Differences between formal and informal commands in Spanish
Unlocking Spanish Sentence Structure: The Key to Fluent Communication: Differences between formal and informal commands in Spanish
In Spanish, formal and informal commands differ mainly in their formality, usage context, and verb conjugation.
Formal Commands
- Used to give instructions or orders to people you address as “usted” (formal you), such as elders, authorities, professionals, or strangers.
- Show respect, deference, or politeness.
- Formed by conjugating the verb in the present subjunctive mood, starting from the first person singular (yo) form, dropping the “-o” ending, and adding the opposite vowel endings:
- For -ar verbs: add -e (singular) or -en (plural).
- For -er and -ir verbs: add -a (singular) or -an (plural).
- Example: “Hable” (Speak) is a formal command from “hablar.”
Informal Commands
- Used to give orders to those you address as “tú,” including friends, close family, or children.
- Used in casual, familiar contexts.
- Affirmative informal commands use the third person singular of the present indicative tense.
- Negative informal commands use the present subjunctive in the tú form.
- Example: “Habla” (Speak) is an informal affirmative command from “hablar” and “No hables” (Don’t speak) for negative.
Summary of Differences
| Aspect | Formal Commands | Informal Commands |
|---|---|---|
| Addressed to | Usted (formal you) | Tú (informal you) |
| Usage context | Elders, superiors, strangers | Friends, family, children |
| Verb form for positive | Present subjunctive (e.g., hable) | Present indicative 3rd person singular (e.g., habla) |
| Verb form for negative | Present subjunctive (no hable) | Present subjunctive tú form (no hables) |
| Tone | Polite, respectful | Casual, familiar |
This distinction helps in choosing the appropriate level of politeness and formality in Spanish commands depending on social context and relationship with the listener.