Affirmative informal imperative: "Tú" and "Vosotros"

What is the informal affirmative imperative?

The informal affirmative imperative is the form you use to give direct orders or friendly instructions to people you know well.

• tú = 1 person, informal (a colleague you know well, a friend)
• vosotros = several people, informal (a group of colleagues, friends)

In this unit you work with positive commands only, for example:

• Di la verdad. – Tell the truth.
• Trabajad en el informe. – Work on the report.

How to form the tú imperative: follow this quick rule

For most verbs, the tú imperative is very simple:

• Take the 3rd person singular (él/ella) of the present tense.
• Use that form as your tú command.

Typical mistake to avoid:

• Do not use the tú present form with -s for commands.
• Trabajas más → Trabaja más.
• Contestas al jefe → Contesta al jefe.

How to form the vosotros imperative: think “infinitive minus -r + d”

The rule for vosotros is very regular and mechanical.

1. Take the infinitive: trabajar, contestar, enviar, decir.
2. Remove the final -r.
3. Add a -d.

Typical mistakes to avoid:

• Don’t use the present vosotros ending -áis / -éis / -ís for orders.
• Contestáis al cliente → Contestad al cliente.
• Trabajáis más → Trabajad más.
• Don’t add extra endings like -did: contestadid → contestad.

Key irregular tú forms you need now

Some very frequent verbs do not follow the regular pattern. In this unit you need especially:

Things to watch:

• No final -s in the tú imperative: hazs → haz.
• Don’t use the present tú form: tienes cuidado → Ten cuidado.

How to recognise quickly: is it imperative or present?

In many examples you see two almost identical forms:

• Present tú usually ends in -s: trabajas, envías, contestas.
• Imperative tú has no -s: trabaja, envía, contesta.
• Present vosotros ends in -áis / -éis / -ís: trabajáis, contestáis.
• Imperative vosotros ends in a single -d: trabajad, contestad.

Word order: where do you put “please” and pronouns?

In this unit, you mainly see simple commands without pronouns, but two points are useful already.

• Por favor (please) can go before or after the command:

• Por favor, contesta al correo.
• Contesta al correo, por favor.

Pronouns (me, te, lo, la, etc.) are usually attached to the end of the imperative:

• Contesta → Contéstalo. (Answer it.)
• Decid → Decidme. (Tell me.)

You will work more on this later; for now just notice the position.

Mini checklist: can you form the command?

Use this checklist to test yourself. Say the answers aloud or write them down.

1. tú: “You work more on the report.” → Give an order.
   • Present: tú trabajas.
   • Imperative: Trabaja más en el informe.
2. vosotros: “You all answer the phone professionally.” → Give an order.
   • Infinitive: contestar → contesta- + d.
   • Imperative: Contestad al teléfono de forma profesional.
3. tú: “You tell the truth to your manager.” → Irregular verb.
   • Use the special form: Di la verdad a tu jefe.
4. vosotros: “You all say what you think in the meeting.”
   • Infinitive: decir → deci- + d.
   • Imperative: Decid lo que pensáis en la reunión.

What to pay special attention to

• tú
  • Regular verbs: use the él/ella present form (no -s).
  • Remember the key irregulars you see often: di, ten, haz.
• vosotros
  • Always: infinitive -r + d → trabajad, contestad, enviad, decid.
  • Never: present endings -áis / -éis / -ís for commands.
• Meaning
  • Present = description: “you work”.
  • Imperative = instruction: “work!”.

If you can explain these three points to yourself, you are ready to use the informal affirmative imperative confidently in conversation.