Regular -AR Verbs in Negative Commands
Learning how to give commands is an essential part of mastering Spanish. While affirmative commands tell someone what to do, negative commands tell them what not to do. In this lesson, we’ll focus on forming negative commands with regular -AR verbs.
Forming Negative Commands with -AR Verbs
To create a negative command with a regular -AR verb, follow these steps:
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Start with the present tense "yo" form of the verb.
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Remove the "-o" ending.
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Add the opposite vowel ending (for -AR verbs, this is "-e" for tú and "-en" for ustedes).
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Place "no" before the verb.
Conjugation Rules
| Pronoun | Ending | Example: Hablar (to speak) |
|---|---|---|
| Tú | -es | No hables. (Don’t speak.) |
| Usted | -e | No hable. (Don’t speak – formal) |
| Nosotros/as | -emos | No hablemos. (Let’s not speak.) |
| Vosotros/as | -éis | No habléis. (Don’t speak – plural, Spain) |
| Ustedes | -en | No hablen. (Don’t speak – plural, formal) |
Examples
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Trabajar (to work) → No trabajes (Don’t work)
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Bailar (to dance) → No baile (Don’t dance – formal)
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Estudiar (to study) → No estudiéis (Don’t study – vosotros)
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Cantar (to sing) → No canten (Don’t sing – plural)
Important Notes
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Object pronouns (like me, te, lo, la) come before the verb in negative commands:
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No lo compres. (Don’t buy it.)
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No me llames. (Don’t call me.)
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Reflexive verbs also follow this rule:
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No te levantes. (Don’t get up.)
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"Nosotros" commands are often used to suggest "let’s not" do something:
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No hablemos de eso. (Let’s not talk about that.)
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Practice Exercise
Try turning these affirmative commands into negative ones:
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Habla con ella. (Talk to her.) → No hables con ella.
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Baila ahora. (Dance now.) → No bailes ahora.
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Estudian para el examen. (Study for the test.) → No estudien para el examen.
Conclusion
Negative commands with -AR verbs are easy once you remember the pattern: "no" + present "yo" form – "o" + opposite ending (-e/-en). Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be giving commands like a native speaker!
For more Spanish lessons, check out our other articles and exercises. ¡No dejes de aprender! (Don’t stop learning!)
