Spanish: An Essential Grammar

Suban ustedes al próximo Get on the next bus.

autobús.

Mis amigos, déjenlo aquí. [LA] My friends, leave it here.

Negative commands

The 2nd or 3rd person of the present subjunctive, as appropriate, is used

to express all negative commands, whether familiar or polite. Object

pronouns precede the verb in negative commands:

No critiques a los que no Don’t criticize those who are

están. not here.

No penséis [SP] jamás que Never think it was like that.

fue así.

No lo confiese ahora. Don’t confess it now.

No salgan antes de que llegue. Do not leave before I arrive.

1st person plural commands

The 1st person plural of the present subjunctive is used to express English

‘let’s’ or ‘let us’.

With verbs used reflexively, the final -sis always omitted before nos, so

sentemos+ nos> sentémonos ‘let’s sit down’.

Bailemos. Let’s dance.

Corramos. Let’s run.

Despidámonos ahora. Let’s take our leave now.

19.2.3

19.2.2

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2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

1011

1

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3 4 5 6 7 8 9

20111

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

30111

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

40

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19

Commands

206

Negative commands – verb forms and position of pronouns

1 Compare: (i) Hazlobut No lo hagas, and Hágalobut No lo

haga; (ii) Hacedlo[SP] but No lo hagáis[SP], and Háganlobut

No lo hagan. All of these mean ‘Do it’ or ‘Don’t do it’.

2 In regions of Latin America where the use of vosis common,

students should use the standard 2nd person singular forms of

the present subjunctive for negative commands, e.g. No me

toques (vos)‘Don’t touch me’.