Confusion between commands, imperative and present subjunctive

There is often confusion between these terms when studying Spanish grammar: command, imperative and present subjunctive.

A command in Spanish

A command in Spanish is simply "an order" given to a person. An order (or sometimes just a suggestion) can be given in different ways in Spanish. One of these ways is by using the imperative forms. You can express a command in an affirmative way (e.g. "Go!") or a negative way, (e.g. "Don't go!"). Depending on whether it is affirmative or negative and also depending on who the order/suggestion is addressed to, we use different forms of the imperative. 

The imperative in Spanish

The imperative in Spanish is a mood. The imperative forms or conjugations must be studied by subject pronoun, as each different subject pronoun follows a different rule for their conjugations/endings. It is also important to note that the imperative conjugations are different for affirmative commands and negative commands. 

Here are all the imperative conjugations:

Imperative of  for most verbs (affirmative commands)

Imperative of  for all irregular verbs (irregular affirmative commands)

Imperative of vosotros for all verbs (affirmative commands)

Imperative of vosotros/vosotras (negative commands)

Imperative for usted/ustedesnosotros/nosotras (affirmative and negative commands)

Present Subjunctive conjugations in Spanish used for commands

Bear in mind that to make a negative command addressed to any subject (, nosotros, vosotros, usted, ustedes), the form of the imperative is the same as the form of the Present Subjunctive of that verb and subject. Similarly, affirmative commands addressed to usted/ustedes (but not the other subject pronouns) have the same conjugations as the Present Subjunctive.
 
This is where there can be confusion for Spanish learners. Sometimes these forms are referred to as the conjugations of the Present Subjunctive and sometimes as the conjugations of the Imperative. Since the conjugations for these two verb moods are identical, both terms are correct. They are Imperative forms/endings and also Present Subjunctive forms/endings, so whatever they are called, they are referring to the same thing.
 
Here are different examples showing commands (informal and formal) using the affirmative and negative imperative:
 
Firma aquí. (tú - affirmative command)Sign here.

No firmes aquí. (tú - negative command)Don't sign here.

Firme aquí. (usted - affirmative command)Sign here.

No firme aquí. (usted - negative command)Don't sign here.

Firmad aquí. (vosotros - affirmative command)Sign here.

No firméis aquí. (vosotros - negative command)Don't sign here.

Firmen aquí. (ustedes - affirmative command)Sign here.

No firmen aquí. (ustedes - negative command)Don't sign here.
 
 
 

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