1. Nombre Clase Fecha
CAPÍTULO
Affirmative informal commands 6
In English All affirmative commands are formed by using the infinitive form of
a verb, without the word to. There are no irregular commands in English.
Eat your vegetables! Please stop yelling! Be nice!
When a direct object pronoun is included in the sentence, it follows the verb.
Here is your key. Keep it safe.
I’m very interested in your paintings. Show them to me some day.
A Circle the verbs that express commands. Underline the direct object
pronoun if there is one.
1. You left your umbrella here. Please take it with you.
2. Here is your apple. Cut it into pieces before eating it.
3. It’s raining. Drive carefully.
4. You’re so nervous. Calm down!
5. I fried these plantains for us. Try them!
6. The air conditioning is off. Please turn it on.
7. You’re friends. Forgive and forget!
8. Please turn down the radio, it’s very loud.
In Spanish Informal commands are used to tell a friend or relative (some-
one you address as tú) to do something. Affirmative informal commands are
formed by taking the tú form of the present tense and dropping the final –s.
calientas calienta Calienta la leche.
comes come Come las espinacas.
Some verbs have irregular affirmative informal command forms.
tener ten ir ve hacer haz
venir ven ser sé salir sal
poner pon decir di
When you use a pronoun with an affirmative informal command, attach it to the
end of the verb. The stressed vowel of the verb will then have an accent mark,
unless the verb is only one syllable long.
¿Abro el libro? Sí, ábrelo.
¿Cuándo hago las camas? Hazlas ahora.
B Circle the command forms. Underline the direct object pronoun, if there is one.
1. La torta está deliciosa. Pruébala.
2. Las zanahorias están en el refrigerador. Sácalas y ponlas en la mesa.
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2. Nombre Clase Fecha
CAPÍTULO
AFFIRMATIVE INFORMAL COMMANDS 6
3. Mañana tenemos examen. Estudia mucho.
4. Pascual tiene partido de fútbol. Llévalo al partido.
5. Tus tíos están de visita. Habla con ellos.
6. Es muy tarde. Ve a la cama y duerme.
7. Quisiera unos cereales. Sírvelos en el plato hondo.
8. Sal de casa y ven al parque conmigo.
C Your friend is asking you for advice. Answer the following questions using an
affirmative command. Use a direct object pronoun when appropriate.
1. ¿Puedo tomar leche?
Sí, tómala.
______________________________________________________________
2. ¿Debo salir de mi cuarto?
______________________________________________________________
3. ¿Hago el desayuno?
______________________________________________________________
4. ¿Puedo preparar los huevos?
______________________________________________________________
5. ¿Debo añadir tocino?
______________________________________________________________
6. ¿Pongo las servilletas en la mesa?
______________________________________________________________
D Compare the following paragraphs.
Nos gustan las papas al horno. Las comemos todas las semanas. Las
podemos comer hoy también. ¿Quieres comerlas? Aquí tienes unas papas.
Ponlas en el plato y cómelas.
We like baked potatoes. We eat them every week. We can eat them today,
too. Do you want to eat them? Here are some potatoes. Put them on the
plate and eat them.
Where does the Spanish direct object pronoun go when the verb is conjugated?
What happens with affirmative commands? What if there is an infinitive? Does it
work the same way in English?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
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3. Nombre Clase Fecha
CAPÍTULO
Verbs with reflexive pronouns 7
In English A reflexive pronoun can be used to show that the subject acts
upon itself. The reflexive pronouns are myself, yourself, himself, herself,
itself, ourselves, yourselves, and themselves.
He bathes himself.
I made myself some dinner.
The children dress themselves for school.
A Circle the reflexive pronoun and the subject it refers to. Underline the verb.
1. I drag myself out of bed at 5 AM!
2. You cut yourself on the glass?
3. The cat cleans itself.
4. We admire ourselves in the mirror.
5. Babies cannot feed themselves.
6. You found yourselves a new hobby.
7. She treated herself to ice cream after finishing the race.
8. He bought himself a CD at the store.
In Spanish Reflexive pronouns can also be used when the subject and object
of a verb are the same. The infinitive of a reflexive verb always contains se:
bañarse. When you conjugate a reflexive verb, the reflexive pronoun changes to
match the subject of the verb.
yo me baño nosotros(as) nos bañamos
tú te bañas vosotros(as) os bañáis
usted, él, ella se baña ustedes, ellos, ellas se bañan
Reflexive pronouns either go before the conjugated verb, or are attached to the
end of an infinitive. With affirmative informal commands, they must be
attached to the end of the verb. When using a reflexive verb with a body part or
clothing, use a definite article instead of a posessive adjective.
¿Me lavo las manos? Sí, lávate las manos.
Nos tenemos que vestir. ¿Vamos a vestirnos ahora?
B Circle the reflexive pronoun and the subject it refers to, if it is given. Underline
the reflexive verb.
1. Por la mañana, yo me despierto a las seis y media.
2. Mi hermana se levanta más tarde.
3. Ella y yo nos vestimos después de desayunar.
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4. Nombre Clase Fecha
CAPÍTULO
VERBS WITH REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS 7
4. Mi padre se afeita por la mañana.
5. Mi madre se lava la cara y las manos.
6. Tú tienes que peinarte todas las mañanas.
7. Mis hermanas siempre quieren maquillarse.
8. Niño, lávate los dientes antes de salir de casa.
C Complete the sentences with the correct form of each reflexive verb in parentheses.
1. Normalmente yo me acuesto a las diez y media. (acostarse)
2. Mis hermanos a la misma hora. (acostarse)
3. Todos nosotros para ir a la cama a las diez. (prepararse)
4. Yo el piyama antes de leer un rato. (ponerse)
5. Leo en la cama porque necesito (relajarse).
6. Mi hermano mayor la ropa y luego
los dientes. (quitarse, lavarse)
7. Mi hermana menor y luego
el pelo. (bañarse, secarse)
8. Nadie quiere ni (=or) por
la noche. (afeitarse, maquillarse)
9. Tú siempre tienes que antes de acostarte. (estirarse)
10. Es porque tú quieres en forma. (mantenerse)
D In Spanish you can often use the same verb with a reflexive pronoun or with a direct
object pronoun. For the subjects given below, write two sentences with the same verb:
one with a reflexive pronoun and one with a direct object pronoun.
1. yo / lavarse la cara / lavar el carro
2. tú / ponerse el piyama / poner la mesa
3. ella / levantarse / levantar pesas
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5. Nombre Clase Fecha
CAPÍTULO
Negative informal commands 7
In English An affirmative command tells someone to do something. It is
formed by using the infinitive form of the verb (but without the word to). A
negative command tells someone what not to do. You form a negative com-
mand by placing the word(s) don’t or do not before the command. Pronouns
always go after.
Eat your meal. Don’t eat so much.
Talk to your uncle. Do not talk in class.
Wake yourself up. The coffee is cold. Don’t drink it.
A Circle the verbs that express commands. Then indicate whether the command is
affirmative or negative.
Affirmative Negative
1. If you go to the gym, don’t forget your ID. ✓
2. Be quiet! The teacher is talking.
3. I’m bored. Please take me home.
4. We are inside a building. Don’t smoke!
5. I like this show. Don’t turn it off!
6. Do not step on the grass. It’s wet.
7. Please tell me the truth.
8. Don’t go to the movies tonight.
In Spanish Negative informal commands are used to tell a friend or rela-
tive (someone you address as tú) not to do something. Use the word no followed
by the verb form. For most –ar verbs, you form this command by dropping the
final –o of the yo form, and adding –es. For most –er and –ir verbs, you also drop
the final –o of the yo form, and add –as.
–ar verbs: (yo) trabajo ➔ ¡No trabajes! Don’t work!
–er verbs: (yo) corro ➔ ¡No corras! Don’t run!
–ir verbs: (yo) salgo ➔ !No salgas! Don’t go out!
(yo) duermo ➔ ¡No duermas! Don’t sleep!
These verbs have irregular negative informal commands.
dar ➔ no des ir ➔ no vayas ser ➔ no seas
A pronoun in a negative command must go between no and the verb.
Lee esta novela. Pero no la leas en la cama y no te acuestes muy tarde.
Read this novel. But don’t read it in bed, and don’t go to bed too late.
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6. Nombre Clase Fecha
CAPÍTULO
NEGATIVE INFORMAL COMMANDS 7
B Circle the verbs that express commands. Then indicate whether the command is
affirmative or negative. Affirmative Negative
1. No duermas hasta las doce.
2. No trabajes demasiado.
3. Haz tu tarea todos los días.
4. Despiértate temprano.
5. No seas malo con tus compañeros de clase.
6. No vayas mucho al centro comercial.
7. Prepárate bien para los exámenes.
8. No leas novelas cuando hay examen.
C A friend is coming to stay at your house for a month. Use the information pro-
vided to make up a list of house rules for him or her. Use pronouns if needed.
1. no comer en la sala y no fumar en ninguna parte
No comas en la sala y no fumes en ninguna parte.
______________________________________________________________
2. ver televisión todo el día
______________________________________________________________
3. ser muy perezoso(a) con los quehaceres
______________________________________________________________
4. acostarse muy tarde
______________________________________________________________
5. dormir hasta las once los fines de semana
______________________________________________________________
6. poner la música muy alto
______________________________________________________________
D How do reflexive and direct object pronouns change position in affirmative and
negative commands in Spanish? Where do these pronouns go in English?
a. Quítate los zapatos y ponlos en tu habitación.
Take off your shoes and put them in your room.
b. No te pongas los zapatos. No los lleves a la cocina.
Don’t put on your shoes. Don’t wear them into the kitchen.
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