Spanish: An Essential Grammar

However, especially in informal speech this construction is replaced by ir

a+ infinitive:

Vamos a cenar en otro sitio. Let’s have dinner somewhere

else.

Note: For 1st person plural commands, ir‘to go’ and irse‘to go away’ adopt present

tense forms of the verb, vamosand vámonos‘let’s go’ (rather than vayamosand

vayámonos).

Commands introduced by que

3rd person commands are expressed in Spanish through the use of que+

the singular or plural of the present subjunctive. The English equivalent

commonly begins with ‘let’:

Que nadie hable durante el There should be no talking

examen. during the examination.

Que discutan el proyecto Let them discuss the plan

mañana. tomorrow.

2nd person commands may also be conveyed in a similar fashion:

Que tengáis una feliz Have a happy Christmas.

Navidad.[SP]

Que te diviertas. Have a good time.

Alternative ways of expressing commands

Softened commands

Native speakers of Spanish use direct commands more readily than native

speakers of English, even in polite speech. However, in Spanish too there are

formulas which can be used to soften the impact of commands. Alternatively

they can be expressed as questions:

¡Háganme el favor de sentarse! Please sit down.

¡Firme aquí, por favor! Sign here, please!

¿Podría apagar la tele? Would you switch off the TV?

¿Me da un poquito de pan? Would you give me some

bread?

19.3.1

19.3

19.2.4

1111

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

1011

1

12111

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

41111

Alternative

ways of

expressing

commands

207