Forming the imperative for usted/ustedes/nosotros/nosotras (affirmative and negative commands)

In Spanish, the nosotros/nosotras/usted/ustedes forms of El Imperativo, both in affirmative and negative commands take same form as El Presente de Subjuntivo.

Here is a reminder of regular verbs conjugations in El Presente de Subjuntivo:

Conjugate regular -ar verbs in the present subjunctive in Spanish (El Presente de Subjuntivo)

Conjugate regular -er and -ir verbs in the present subjunctive in Spanish (El Presente de Subjuntivo)

Bear in mind that there are lots of verbs with stem-change and consonant change in the present subjunctive, though.

Let's look at nosotros/nosotras first, then usted/ustedes.

Spanish imperative of Nosotros/Nosotras (we)

To say Let's [do something] or Let's not [do something]  in Spanish as a form of command to ourselves we use the verb in the present subjunctive form for nosotros/nosotras (first person plural). 

Have a look at these examples:

Ella no quiere que nosotros comamos tan rápido. (present subjunctive)
She doesn't want us to eat so fast.

¡Comamos más rápido! (affirmative command)Let's eat faster!

¡No comamos tan rápido! (negative command)Let's not eat so fast!

Notice how they all coincide in their form. 

Alternative structures not using the imperative

Bear in mind though, that in a more colloquial way, we would probably use an interrogative sentence introduced by "¿Por qué no...?" followed by El Presente with the same purpose, an affirmative command to "ourselves". For example:

¿Por qué no vamos a la playa?
Why don't we go to the beach?/Let's go to the beach!

And in the negative cases, we would probably prefer to use a different sentence structure introduced by "Mejor no..." followed by El Presente. For example:

Mejor no vamos a la playa. 
Let's not go to the beach!

Both "¿Por qué no...?" and "Mejor no..." followed by El Presente are more frequently used in speech than their equivalent forms using the imperative:

Vayamos a la playa.
Let's go to the beach! (affirmative command)

No vayamos a la playa.
Let's not go to the beach! (negative command)

Here are other examples using the imperative:

¡Hagamos una fiesta!Let's organise a party!

¡Limpiemos el coche!Let's clean the car!

¡Tengamos paciencia!Let's be patient!

¡No seamos egoístas!Let's not be selfish!

Spanish imperative of Usted and Ustedes (you formal singular and plural)

To express an affirmative or negative command directed to "you" (formal) we also use the usted/ustedes form (3rd person singular/plural) in El Presente de Subjuntivo. A typical situation is in a formal conversation or transaction, for example in a bank.

Here are some examples:

Necesito que firme aquí, Señor. (present subjunctive)
I need you to sign here, Sir.

Señor, firme aquí, por favor. (affirmative command)Sir, sign here, please.

Señor, no firme aquí. (negative command)Sir, do not sign here.

Señoritas, no es bueno que beban mucho champán. (present subjunctive)
Ladies, it is not good to drink lots of champagne.

Señoritas, beban un poco de champán. (affirmative command)Ladies, drink a little champagne.

Señoritas, ¡no beban tanto champán! (negative command)Ladies, don't drink so much champaigne!

Notice how they all coincide in their form. 

Another typical context for this is road signs:

Conduzca despacio. (affirmative command, usted)Drive slowly.

Disminuya la velocidad. (affirmative command, usted)Reduce speed.

No tiren papeles al suelo. (negative command, ustedes)Don't throw papers on the floor.

Here are more examples (usted):

¡Tenga el cambio!Here's your change! 

Señor, ¡no corra!Sir, don't run

¡Diga la verdad!Tell the truth! 

Here are more examples (ustedes):

¡Salgan a tiempo!Leave on time!

Señor y Señora Valls, ¡compren una nueva lavadora!Mr. and Mrs. Valls, buy a new washing machine!

¡No digan mentiras!Don't tell lies! 

No hablen tan rápido, por favor.Don't speak so fast, please.

Remember that many verbs undergo stem changes and consonant changes when they are conjugated in  El Presente de Subjuntivo and these need to be kept when making a command.

Want to make sure your Spanish sounds confident? We’ll map your knowledge and give you free lessons to focus on your gaps and mistakes. Start your Brainmap today »

Learn more about these related Spanish grammar topics

Examples and resources

¡Amigos, bebamos hasta el amanecer!Friends, let's drink until dawn!
Señor, ¡no corra!Sir, don't run
¡Vengan a la escuela!Come to school! ("you" plural formal = "ustedes")
Disminuya la velocidad. (affirmative command, usted)Reduce speed.
¡Chicos, corramos la maratón!Guys, let's run the marathon!
¡Venga a la fiesta!Come to the party! ("you" singular formal = "usted")
No tiren papeles al suelo. (negative command, ustedes)Don't throw papers on the floor.
Conduzca despacio. (affirmative command, usted)Drive slowly.
Señor Perez, ¡compre un ordenador cuanto antes!Mr. Perez, buy a computer as soon as possible!
¡Juguemos al ajedrez!Let's play chess!
¡Vayan juntos a la fiesta!Go together to the party! (You formal plural.)
¡Comamos más rápido! (affirmative command)Let's eat faster!
Señor y Señora Valls, ¡compren una nueva lavadora!Mr. and Mrs. Valls, buy a new washing machine!
¡Salga a la calle!Go out on the street! ("you" singular formal = "usted")
¡Hagan el trabajo! Do the job! ("you" plural formal = "ustedes")
¡Vaya a la escuela! (Usted.)Go to school! (You sing. formal.)
Señorita, ¡cante esa linda canción!Miss, sing that lovely song!
¡Vayamos al pueblo! (Nosotros/nosotras.)Let's go to the village!
¡Haga la compra! Do the shopping! ("you" singular formal = "usted")
¡Hagamos la cena! Let's make dinner! 
¡Limpiemos el coche!Let's clean the car!
¡Hagamos una fiesta!Let's organise a party!
¡Sean simpáticos!Be nice! ("you" plural formal)
¡Pidamos otra ronda!Let's order another round!
¡Hablemos con tranquilidad!Let's talk with calm!
¡Seamos inteligentes!Let's be intelligent!
¡Conduzcamos con cuidado!Let's drive carefully!
¡Tengamos una buena fiesta!Let's have a great party!
¡No seamos egoístas!Let's not be selfish!
¡Tenga el cambio!Here's your change! 
¡No comamos tan rápido! (negative command)Let's not eat so fast!
¡Ponga atención!Pay attention! ("you" singular formal = "usted")
¡Pongan la radio! Put the radio on! ("you" plural formal = "ustedes")
¡No corran por allí!Don't run over there! ("you" plural formal = "ustedes")
¡Diga la verdad!Tell the truth! 
Señor, firme aquí, por favor. (affirmative command)Sir, sign here, please.
¡Salgan a tiempo!Leave on time!
Señor, no firme aquí. (negative command)Sir, do not sign here.
¡Tengan más cuidado!Be more careful! ("you" plural formal = "ustedes")
¡No digan mentiras!Don't tell lies! 
Señoritas, ¡no beban tanto champán! (negative command)Ladies, don't drink so much champaigne!
¡No tuerzan a la derecha!Don't turn right! ("you" plural formal)
¡Pongamos música!Let's turn the music on!
No hablen tan rápido, por favor.Don't speak so fast, please.
Señoritas, beban un poco de champán. (affirmative command)Ladies, drink a little champagne.
Señora Matos, ¡compre lo que hay en la lista!Mrs Matos, buy what's on the list!
¡Tengamos paciencia!Let's be patient!
¡Salgamos esta noche!Let's go out tonight!
Disminuya la velocidad. (affirmative command, usted)Reduce speed.
I'll be right with you...