Spanish conjugation explanation
Irregular 'tú' commands
<p>While most affirmative <span style="font-style: italic;">tú</span> commands look exactly like the third-person singular (S/3) of the
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/14/" target="_blank">Present Indicative</a>
, there are eight common verbs that have <strong>irregular, shortened forms</strong>.</p><p>These forms must be memorized, as they do not follow the standard patterns.</p>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">The 8 Irregular Verbs</div>
<ul>
<li>
<div>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/decir/" title="Click to see conjugations for decir" target="_blank">decir</a>
→ <span class="green_emphasis"><strong>di</strong></span></div><div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><strong>Di</strong> la verdad. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Tell the truth.</span>)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/hacer/" title="Click to see conjugations for hacer" target="_blank">hacer</a>
→ <span class="green_emphasis"><strong>haz</strong></span></div><div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><strong>Haz</strong> la cama, por favor. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Make the bed, please.</span>)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/ir/" title="Click to see conjugations for ir" target="_blank">ir</a>
→ <span class="green_emphasis"><strong>ve</strong></span></div><div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><strong>Ve</strong> a la escuela ahora mismo. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Go to school right now.</span>)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/poner/" title="Click to see conjugations for poner" target="_blank">poner</a>
→ <span class="green_emphasis"><strong>pon</strong></span></div><div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><strong>Pon</strong> las llaves en la mesa. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Put the keys on the table.</span>)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/salir/" title="Click to see conjugations for salir" target="_blank">salir</a>
→ <span class="green_emphasis"><strong>sal</strong></span></div><div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><strong>Sal</strong> de aquí. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Get out of here.</span>)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/ser/" title="Click to see conjugations for ser" target="_blank">ser</a>
→ <span class="green_emphasis"><strong>sé</strong></span></div><div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><strong>Sé</strong> amable con tu hermana. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Be nice to your sister.</span>)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/tener/" title="Click to see conjugations for tener" target="_blank">tener</a>
→ <span class="green_emphasis"><strong>ten</strong></span></div><div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><strong>Ten</strong> paciencia. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Have patience.</span>)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div><span style="font-style: italic;">venir</span> → <span class="green_emphasis"><strong>ven</strong></span></div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><strong>Ven</strong> conmigo. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Come with me.</span>)</div>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Verbs derived from these roots generally maintain the irregularity (e.g.,
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/mudar/" title="Click to see conjugations for mudar" target="_blank">mudar</a>
→ <span style="font-style: italic;">muda</span>, but<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/mantener/" title="Click to see conjugations for mantener" target="_blank">mantener</a>
→ <span style="font-style: italic;">mantén</span>).</p><p>In the following tables, observe the irregular form in the S/2 (tú) position.</p>
<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">
<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/22/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Imperativo afirmativo</a>
<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">---</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
(tú)
</span>hace
</span>
</div>
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
(tú)
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">haz<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
(usted)
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">haga<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
(nosotros)
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">hagamos<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
(vosotros)
</span>haced
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
(ustedes)
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">hagan<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">
<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/22/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Imperativo afirmativo</a>
<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">---</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
(tú)
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">ten<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
(usted)
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tenga<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
(nosotros)
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tengamos<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
(vosotros)
</span>tened
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
(ustedes)
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tengan<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">
<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/22/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Imperativo afirmativo</a>
<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">---</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
(tú)
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">ve<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
(usted)
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">vaya<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
(nosotros)
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">vamos<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
(nosotros)
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">vayamos<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
(vosotros)
</span>id
</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
(ustedes)
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">vayan<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Affirmative vs. Negative</div>
<p>Remember that these forms are ONLY for <strong>affirmative</strong> commands. Negative <span style="font-style: italic;">tú</span> commands always use the
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/19/" target="_blank">Present Subjunctive</a>
form.</p><ul>
<li>
<div><strong>Affirmative:</strong> ¡<span class="green_emphasis">Haz</span> tu tarea! (<span style="font-style: italic;">Do your homework!</span>)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div><strong>Negative:</strong> ¡No <span class="brown_emphasis">hagas</span> eso! (<span style="font-style: italic;">Don't do that!</span>)</div>
</li>
</ul>
<p>For more details on the differences, see
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/spanish_imperative_affirmative_vs_negative/" target="_blank">affirmative vs. negative commands</a>
.</p>