7.3 Usted and Ustedes Commands
Notes
Use the yo form without -o and the opposite ending: -ar verbs take -e / -en, -er / -ir verbs take -a / -an.
| Infinitive | usted | ustedes |
|---|---|---|
| hablar | hable | hablen |
| comer | coma | coman |
| escribir | escriba | escriban |
| tener | tenga | tengan |
- Irregular: vaya(n), sea(n), dé / den, esté(n), sepa(n).
- Spelling changes: buscar → busque, pagar → pague, empezar → empiece.
- Negative: put no before the same form: No hable.
- Example: Señora, abra la puerta. Chicos, no coman aquí.
Practice
Which is the usted command of "escribir"?
Take escribo, drop -o, add -a.
"Señores, ___ (esperar) aquí, por favor."
Ustedes commands of -ar verbs end in -en.
Which is the ustedes command of "buscar"?
Buscar changes c → qu to keep the hard sound: busquen.
Ready for more? Take the Unit 7 test.