Mandatos con pronombres (Commands with Pronouns)

In the following section you will learn the different ways to use pronouns along with commands to make your conversations more efficient and fluid, without having to repeat the same words over and over again. We will begin with some verbs you have learned before, that is reflexive verbs, to ease into the topic. Remember, reflexive verbs are those used with a reflexive pronoun that indicates that the subject is performing the action on themselves.

Mandatos con verbos reflexivos (Commands with Reflexive Verbs)

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We have previously learned that some verbs are reflexive and require reflexive pronouns (such as se in the infinitive) in order to convey when the subject is performing an action to themselves. Remember some of those verbs? Levantarse, sentarse, vestirse, rendirse, cepillarse, etc. So when dealing with commands, where do we place that pronoun? Let's take a look!

In affirmative commands (formal, informal or ustedes), the reflexive pronoun is attached to the end of the command. Additionally, we add an accent to the command in order to keep the original stress of the word. For example:

🎯Here's a tip! The accent mark is added to the third to last syllable of the full word (verb + pronoun).

• ¡Date prisa! ¡Levántate, vamos a llegar tarde! 😱⏲️

• Hurry up! Get up, we are going to arrive late!

• Por favor, siéntese aquí, empezaremos pronto. 🙂🪑

• Please, sit here, we will begin shortly.

• Chiques, prepárense para el viaje esta noche. 👏

• Folks, prepare yourselves for the trip tonight.

In negative commands (formal, informal or ustedes), the reflexive pronoun is placed after the no but before the verb. The pronoun is not attached.

• ¡No te maquilles con mi brocha!

• Don't put your make-up on with my brush!

• No se cepillen los dientes sin usar primero el hilo dental.

• Don't brush your teeth without first using dental floss.

• No se ponga ropa informal para el trabajo, no es profesional.

• Do not wear informal clothing to work, it is not professional.

Check-in Activity

Mandatos con pronombres de objeto directo (Commands with direct object pronouns)

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In Chapter 8, you learned all about direct objects and their pronouns (me, te, lo, la, nos, os, los, las). Remember that a direct object is the thing or person that receives the action of the verb directly and answers the question "what" or "whom" after the verb. So, what if we want to instruct someone to buy something or see something or someone?

Now, let's say that we want you to buy a new suit (un traje) for your next interview. How could we command you to do that? Easy! We're going to follow the same rules we learned with the commands and reflexive pronouns.

• We begin with our verb → comprar
• Ask ourselves, "What should you buy?" Answer: a suit → un traje.

• What's the direct object pronoun for un traje? lo

So, how would it look using the informal, formal, and ustedes commands? Remember, with affirmative commands, the pronoun goes at the end, attached to the verb.

Here are some more examples:

– Necesito completar la solicitud hoy pero estoy cansado. 😴

– ¡Complétala ya! 😮

– I need to complete my application today but I am tired.

– Complete it now!

– Tengo que mirar los videos para la certificación hoy. 🧑‍💻

– ¡No! ¡Míralos mañana! 🤫

– I have to watch the videos for the certification today.

– Nah! Watch them tomorrow!

– Te voy a llamar a las 5 P.M. 📲

– No me llames hoy, mejor llámame mañana. 🙅🏽‍♂️

– I am going to call you at 5 P.M.

– Don't call me today, call me tomorrow.

Notice that negative command in the last example? Just like in negative commands with reflexive verb pronouns, we separate the direct object pronouns from the verb, leaving the order to be: No + pronoun + command.

Check-in Activity

Mandatos con pronombres de objeto indirecto (Commands with Indirect Object Pronouns)

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Let's revisit the indirect object pronouns (me, te, le, nos, os, les) and see how we can also use them when making commands. As you'll recall from lesson 8.6, indirect objects answer the question "to whom" or "for whom" something is being done. Therefore, when combining commands with indirect object pronouns we are able to express orders, instructions, or requests for/to certain people.

Luckily, you have already seen how pronouns work with commands and the rules remain the same when working with indirect object pronouns. In affirmative commands, the pronoun is attached to the end of the verb and in negative commands, the pronoun is placed between the no and the verb. Take a look at the following sentences:

• Trae tu CV para los entrevistadores.

• Bring your resumé for the interviewers.

• No olvides traer tu CV para los entrevistadores.

• Don't forget to bring your resumé for the interviewers.

We need to ask ourselves the question: "For whom are we bringing the resumé for?" Answer: los entrevistadores, which means that they are our indirect object, therefore we can use the pronoun  les with the command to substitute it. Here is an example with the interviewers as our indirect objects:

• Mateo: Recuerda traer tu CV para los entrevistadores. Lo vas a necesitar. 🧐

• Remember to bring your resumé for the interviewers. You will need it.

• Jaime: Está bien, te escuché. Les voy a traer el CV a los entrevistadores. 🙄

• Alright, I will bring the resumé for the interviewers.

• Mateo: ¡Jaime! ¡Es en serio! Tráeles el CV. No les hagas perder el tiempo. 😠

• Jaime! This is serious! Print it and bring them the resumé. Don't make them waste their time.

Let's see some more examples of indirect object pronouns and commands together in conversation:

• Dale tu número de teléfono al reclutador. 📲

• Give your phone number to the recruiter.

• Cómprame una computadora nueva para la maestría, por favor. 🥺💻

• Buy me a new computer for the masters, please.

• Pregúntale al jefe si el proyecto está completo. 🤔

• Ask the boss if the project is complete.

Check-in Activity

Mandatos con pronombres de doble objeto (Commands with Double Object Pronouns)

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In Spanish, we often use both a direct object pronoun (me, te, lo, la, nos, os, los, las) and an indirect object pronoun (me, te, le, nos, os, les) together in the same sentence, as you have learned in Chapter 8. This also happens frequently with commands.

In affirmative commands, both pronouns attach to the end of the verb in the following order, as one word, with an accent mark (if needed) over the syllable that retains the strength of the word:

Command + indirect object pronoun + direct object pronoun

Remember: When both pronouns are in the third person, the indirect object pronoun le or les changes to se to avoid cacophony, an awkward sound combination.

Let's use some of the sentences we saw in the previous section and make them more concise, along with some others:

• Dale tu número de teléfono al reclutador. 🔢📱

• Mandato informal: Da
• Objeto directo: número de teléfono → pronombre: lo
• Objeto indirecto: al reclutador → pronombre: le → se

• Resultado: Dáselo. (Give it to him)

• Cómprame a mí una computadora nueva. 🙏🥹

• Mandato informal: Compra
• Objeto directo: computadora → pronombre: la
• Objeto indirecto: a mí → pronombre: me

• Resultado: Cómpramela. (Buy it for me)

• Vamos a llevarle un pastel a la voluntaria para su cumpleaños. 🥳

• Mandato nosotros: Vamos
• Objeto directo: pastel → pronombre: lo
• Objeto indirecto: a la voluntaria → pronombre: le → se

• Resultado: Vamos a llevárselo.

• Envíele un correo electrónico a sus profesoras. 📧

• Mandato formal: Envíe
• Objeto directo: correo electrónico → pronombre: lo
• Objeto indirecto: a sus profesoras → pronombre: les → se

• Resultado: Envíeselos

• Sáquennos las copias a nosotros para mañana. 📎📄

• Mandato ustedes: Saquen
• Objeto directo: copias → pronombre: las
• Objeto indirecto: a nosotros → pronombre: nos

• Resultado: Sáquennoslas

What happens when you want to give negative commands with double object pronouns? Just like with negative commands that use reflexive pronouns, the pronouns are placed before the verb. The order is: No + indirect object pronoun + direct object pronoun + command. Don’t forget that the command form also changes when it becomes negative. Here are the previous examples in their negative form.

Mandato informal: Dale tu número de teléfono al reclutador.

• Mandato afirmativo: Dáselo.
• Mandato negativo: No se lo des.

Mandato informal: Cómprame a mí una computadora nueva.

• Mandato afirmativo:  Cómpramela
• Mandato negativo: No me la compres.

Mandato nosotros: Vamos a llevarle un pastel a la voluntaria para su cumpleaños.

• Mandato afirmativo: Vamos a llevárselo.
• Mandato negativo: No se lo vayamos a llevar./ No vayamos a llevárselo.

Mandato formal: Envíele un correo electrónico a sus profesoras.

• Mandato afirmativo: Envíeselos
• Mandato negativo: No se los envíe

Mandato ustedes: Sáquennos las copias a nosotros para mañana.

• Mandato afirmativo:  Sáquennoslas
• Mandato negativo: No nos las saquen

Check-in Activity