The imperative forms of mirar and oír are sometimes used in a context that does not express a command.
Mira, mirad, mire, miren
1. To call someone's attention; the speaker wants the listener/s to pay attention to what s/he has to say.
For example:
2. To express irony and surprise, very often using pronouns.
For example:
You may also find the phrase "mira (tú) por dónde", "mire (usted) por dónde" with the same meaning:
3. To express satisfaction, and sometimes irony too, we use "mira (tú) qué bien", "mire (usted) qué bien"...
4. To highlight/emphasise something in the sentence we use:
mira/mire que + sentence
For example:
This construction does not allow the plurals "mirad" or "miren" even when talking to more than one person; it requires the singular conjugation:
Mira que sois tacaños, a ver si invitáis a una cerveza al menos.You are so stingy, it'd be nice if you bought us a beer at least.
not "mirad que ..."
Mire que son ustedes generosos; no me habían tratado así de bien desde hace mucho tiempo.You are very generous; I haven't been treated so well for a long time.
not "miren que ..."
5. To express the supposition that something considered improbable may be happening using this construction:
mira/mire que si ... + sentence
For example:
Oye, oíd, oiga, oigan
With the verb oír, there aren't as many different nuances as with the verb mirar; the verb is normally used on its own:
1. To call the attention of the person you want to say something to
2. To express admiration
When the imperatives of mirar and oír are used this way the translations in English vary greatly as there is no specific way to express this in English.
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Examples and resources
Me estaba aburriendo un montón, pero mira, al llegar Cristina todo se animó bastante y me quedé un rato más.I was getting really bored, but funnily enough, when Cristina arrived everything livened up and I stayed a bit longer.
Mira (tú) por dónde, por ahí va Ramón con su novia.What a surprise, there's Ramón with his girlfriend.
Mira que sois tacaños, a ver si invitáis a una cerveza al menos.You are so stingy, it'd be nice if you bought us a beer at least.
Mire que son ustedes generosos; no me habían tratado así de bien desde hace mucho tiempo.You are very generous; I haven't been treated so well for a long time.
¡Qué tarde es! ... y Marcos no ha llegado todavía ... Mira que si ha tenido un accidente ...It is so late! ... and Marcos hasn't arrived yet ... What if he's had an accident ...
Estaba agotado hasta ayer, pero mire (usted) por dónde, acaban de llegar artículos nuevos.It was out of stock until yesterday, but wouldn't you know it, we've just received new items.
¡Compruebe el número! Mire que si le ha tocado la lotería ...Check the lottery ticket! What if you've won the lottery ...
Mirad qué bien, ahora que habéis terminado los estudios, podréis viajar por Europa.It's great, now that you have all finished your studies, you'll be able to travel around Europe.
Oíd, si no os calláis ya os quedáis sin merienda.Listen, if you don't shut up now you won't get a snack.
Mire que es tozudo, Manuel; le he dicho que hoy lo invito yo a desayunar.You are very stubborn, Manuel; I told you I would treat you to breakfast today. [you = usted]
-Mis hijos llegan el día 23. -Mira qué bien, vas a estar muy acompañada en las navidades.-My children are coming on the 23rd. -That's great, you are going to have lots of company this Christmas.
Después de decirme que mi hija era floja, mira tú, ahora su hijo se levanta todos los días a las 11. After telling me that my daughter was lazy, wouldn't you know it, now her son gets up at 11 everyday.
