Desires and wishes
Deseos y anhelos
- Talk about unfullfilled wishes and desires.
- The negative imperative: irregular verbs
Master the Spanish negative imperative with irregular verbs like 'no vayas' (don't go) and 'no hagas' (don't do), essential for expressing desires and wishes clearly.
Vocabulary (10) Share Copied!
Exercises Share Copied!
These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.
Exercise 1: El imperativo negativo: los verbos irregulares
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
Grammar: The negative imperative: irregular verbs
Show translation Show answerstengáis, hagas, vayas, vayáis, digas, seáis, seas
Grammar Share Copied!
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B1.19.1 Gramática
El imperativo negativo: los verbos irregulares
The negative imperative: irregular verbs
Verb conjugation tables for this lesson Share Copied!
Experimentar to experience Share Copied!
Pretérito indefinido
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| (yo) experimenté | I experienced |
| (tú) experimentaste | You experienced |
| (él/ella) experimentó | he/she experienced |
| (nosotros/nosotras) experimentamos | we experienced |
| (vosotros/vosotras) experimentasteis | you experienced |
| (ellos/ellas) experimentaron | they experienced |
Experimentar to experience Share Copied!
Pretérito imperfecto
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| (yo) experimentaba | I used to experience |
| (tú) experimentabas | You experienced |
| (él/ella) experimentaba | he/she was experiencing |
| (nosotros/nosotras) experimentábamos | we experienced |
| (vosotros/vosotras) experimentabais | you experienced |
| (ellos/ellas) experimentaban | they experienced |
Depender to depend Share Copied!
Pretérito indefinido
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| (yo) dependí | I depended |
| (tú) dependiste | you depended |
| (él/ella) dependió | he/she depended |
| (nosotros/nosotras) dependimos | we depended |
| (vosotros/vosotras) dependisteis | You depended |
| (ellos/ellas) dependieron | They depended |
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Pretérito imperfecto
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| (yo) dependía | I depended |
| (tú) dependías | You used to depend |
| (él/ella) dependía | he/she depended |
| (nosotros/nosotras) dependíamos | we depended |
| (vosotros/vosotras) dependíais | You depended |
| (ellos/ellas) dependían | they depended |
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Understanding Negative Imperatives with Irregular Verbs in Spanish
This lesson focuses on the negative imperative form—how to give commands or requests telling someone what not to do—in Spanish, emphasizing verbs that are irregular in this construction. It is designed for learners at the B1 level who want to deepen their command of expressing desires and wishes, especially when advising, prohibiting, or discouraging actions.
What You'll Learn
- The formation of negative commands with regular and irregular verbs.
- How to correctly use irregular verbs such as dar, estar, ir, ser, and saber in the negative imperative.
- Common examples to practice and recognize patterns.
Key Highlights and Examples
Unlike the affirmative imperative, the negative imperative uses the present subjunctive forms. For irregular verbs, these forms can differ significantly from their regular counterparts.
- Dar: No des (Don't give)
- Estar: No estés (Don't be - temporary state)
- Ir: No vayas (Don't go)
- Ser: No seas (Don't be - permanent state)
- Saber: No sepas (Don't know)
Structure of Negative Imperatives
To form a negative command:
- Start with “no”
- Follow with the present subjunctive form of the verb
Example: No hables (Don't speak)
Practical Phrases
- No digas mentiras. (Don't tell lies.)
- No toques eso. (Don't touch that.)
- No estés triste. (Don't be sad.)
- No vayas allí. (Don't go there.)
Comparing Spanish and English Imperatives
In English, negative commands are formed simply by adding “don't” before the base verb (e.g., “Don't go,” “Don't be late”). Spanish requires the subjunctive mood for negative commands, which is different from the affirmative imperative form. This distinction is important because the subjunctive introduces a layer of formality and nuance changes not always present in English.
Also, Spanish uses two different verbs for “to be”: ser (essential, permanent qualities) and estar (states or conditions). Each has its own negative imperative form, which affects meaning and use in commands.
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