-CAR Verbs in Spanish Affirmative Commands

When giving direct orders (affirmative commands) in Spanish with verbs ending in -CAR, a specific spelling change is required. This change ensures the preservation of the hard ‘k’ sound found in the original verb stem.

The Rule for CAR Verbs

In affirmative commands with -CAR verbs:

• The ‘c’ transforms into ‘qu’ when followed by an ‘e.’
• This rule applies to the tú, nosotros, and vosotros forms.

Why the Change is Necessary

In Castilian Spanish, ‘c’ before ‘e’ typically produces a soft ‘th’ sound. To maintain the hard ‘k’ sound of the original verb, we use ‘qu,’ which consistently generates the ‘k’ sound before ‘e.’

Illustrative Examples

1. Tocar (to touch/play an instrument)
   • Tú: toca → toque
   • Nosotros: toquemos
   • Vosotros: tocad → tocad (no change needed)
2. Buscar (to look for)
   • Tú: busca → busque
   • Nosotros: busquemos
   • Vosotros: buscad → buscad (no change needed)
3. Sacar (to take out)
   • Tú: saca → saque
   • Nosotros: saquemos
   • Vosotros: sacad → sacad (no change needed)

Practice Sentences

1. ¡Toque la guitarra! (Play the guitar!)
2. Busquemos las llaves juntos. (Let’s look for the keys together.)
3. ¡Saque la basura, por favor! (Take out the trash, please!)

Key Takeaway

Remember, this spelling change only applies to affirmative commands. Negative commands adhere to the subjunctive conjugation and do not require this alteration.

Synonyms:

• English: -CAR Spelling-Change Verbs in Imperative Mood, Positive Commands, Direct Commands, Affirmative Imperatives
• Spanish: Verbos en -CAR con Cambios Ortográficos en Imperativo Afirmativo, Modo Imperativo Afirmativo, Mandatos Afirmativos, Órdenes Afirmativas