10.3: Formal commands
- Page ID
- 415681
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Usted and Ustedes (Formal) Commands
Sometimes we want to tell or suggest someone do something, but we do not have a close, personal relationship with them. So, in these cases we would use usted or ustedes commands.
To form these commands, we go back to how we formed negative tú commands and repeat the three steps.
1. Start with the yo form of the present tense.
2. Remove the final o.
3. Add the opposite vowel endings.
For example
infinitive
estudiar Estudie Ud. Estudien Uds. Study.
comer Coma Ud. Coman Uds. Eat.
escribir Escriba Ud. Escriban Uds. Write.
Notice how the difference between the usted and ustedes commands is the n in the ustedes command. To create a negative usted or ustedes command, we use the word no before the command. For example
estudiar No estudie Ud. No estudien Uds. Don’t study.
comer No coma Ud. No coman Uds. Don’t eat.
escribir No escriba Ud. No escriban Uds. Don’t write.
If a command requires a pronoun, we add the pronoun to the affirmative commands and accent the second-to-last syllable. For a negative command, we add the pronoun after the no and do not need to add an accent. For example
estudiar el poema Estúdielo./No lo estudie. Estúdienlo./No lo estudien.
comer la fruta Cómala./No la coma. Cómanla./No la coman.
escribir la tarea Escríbala./No la escriba. Escríbanla./No la escriban.
Commands can be very useful. With practice, they can become fun and practical. So, let’s practice.
Prácticas.
A. Translate the commands into Spanish.
Example inifinitive + usted - ustedes
saltar Salte. No salten.
1. Study!
2. Write!
3. Sing!
4. Don’t work!
5. Don’t call me.
6. Wash it.
7. Say it!
8. Don’t say it!
9. Get ready!
10.Have fun!
B. Write the commands for each verb.
VERBO + UD. - UDS.
saltar Salte. No salten.
escribir la tarea Escríbala. No la escriban.
1. gritar
2. decorar
3. bailar
4. comer
5. escribir
6. llorar
7. cantar
8. beber otro refresco
9. decir la verdad
10. hacer la tarea
11. respetar a tus padres.
12. leer el libro
13. bañarse
14. prepararse
15. divertirse
C. Write an appropriate usted command for each situation. Be sure to use affirmative and negative commands.
Ejemplo: En un restaurante mexicano Pida tacos deliciosos.
No pida una hamburguesa.
- En la cafetería de AU
- En la biblioteca
- En clase
- En el gimnasio
6. En una quinceañera
7. En una gasolinera
8. En un museo
9. En Target
10. En el trabajo
11. En casa
D. Write eight commands for a new professor at AU. Use a mixture of affirmative and negative usted commands.
Ejemplo: Explique bien la gramática.
No dé demasiada tarea.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
E. Think about your favorite food. Write the directions for someone else to prepare it for you. You can use the usted or ustedes command form, but be consistent and use the same form for all of the directions.
F. La Música. The song Madre Tierra by Chayanne and Recuérdame by Coco both have tú commands. Listen to both songs and then pick one. Listen to the song again and write down the tú commands that you hear. Then, change the tú commands to usted commands.
G. What is the difference between usted and ustedes commands? Will you use usted or ustedes commands more? Why? Give three examples of each.