | Siéntate, siéntate, que ahora te traigo un café. |
Warm: a host making you feel welcome.
Harder or softer
Ahora mismo pushes the order. Si no te importa makes it a request. A light final ¿quieres? softens it too, though said sharply it sounds impatient (Cállate, ¿quieres?).
| Get out of there right now. | Sal de ahí ahora mismo. |
No room for discussion.
| Close the window, if you don't mind. | Cierra la ventana, si no te importa. |
The same imperative, now a favor.
¡Que te calles!
Que + present subjunctive repeats an order that was not obeyed or not heard. It is short for te he dicho que te calles, so it usually sounds impatient.
| What? I said be quiet! | ¿Qué? ¡Que te calles! |
The other person asks What?; you repeat the order with que.
| Sit down, I said! I've told you three times. | ¡Que te sientes! Te lo he dicho tres veces. |
After que the pronoun goes before the verb: te sientes, not siéntate.
A negative order works the same way: ¡Que no abras la puerta!
¡A comer!
A + infinitive is a quick order, often to a group: at home, in class, in sport.
| order | meaning |
|---|---|
| ¡A comer! | Time to eat! |
| ¡A dormir! | Time for bed! |
| ¡A trabajar! | Back to work! |
| Kids, time to eat! | ¡Niños, a comer! |
The classic call to the table.
| Come on, guys, back to work. | Venga, chicos, a trabajar. |
Venga in front makes it friendlier.
