Spanish Imperative Irregular Forms: Ven, Di, Haz & More
Learn the most common irregular affirmative commands in Spanish — from ven, di and haz to ten, ve, pon, sal and sé.
Why irregular imperative forms matter
Imperatives are used for instructions, advice, invitations and direct requests. The irregular forms are especially important because they are short, frequent and easy to confuse with negative commands. MundoDele teaches them as a small practical set: learn the affirmative form, then immediately compare it with the negative form.
How to use this page
Use this page after the general imperative lesson. First learn the eight core affirmative tú forms, then compare them with negative commands and pronoun placement.
Start with ven, di, haz, ten, ve, pon, sal and sé.
Say ven, but no vengas. Say hazlo, but no lo hagas.
Attach pronouns to affirmative commands: dime, hazlo, ponte. Put pronouns before negative commands: no me digas, no lo hagas, no te pongas.
The core system: affirmative, negative and pronouns
Affirmative tú commands
Some common verbs have short irregular affirmative forms.
Ven aquí. · Di la verdad. · Hazlo ahora.
Negative tú commands
Negative commands usually use present subjunctive forms, not the short affirmative forms.
No vengas tarde. · No digas eso. · No lo hagas.
Pronoun position
Affirmative commands attach pronouns; negative commands place them before the verb.
Dime. · Hazlo. · No me digas. · No lo hagas.
Common irregular tú imperative forms
These are the most useful irregular affirmative tú commands. Learn each form together with its negative command, because Spanish does not simply add no before the affirmative form.
| Infinitive | Affirmative tú command | Negative tú command | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| venir | ven | no vengas | Ven aquí. · No vengas tarde. |
| decir | di | no digas | Di la verdad. · No digas eso. |
| hacer | haz | no hagas | Hazlo ahora. · No lo hagas. |
| tener | ten | no tengas | Ten cuidado. · No tengas miedo. |
| ir | ve | no vayas | Ve a casa. · No vayas solo. |
| poner | pon | no pongas | Pon la mesa. · No pongas eso aquí. |
| salir | sal | no salgas | Sal de aquí. · No salgas todavía. |
| ser | sé | no seas | Sé paciente. · No seas injusto. |
Irregular commands with pronouns
Pronouns change the rhythm of Spanish commands. With affirmative commands, the pronoun is attached to the verb: dime, hazlo, ponte. With negative commands, the pronoun goes before the verb: no me digas, no lo hagas, no te pongas.
Di la verdad. → Dime la verdad.
Haz el ejercicio. → Hazlo.
No hagas el ejercicio. → No lo hagas.
Some attached forms need a written accent to keep the stress clear: dímelo, házmelo.
What about usted and ustedes commands?
Formal commands with usted and ustedes usually follow the present subjunctive system. For example: venga, diga, haga, tenga, vaya, ponga, salga and sea. This page focuses on the short irregular affirmative tú forms, because they are the forms learners most often need to memorize separately.
Related grammar topics
Spanish Imperative
Learn how Spanish commands work in affirmative, negative, informal and formal situations.
Irregular Verbs
Connect imperative irregular forms with broader irregular verb patterns in Spanish.
Highly Irregular Verbs
Review verbs such as ser, ir, tener, venir, decir and hacer.
Reflexive Verbs
Understand forms such as ponte, siéntate and negative forms such as no te pongas.
Pronoun Position
Learn where object and reflexive pronouns go with commands, infinitives and gerunds.
Direct and Indirect Object Pronouns
Use pronouns correctly in forms such as dímelo, hazlo and no me lo digas.
Typical mistakes with irregular imperative forms
- Using the affirmative form after no: say no vengas, not no ven.
- Confusing ve: ve can mean “go” from ir or “see” from ver; context decides.
- Forgetting the accent in sé: the command from ser is sé, not se.
- Putting pronouns in the wrong place: say hazlo, but no lo hagas.
- Using tú commands in formal situations: with usted, use forms such as venga, diga and haga.
Where to go next
After irregular imperative forms, continue with pronoun position, reflexive verbs and the subjunctive system used in negative and formal commands.
Want personal guidance?
If Spanish commands feel confusing, individual guidance can help you practise affirmative commands, negative commands and pronoun placement in real speaking and writing situations.
FAQ: Spanish imperative irregular forms
What are irregular imperative forms in Spanish?
Irregular imperative forms are command forms that do not follow the regular imperative pattern. Common examples are ven, di, haz, ten, ve, pon, sal and sé.
What are the most common irregular tú commands?
The most common irregular affirmative tú commands are ven, di, haz, ten, ve, pon, sal and sé.
Is no ven correct in Spanish?
No. The negative command of venir is no vengas. Spanish negative tú commands usually use present subjunctive forms.
Why does sé have an accent?
Sé, the command form of ser, has an accent to distinguish it from se, which is a pronoun.
Where do pronouns go with irregular commands?
With affirmative commands, pronouns are attached to the verb: dime, hazlo, ponte. With negative commands, pronouns go before the verb: no me digas, no lo hagas, no te pongas.
Are usted commands irregular too?
Formal usted and ustedes commands usually use present subjunctive forms such as venga, diga, haga, tenga, vaya, ponga, salga and sea.
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