The negative imperative (el imperativo negativo) is used to command someone not to do something. Its forms are based on the present subjunctive.
When to use it
Telling someone not to do something
¡No hables!
Don't speak!
Prohibitions
No fumes aquí.
Don't smoke here.
Regular endings
| -ar | -er | -ir | |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | — | — | — |
| tú | -es | -as | -as |
| él | -e | -a | -a |
| nos. | -emos | -amos | -amos |
| vos. | -éis | -áis | -áis |
| ellos | -en | -an | -an |
Irregular verbs
Completely Irregular
Irregular Stem: b → p
Irregular Stem: e → ie
Irregular Stem: e → ie & Spelling Change: z → c
Irregular Stem: e → ie / i
Irregular Stem: e → i
Irregular Stem: o → ue
Irregular Stem: o → ue / u
Irregular Stem: u → ue & Spelling Change: g → gu
Irregular Stem (from Present 'yo'): ‑g‑
Spelling Change: vowel → y
Irregular Stem (from Present 'yo'): ‑j‑
Irregular Stem (from Present 'yo'): ‑zc‑
Irregular Form
Spelling Change: c → qu
Spelling Change: g → gu
Spelling Change: z → c
Frequently asked
The negative imperative (el imperativo negativo) is used to command someone not to do something. Its forms are based on the present subjunctive. The main cases are telling someone not to do something and prohibitions. For example: ¡No hables! — Don't speak!.
Regular verbs take: -ar: tú -es, él -e, nos. -emos, vos. -éis, ellos -en; -er: tú -as, él -a, nos. -amos, vos. -áis, ellos -an; -ir: tú -as, él -a, nos. -amos, vos. -áis, ellos -an.
The most common ones are ser, estar, tener, hacer, poder, decir, haber and ir. Each has its own conjugation table with the full set of forms.
The imperativo negativo sits at B1 — Intermediate, and Verboteca practice is free at A1. The rule, the tables and the examples on this page stay readable without a subscription or an account.
Every verb form becomes a card that comes back right before you would forget it.
