Requests and commands
What do we want someone to do or stop doing?
Meaning
Requests and commands try to get someone to do something or stop doing it. They range from a gentle request to a firm order. Languages may use special verb forms, question-shaped requests, small words, or tone; some have no separate command form. Questions ask for information, while Requests and commands ask for an action.
How to spot it
Look for language that asks or tells someone to act, even if it has the shape of a question.
In your native language
English commands usually use the verb's base form, such as take or come, without the subject you. Negative commands put don't before that form. Requests often use please or questions with can, could, or would.
Take a seat.
The command uses the base form take and leaves out you.
Don't touch that pan.
Don't comes before the base form touch.
Could you pass the bread, please?
This has the form of a question, but the speaker is asking for an action.
In your learning language
Spanish uses the imperative (imperativo), special command forms, for direct requests and orders. Affirmative tú commands have their own forms, while negative commands and commands addressed to usted or ustedes use present subjunctive forms. Short object pronouns, which stand for a person or thing involved in the action, attach to an affirmative command but come before the verb in a negative command.
Dime la verdad, por favor.
Tell me the truth, please.
The affirmative tú command di has me attached to it.
No me digas la respuesta todavía.
Don't tell me the answer yet.
The negative tú command uses digas, with me before the verb.
Pase, por favor.
Come in, please.
Pase is the command form used when addressing one person as usted.
Learners whose language uses the same command form with and without negation may say *No di eso instead of No digas eso. Learners whose pronouns always remain separate may also split forms such as dime or attach a pronoun after a negative command.