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Basic Spanish
Grammar - Quick
Spanish Grammar Reference
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Spanish articlesIn Spanish language articles agree in gender (masculine or feminine) and in number (singular or plural) with the noun that they accompany.
Spanish definite articles forms
El, la los, los (the) normally precede a noun.
Definite articles forms: masculine/feminine, singular/pluralMasculine Feminine
singular el laplural los las
el libro - los libros,el profesor - los profesores
la mesa - las mesas, la casa - las casas
Spanish definite articles uses
Talking in general a definite article is used in Spanish whenever "the" is used in English. However there are some exceptions.
1. With abstract nouns: La pobreza es un grave problema. (Poverty is ...)
2. With most titles of people: el señor López abrió la conferencia (Mister López...), el presidente Rodríguez Zapatero, la doctora García...
3. With infinitives used as nouns, especially if they are the subject of the sentence: El practicar deporte es bueno para la salud (Practicing sports... )
4. With nouns listed in a series: Tengo el libro, el cuaderno y el diccionario (I have the book, the notebook and the dictionary)
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5. With noun of weight and measure: Las naranjas cuestan 3 Euros el kilo. (The oranges cots 3 Euros per kilo)
6. With days of the week: El curso de español empieza el lunes. (The Spanish course starts on Monday)
7. When telling the time. Son las doce. (It is twelve o'clock)
8. With parts of the body or clothes, especially if the possessor is clearly identify, as in case of reflexive verbs. Voy a lavarme las manos (I am going to wash my hands)
9. To generalize. Los españoles se acuestan tarde. (Spanish people... )
Indefinite Spanish articles - Forms
Un, una unos, unas (a, some) normally precede a noun.To say the profession with the verb to be, there is no article: Soy profesora ( I am a teacher).
Indefinite articles, masculine/feminine, singular/pluralMasculine Feminine
singular un unaplural unos unas
un libro - unos libros,un profesor - unos profesores
una mesa - unas mesas, una doctora, unas doctoras
Remark: In Spanish to express the profession with the verb to be, the indifinete article is not used, except when the noun is modified by an adjective. Correct: Soy profesor de español. Incorrect: Soy un profesor de español. Correct: Soy una buena profesora de español.
Nouns in Spanish: Masculine/FeminineNouns refer to people, animals, places, things, and ideas. Nouns are singular or plural. In Spanish language nouns are masculine or feminine, either for person, thing, place, quality or idea.
Feminine nouns3
Generally nouns ending in "-a"
la fruta, la mesa, la palabra
See Masculine for exceptions!
Nouns ending in "-dad" / "-tad" / "-tud"
la ciudad, la edad, la universidad la amistad, la facultad, la libertad la inquietud, la juventud, la virtud
Nouns ending in "-ción" / "-sión" / "-gión"
la canción, la estación, la lección la profesión, la televisión, la tensión la legión, la región, la religión
Nouns ending in "-ez", as long as they refer to abstract nouns formed with suffixes
la rigidez -- rigidity la sensatez -- soberness la validez -- validity la vejez -- old age, oldness
Nouns ending in "-triz"
la actriz, la directriz, la emperatriz
Nouns ending in "-umbre"
la costumbre, la incertidumbre, la legumbre
Shortened version of originally feminine nouns
la disco -- la discoteca* la foto -- la fotografía la moto -- la motocicleta la tele -- la televisión
* but when it refers to a disk, it's el disco
Nouns referring to women
la madre -- mother la mujer -- woman, wife
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Exceptions
ending in "-d"
la merced -- mercy la pared -- wall la red -- net la salud -- health la sed -- thirst
ending in "-z"
la cruz -- cross la faz -- face la luz -- light la nariz -- nose la nuez -- nut la paz -- peace la raíz -- root la vez -- time, turn la voz -- voice
other
la filial -- affiliate la flor -- flower la imagen -- image la ley -- law la mano -- hand la miel -- honey la piel -- skin la sal -- salt la tribu -- tribe
ending in "-e"
la base -- basis la calle -- street la carne -- meat la clase -- class la clave -- clue la corriente -- current la fe -- faith la fiebre -- fever la frase -- saying, phrase la fuente -- source la gente -- people (!) la leche -- milk la lente -- lens la llave -- key la mente -- mind la muerte -- death la nieve -- snow la noche -- night, evening la nube -- cloud la sangre -- blood la sede -- headquarters la serpiente -- snake la suerte -- fate, luck la tarde -- afternoon la torre -- tower
MasculineIn broad generality, all nouns not fitting into the above categories and exceptions - plus the following.
Nouns of Greek origin, ending in "-ma" / "-ta" / "-pa"
el clima, el programa, el tema el cometa, el planeta (but to confuse you: la dieta :-)) el mapa
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Exceptions
el día (el mediodía) -- day, daytime (noon) el gorila -- gorilla el pijama -- pajamas el sofá -- sofa el tranvía -- tram, streetcar el yoga -- yoga
Different gender, different meaningSome words can be used as either feminine or masculine but this will change their meaning. Some examples:
masculine feminine
capitalcóleracomacortecurafinalfrenteordenpapapartependientepez
capitalcholeracomacutpriestendingfrontorderpopemessage, reportearringfish
capital citybile, angercommacourtcuresports finalforeheaddecree, holy orderpotatopart, portionslope, hillsidetar, pitch
Different gender, same meaningCertain nouns, usually referring to people, can be used in the same meaning as either feminine or masculine, depending on who you refer to.
nouns ending in "-ista" (artista, florista, jurista) nouns ending in "-crata" (aristócrata, tecnócrata) amante -- lover cliente -- client guía -- guide idiota -- idiot modelo -- model soprano testigo -- witness
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Feminine nouns with the article "el"When a feminine noun begins with a stressed "a-" or "ha-" syllable, its singular form will have an "el" instead of "la" (and "un" instead of "una" as an indefinite article). In plural, it's back to normal.
el agua, el alma, el asma el habla, el hada, el hambre*
* doubly irregular: a noun ending in "-e" with the article "el" - and still feminine :-)
Forming Plurals of Nouns
1) If a noun ends in a vowel, make it plural by adding -s.
libro: libros (libro + s)
pluma: plumas (pluma + s)
2) The definite articles (el, la) also change in the plural form. They become "los" and "las."
el libro: los libros
la pluma: las plumas
3) If a noun ends in a consonant, make it plural by adding -es.
el borrador: los borradores (borrador + es)
la universidad: las universidades (universidad + es)
4) If a noun ends in -ión, add -es and drop the written accent.
la conversación: las conversaciones
la televisión: las televisiones
5) If a noun ends in -z, add -es and change the z to c.
el lápiz: los lápices
la voz: las voces
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6) When the plural refers to two or more nouns of different genders, the masculine plural is used.
2 perros + 6 perras = 8 perros (not perras)1 gato + 8 gatas = 9 gatos (not gatas)
7) A few nouns are "compound nouns," that is, they are formed by combining two words into one.
abre + latas = abrelatas / open + cans = can opener
saca + puntas / take out + points = pencil sharpener
*These compound nouns are always masculine, and the plural is formed by changing the "el" to "los."*
el abrelataslos abrelatas
el sacapuntaslos sacapuntas
Spanish adjectives Adjectives describe or give information about people and things.
Spanish Adjectives Gender and number
In Spanish, most adjectives have both masculine and feminine forms, as well as singular and plural forms. Adjectives must agree with the noun they describe in both gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural).
To form the Spanish adjectives
1. They must agree in gender with the noun they modify or add information
Most masculine adjectives end in -o: italiano Most feminine adjectives end in -a: italiana Adjectives that do not end in -o or -a use the same form for masculine or feminine:
difícil, interesante, verde... Adjectives that end in -sta do not have changes: pesimista, realista, egoista... Adjectives that end in -or made the feminine by adding -a: encantador, encantadora. Adjectives that end in -án in the masculine form, made the feminine in -ana, dropping
the accent: alemán, alemana. Adjectives that end in -és in the masculine form, made the feminine in -esa, dropping the
accent: inglés, inglesa.
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2. They must agree in number with the noun they modify or add information.
If the adjective ends in a vowel, add -s: italiano - italianos, italiana - italianas. If the adjective ends in a consonant, add -es: encantador - encantadores. If the adjective ends in a -z, changes to c: feliz - felices. If the adjective end in -án, made the plural in -anes, dropping the accent: alemán,
alemanes. If the adjective end in -és, made the plural in -eses, dropping the accent: inglés, ingleses.
3. Shortened forms of Adjectives
When placed before masculine singular nouns, some adjectives change into a shortened form. *Grande changes to a shorteed form before any singular noun.
bueno buen chicomalo mal día
primero primer trabajotercero tercer platogrande gran señor*grande gran señora*
Spanish Comparatives and Superlatives
Spanish comparatives and superlatives are fairly simple. Comparatives are the comparison of one person or thing to another (more, less, or as... as), while superlatives indicate that one person/thing is the most, best, least, or worst of all.
I. Comparatives come in three varieties:
Superiority más... (que) more... than or ____er than
Inferiority menos... (que) less/fewer... than
Equality tan... como as... as
tanto... como as much/many as
Notes
1. With más and menos, the que + noun/pronoun construction is (optional). With tan and tanto como, however, the noun/pronoun is required.
2. In comparatives of equality, tan is used with adjectives (tan guapo como) and adverbs (tan rápidamente como), while tanto (tanta, tantos, tantas) is used with nouns (tanto dinero como) and verbs (trabajamos tanto como).
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3. Bueno and malo have irregular comparative forms (see III, below).
Tú eres más interesante (que nosotros).
You are more interesting (than we are).
Ana es más grande (que Lucas). Ana is taller (than Lucas).
Sevilla es menos caro (que Barcelona).
Sevilla is less/not as expensive (than/as Barcelona).
Soy tan guapo como José. I'm as handsome as José.
Tengo tanto dinero como Uds. I have as much money as you.
II. Superlatives are formed with the definite article + noun + más or menos + adjective. Note that when the superlative uses "in" (e.g., the tallest in the world, the happiest in the house), "in" is translated by de.
Carlos es la persona más inteligente que trabaja aquí.
Carlos is the most intelligent person who works here.
Es la ciudad menos interesante del mundo. It's the least interesting city in the world.
Es el profesor más amable de la escuela. He is the nicest teacher in the school.
III. Exceptions: Bueno and malo have irregular forms for the comparative and superlative.
Comparative Superlative
Bueno mejor(es) lo(s)/la(s) mejor(es)
Malo peor(es) lo(s)/la(s) peor(es)
In the superlative, they are placed in front of the noun they modify.
Mi restaurante es mejor (que esto). My restaurant is better (than this one).
Son los mejores profesores de la escuela. They are the best teachers in the school.
El libro es peor (que la película). The book is worse (than the movie).
Es la peor idea del mundo. It's the worst idea in the world.10
Spanish possessive adjectivesPossessive adjectives are used to tell what belongs to someone.
owner English masculine, singular
feminine, singular
masculine, plural
feminine, plural
yo my mi mi mis mistú your tu tu tus tus
él, ella, usted his, her, your su su sus sus
nosotros, nosotraas our nuestro nuestra nuestros nuestras
vosotros, vosotras your vuestro vuestra vuestros vuestras
ellos, ellas, ustedes their, your su su sus sus
Spanish demonstrative adjectives Like other adjectives, demonstrative adjectives agree in gender and number with the nouns that follow them.
Spanish adverbs To form an adverb in Spanish, -mente is added to the feminine singular form of an adjective. –mente = ly ending in English
general → generalmente rápida → rápidamente
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masculine femininethis este esta
these estos estasthat ese esa
those esos esas
Spanish subject pronouns “Person” View
1st person singular (I) 1st person plural (we)
2nd person singular (you - familiar) 2nd person plural (you - familiar)
3rd person singular (he, she, it, you -formal)
3rd person plural (they, you – formal)
The subject of a sentence states who are what is doing the action.
Cynthia come galletas. Cynthia eats cookies.Daniel mira la televisión. Daniel watches TV.
A pronoun is a word that replaces a person’s name, so a “subject pronoun” is apronoun that replaces the name in the subject of a sentence.
Ella come galletas. She eats cookies.Él mira la televisión. He watches TV.
These are all of the subject pronouns in Spanish:
Spanish Subject Pronoun View
Singular: One person / thing Plural: More than one person / thing
yo = I nosotros = we (males, both) nosotras = we (females)
tú = you (informal, familiar) vosotros = you all (informal, boys /both) vosotras = you all (informal, girls)
él = he ella = she
usted (Ud.) = you (formal)
ellos = they (boys, both) ellas = they (girls, both)
ustedes (Uds.) = you (formal)
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Spanish verbs
Verb conjugation refers to the process of changing a verb form to provide information about the action being performed. The form of the verb can give us some idea about who is performing the action, when the action is being performed, and the relation of the verb to other parts of the sentence.
SPANISH VERB TENSES
REGULAR SPANISH VERBS
Regular verbs - ar ending
Infinitive: habl+ ar
Gerund: habl + ando
Indicative mood
stem yo tú él, ella, usted
nosotros nosotras
vosotros vosotras
ellos, ellas, ustedes
Present habl o as a amos áis anImperfect habl aba abas aba ábamos abais an
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infinitive (to form) verb
gerund
ando and iendo (-ing) forms to use with forms of estar for
present progressive
present progressive is happening right now
present nownear past just happenedpreterite happenedimperfect used to happen
near futuregoing to happen - use with forms of ir + a +
infinitivefuture will happen
Preterite habl é aste ó amos asteis aronFuture hablar é ás á emos éis án
Regular verbs - er endingInfinitive: com+ erGerund: com + iendoIndicative mood
stem yo tú él, ella, usted
nosotros nosotras
vosotros vosotras
ellos, ellas, ustedes
Present com o es e emos éis enImperfect com ía ías ía íamos íais íanPreterite com í iste ió imos isteis ieronFuture comer é ás á emos éis án
Regular verbs - ir endingInfinitive: viv+ irGerund: viv + iendoIndicative mood
stem yo tú él, ella, usted
nosotros nosotras
vosotros vosotras
ellos, ellas, ustedes
Present viv o es e imos ís enImperfect viv ía ías ía íamos íais íanPreterite viv í iste ió imos isteis ieronFuture vivir é ás á emos éis án
estar = to be (is, am, are) – location, health, emotionsInfinitive: estarGerund: estandoIndicative mood
yo tú él, ella, usted
nosotros nosotras
vosotros vosotras
ellos, ellas, ustedes
Present estoy estás está estamos estáis estánImperfect estaba estabas estaba estábamos estabais estabanPreterite estuve estuviste estuvo estuvimos estuvisteis estuvieronFuture estaré estarás estará estaremos estaréis estarán
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Irregular Spanish verbs ser = to be (is, am, are) – location of event, physical characteristics, personality characteristics
Infinitive: serGerund:s iendo
Indicative moodyo tú él, ella,
ustednosotros nosotras
vosotros vosotras
ellos, ellas, ustedes
Present soy eres es somos sois sonImperfect era eras eran éramos eráis eranPreterite fui fuiste fue fuimos fuisteis fueronFuture sere serás sera seremos seréis serán
dar = to giveInfinitive: darGerund: dandoIndicative mood
yo tú él, ella, usted
nosotros nosotras
vosotros vosotras
ellos, ellas, ustedes
Present doy das da damos daís danImperfect daba dabas daba dábamos dabais dabanPreterite di diste dio dimos disteis dieronFuture daré darás dará daremos daréis darán
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Present progressive using forms of estar– happening now
Near future using forms of ir– going to happen soon
1.(form of) estar +
gerund am, is, are verbingar estoy hablando I am talkinger estás comiendo you are eatingir está describiendo he is describing
ir = to goInfinitive: irGerund: iendoIndicative mood
yo tú él, ella, usted
nosotros nosotras
vosotros vosotras
ellos, ellas, ustedes
Present voy vas va vamos vais vanImperfect iba ibas iba ibamos ibais ibanPreterite fui fuiste fue fuimos fuisteis fueronFuture iré irás irá iremos iréis irán
1. (form of) ir + a + infinitive going to verb
voy a bailar I am going to workvas a comer You are going to eatva a decider He is going to decide
venir* = to comeInfinitive: venirGerund: viniendoIndicative mood
yo* tú él, ella, usted
nosotros nosotras
vosotros vosotras
ellos, ellas, ustedes
Present vengo vienes viene venimos venís vienenImperfect venía venías venía veníamos veníais veníanPreterite vine viniste vino vinimos vinisteis vinieronFuture vendré vendrás vendrá vendremos vendréis vendrán
tener* = to haveInfinitive: tenerGerund: teniendoIndicative mood
yo tú él, ella, usted
nosotros nosotras
vosotros vosotras
ellos, ellas, ustedes
Present tengo tienes tiene tenemos tenéis tienenImperfect tenía tenías tenía teníamos teníais teníamosPreterite tuve tuviste tuvo tuvimos tuvisteis tuvieronFuture tendré tendrás tundra tendremos tendréis tendrán
1. tener hambre to be hungry2. tener sed to be thirsty3. tener ___ años to be __ years old4. tener prisa to be in a hurry5. tener razón to be right
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Tener expressions (Form of tener)
decir* = to sayInfinitive: decirGerund: diciendoIndicative mood
yo* tú él, ella, usted
nosotros nosotras
vosotros vosotras
ellos, ellas, ustedes
Present digo dices dice decimos decís dicenImperfect decía decías decía decíamos decíais decíanPreterite dije dijes dijo dijimos dijisteis dijeronFuture dire dirás dirá diremos diréis dirán
6. tener sueño to be sleepy7. tener vergüenza to be ashamed8. tener frío to be cold9. tener calor to be hot10. tener suerte to be lucky11. tener miedo to be afraid12. tener que + infinitive to have to verb
gustar = to please
Infinitive: gustar
Indicative moodI you he,she, you
Present me gusta(n) te gusta(n) le gusta(n)Imperfect me gustaba(n) te gustaba(n) le gustaba(n)Future me gustará(n) te gustará(n) le gusta(n) (will like)Conditional me gustaría(n) te gustaría(n) le gustaria(n) (would like)
hacer = to do, to make
Infinitive: hacerGerund: haciendoIndicative mood
yo* tú él, ella, usted
nosotros nosotras
vosotros vosotras
ellos, ellas, ustedes
Present hago haces hace hacemos hacéis hacenImperfect hacía hacías hacía hacíamos hacíais hacíanPreterite hice hiciste hizo hicimos hicisteis hicieronFuture haré harás hará haremos haréis harán
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Hacer expressions (Form of hacer)
Gustar
saber = to know (a fact)Infinitive: saberGerund: sabiendoIndicative mood
yo tú él, ella, usted
nosotros nosotras
vosotros vosotras
ellos, ellas, ustedes
Present sé sabes sabe sabemos sabéis sabenImperfect sabía sabías sabía sabíamos sabíais sabíanFuture sabré sabrás sabrá sabremos sabréis sabrán
reír = to laughInfinitive: reírGerund: riendoIndicative mood
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Wanting to do something using forms of querer– want to …..
1. (form of) acabar + de + infinitive Just verbed (infinitive form)
acabo de estudiar I just studiedacabas de comer you just ate
querer = to want (e>ie)Infinitive: quererGerund: iendoIndicative mood
yo tú él, ella, usted
nosotros nosotras
vosotros vosotras
ellos, ellas, ustedes
Present quiero quieres quiere queremos queréis quierenImperfect quería querías quería queríamos queríais queríanFuture querré querrás querrá querremos querréis querrán
1. (form of) querer + infinitive going to verb (in infinitive)
quiero bailar I want to dancequieres cantar you want to sing
yo tú él, ella, usted
nosotros nosotras
vosotros vosotras
ellos, ellas, ustedes
Present río ríes ríe reímos reís ríenImperfect reía sabías sabía sabíamos sabíais sabíanPreterite rí reíste rió reímos reístes riereonFuture reiré reirás reirá reiremos reiréis reirán
Spanish Verbs - Stem-Changing Verbs
Stem-changing verbs | Spelling change verbs
Spanish has two kinds of verbs that undergo spelling changes during conjugation. Spelling change verbs undergo consonant changes in certain conjugations, while stem-changing verbs are characterized by changes in vowels. Stem-changing verbs are those that have a vowel spelling change in the stem of all forms except nosotros and vosotros.
The endings for stem-changing verbs are the same as for regular -AR, -ER, and -IR verbs, so you should make sure that you understand those conjugations before working on this lesson. These are also called shoe verbs or boot verbs.
Spanish has three different stem-changing patterns:
1. E changes to IE
QUERER - to want
yo quIEro nosotros q
uEremos
tú quIEres vosotros quEréis
él quIEre ellos quIEren
Similarly-conjugated verbs (note that there are -AR,-ER, and -IR verbs in this category):
cerrar to close
comenzar to begin, to start
detenerto detain -
yo detengo
entender to understand
mantenerto maintain -
yo mantengo
mentir to tell lies
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obtenerto obtain -
yo obtengo
pensar to think
perder to lose
preferir to prefer
recomendar to recommend
referir to refer
sentir to feel
tenerto have -
yo tengo
venirto come -
yo vengo
2. O changes to UE, U changes to UE
PODER - can, to be able to
yo pUEdo nosotros p
Odemos
tú pUEdes vosotros pOdéis
él pUEde ellos pUEden
Similar verbs (there are -AR, -ER, and -IR verbs in this category):
contar to count
costar to cost
doler to hurt
dormir to sleep
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encontrar to find
jugar* to play - U changes to UE
morir to die
mostrar to show
mover to move
oler** to smell - O changes to HUE
poder can, to be able to
recordar to remember
soler to be accustomed to
volver to return
3. E changes to I
REPETIR - to repeat
yo repIto nosotros re
pEtimos
tú repItes vosotros repEtís
él repIte ellos repIten
Similar verbs (only -IR verbs in this category):
conseguir to get - yo consigo
decir to say, to tell - yo digo
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pedir to request, to ask for something
reír to laugh
seguir to follow, continue - yo sigo
servir to serve
sonreírse to smile
Spanish -go Verbs - Verbs that end in -go for yo form in the present tense
caer - to fall - yo caigo
conseguir - to get - yo consigo
decir - to say - yo digo
detener - to detain - yo detengo
hacer - to do - yo hago
mantener - to mainain - yo mantengo
obtener - to have - yo obtengo
oír - to hear - yo oigo
poner - to put or place - yo pongo
salir - to go out - yo salgo
seguir - to follow - yo sigo
tener - to have - yo tengo
traer - to bring - yo traigo
venir - to come - yo vengo
Spanish -oy Verbs - Verbs that end in -oy for yo form in the present tense
dar - to give - yo doy
estar - to be - yo estoy
ir - to go - yo voy
ser - to be - yo soy
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Spanish -jo Verbs - Verbs that end in -jo for yo form in the present tense
escoger - to choose - yo escojo
recoger - to pick up; to collect - yo recojo
When tellling a friend, a family member or a young person to do something, use an affirmative tú command. To form these commands for most verbs, use the same present-tense forms that are used for Ud., él, ella. Some verbs have an irregular affirmative tú command.
Regular Irregular Reflexive Verbs
-ar decir - di (say, tell) ¡Levántate!¡Estudia! hacer - haz (do, make) (Stand up)(study) ir - ve (go)
¡Siéntate!-er poner - pon (put) (Sit down)
¡Corre! salir - sal (leave, go out)
(run) ser - sé (be) ¡Despiértate!(Wake up)
-ir tener - ten (have)¡Escribe! venir - ven (come) !Apúrate!
(Hurry up!)
Reflexive Verbs
LEVANTARSE - TO STAND UP
yo me levanto nosotros nos
levantamos
tú te levantas vosotros os levantáis
él se levanta ellos se levantan
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