Spanish Commands Practice: Tú, Usted, and Nosotros Exercises

TL;DR

Spanish commands practice helps you learn how to give instructions, make polite requests, and suggest actions using tú, usted, and nosotros forms.

The key patterns are:

• affirmative tú usually uses the él / ella / usted present form
• negative tú uses the present subjunctive
• usted commands use the present subjunctive
• nosotros commands use the present subjunctive

This page gives you rules, examples, written exercises, and a quiz so you can actually practice the forms instead of only reading about them.

Spanish commands practice: quick rule chart

Before you start the exercises, use this chart as your main reference.

This is the core system learners need first.

What are Spanish commands?

Spanish commands, also called mandatos, are verb forms used to tell someone what to do, what not to do, or what a group should do together.

You use them to:

• give instructions
• make requests
• offer advice
• warn someone
• suggest a shared action

Examples:

• Habla más despacio. → Speak more slowly.
• No corras. → Don’t run.
• Pase por aquí, por favor. → Come this way, please.
• Hablemos ahora. → Let’s talk now.

What makes Spanish commands difficult?

Spanish commands feel hard because learners have to control three things at the same time:

• formality
• verb form
• pronoun placement

That is why practice matters. The forms are not random, but they are easier to learn through repeated patterns than through memorizing long grammar explanations.

When should you use tú, usted, or nosotros?

The choice depends on the situation.

Examples:

• Tú: Come más despacio.
• Usted: Espere un momento, por favor.
• Nosotros: Salgamos ahora.

Tú commands in Spanish

Affirmative tú commands

For most verbs, affirmative tú commands use the él / ella / usted present tense form.

Examples:

• Habla más despacio. → Speak more slowly.
• Come aquí. → Eat here.
• Vive con calma. → Live calmly.

Common irregular affirmative tú commands

These eight are worth memorizing early.

A useful memory line is:

di, haz, ve, pon, sal, sé, ten, ven

If these verbs still feel shaky, build a stronger base with our Spanish ser vs estar practice guide.

Negative tú commands

Negative tú commands always use:

no + present subjunctive

Examples:

• No hables tan rápido. → Don’t speak so fast.
• No comas eso. → Don’t eat that.
• No vivas con miedo. → Don’t live in fear.

This is one of the cleanest command rules in Spanish:
negative tú always goes through the subjunctive.

Usted commands in Spanish

Usted commands are used for formal singular situations.

Both affirmative and negative usted commands use the present subjunctive.

Examples:

• Espere un momento. → Wait a moment.
• Pase por aquí. → Come this way.
• No toque eso. → Don’t touch that.

If the subjunctive still feels unfamiliar, review it first in our Spanish subjunctive practice guide.

Nosotros commands in Spanish

Nosotros commands mean “let’s do something.”

They also use the present subjunctive nosotros form.

Examples:

• Hablemos ahora. → Let’s talk now.
• Comamos aquí. → Let’s eat here.
• Salgamos temprano. → Let’s leave early.

Negative forms are simple:

• No hablemos de eso.
• No salgamos tarde.

How pronouns work with Spanish commands

Pronoun placement changes depending on whether the command is affirmative or negative.

Affirmative commands

Pronouns attach to the end of the verb.

• Dímelo.
• Cómpralo.
• Escríbeme.

Negative commands

Pronouns go before the verb.

• No me lo digas.
• No lo compres.
• No me escribas.

Rule to remember:

attach in affirmative, separate in negative

If pronouns are still confusing, keep our Spanish pronoun chart open while you practice.

Spanish commands practice quiz

Written Spanish commands practice exercises

These written exercises make the page more useful even if you do not use the quiz. Try answering them before checking the answer key.

A. Write the correct command

1. (hablar, tú affirmative) → ___ más despacio.
2. (comer, tú negative) → No ___ aquí.
3. (vivir, usted affirmative) → ___ con calma.
4. (esperar, usted negative) → No ___ afuera.
5. (salir, nosotros affirmative) → ___ temprano.
6. (hablar, nosotros negative) → No ___ de eso.
7. (poner, tú affirmative) → ___ la mesa.
8. (hacer, tú affirmative) → ___ tu tarea.
9. (leer, usted affirmative) → ___ esto, por favor.
10. (venir, tú negative) → No ___ tan tarde.

B. Choose the right command type

Decide whether the sentence needs tú, usted, or nosotros.

1. You are speaking politely to a customer: “Please sign here.”
2. You are talking to your brother: “Open the door.”
3. You are suggesting a group action: “Let’s start now.”
4. You are warning a child: “Don’t touch that.”
5. You are speaking formally to a stranger: “Come in, please.”

C. Fix the mistake

Each sentence below has a command error.

1. No habla tan rápido.
2. Come usted aquí.
3. No hablamos de eso.
4. Dilo me ahora.
5. Trae la cuenta, por favor. (formal restaurant request)

Answer key

A. Write the correct command

1. habla
2. comas
3. viva
4. espere
5. salgamos
6. hablemos
7. pon
8. haz
9. lea
10. vengas

B. Choose the right command type

1. usted
2. tú
3. nosotros
4. tú
5. usted

C. Fix the mistake

1. No hables tan rápido.
2. Coma usted aquí. or Coma aquí.
3. No hablemos de eso.
4. Dímelo ahora.
5. Tráigame la cuenta, por favor.

Common mistakes in Spanish commands practice

1. Using the present tense instead of the command

Wrong:

• No habla

Correct:

• No hables

2. Mixing tú and usted forms

Wrong:

• Come usted

Correct:

• Coma usted

3. Forgetting irregular affirmative tú forms

Wrong:

• hace for a command

Correct:

• haz

4. Putting pronouns in the wrong place

Wrong:

• Dilo me

Correct:

• Dímelo

5. Treating nosotros commands like normal present tense

Wrong:

• Hablamos ahora when you mean “let’s talk now”

Correct:

• Hablemos ahora

Real-life Spanish commands practice examples

Notice how often commands appear with purpose phrases and everyday actions. If you mix up common grammar patterns around them, our Spanish por vs para practice guide can help.

Best way to practice Spanish commands

A good study order is:

1. learn affirmative tú commands
2. memorize the 8 irregular tú commands
3. study negative tú commands
4. move to usted commands
5. practice nosotros commands
6. add pronouns last

That order keeps the system manageable.

Do more Spanish commands practice on Avatalks

Spanish Grammar Practice Hub

If you want more exercises across multiple grammar topics, our Spanish grammar practice hub organizes them by topic so you can build accuracy step by step.

Explore the practice hub →

Why Spanish commands practice improves fluency

Commands are useful because they force quick decisions.

You have to choose:

• who you are talking to
• how formal the situation is
• which verb pattern fits
• where the pronouns go

That makes command practice one of the fastest ways to improve everyday Spanish accuracy.

When you are ready to use commands in longer dialogue, try these Spanish conversation practice tips and tools.

FAQ: Spanish commands practice

What are Spanish commands?

Spanish commands are verb forms used to tell someone what to do, what not to do, or what a group should do together.

Which Spanish commands should beginners practice first?

Beginners should focus first on tú, usted, and nosotros commands.

Are negative commands different in Spanish?

Yes. Negative commands use no + present subjunctive.

Why are Spanish commands hard for learners?

They combine verb changes, formality choices, and pronoun placement, so learners often make mixed-pattern mistakes.

Is Spanish commands practice important for speaking?

Yes. Commands appear often in real Spanish, especially in advice, instructions, requests, and daily conversation.

Final takeaway

To improve your Spanish commands practice, focus on patterns, not isolated memorization.

Start with:

• tú
• usted
• nosotros

Then practice:

• affirmative forms
• negative forms
• pronoun placement
• real-life examples

Once those patterns feel automatic, Spanish commands become much easier to understand and use.