In Spanish affirmative commands (direct orders), verbs ending in -CER and -CIR undergo a spelling change: the ‘c’ transforms into a ‘z’. This change ensures the correct pronunciation is maintained, aligning with Spanish spelling rules.
Conjugation Pattern for Affirmative Commands
We use the present subjunctive form for all persons except ‘tú’, which uses the third-person singular of the present indicative.
| Person | Ending |
|---|---|
| tú | -ce/-ce |
| usted | -za/-za |
| nosotros | -zamos |
| vosotros | -ced/-cid |
| ustedes | -zan/-zan |
Example Verb
| Person | Command Form |
|---|---|
| tú | conduce |
| usted | conduzca |
| nosotros | conduzcamos |
| vosotros | conducid |
| ustedes | conduzcan |
Example sentence: “Conduzca con precaución en la lluvia.” (Drive carefully in the rain.)
Other Common -CER and -CIR Verbs
- Conocer (to know, to be familiar with)
- Example: “Conozcan bien las reglas antes de jugar.” (Know the rules well before playing.)
- Producir (to produce)
- Example: “Produzcamos contenido de calidad.” (Let’s produce quality content.)
- Ofrecer (to offer)
- Example: “Ofrezca ayuda a quien la necesite.” (Offer help to those who need it.)
- Traducir (to translate)
- Example: “Traduzca el documento al español.” (Translate the document into Spanish.)
Special Cases
- Verbs ending in -ducir follow the pattern of conducir:
- Traducir (to translate): traduce (tú), traduzca (usted), traduzcamos (nosotros), traducid (vosotros), traduzcan (ustedes)
Key takeaway: This spelling change occurs in all forms of the affirmative command except ‘tú’ and ‘vosotros’. The ‘c’ changes to ‘z’ before ‘a’ and ‘o’ to maintain the soft ‘c’ sound (like in “circus”).
Pronunciation Matters!
The change from ‘c’ to ‘z’ maintains the same sound:
- In Spanish from Spain, both ‘z’ and soft ‘c’ are pronounced like the ‘th’ in “think”.
- In Latin American Spanish, both are typically pronounced like the ‘s’ in “see”.
By mastering this rule, you can confidently give commands with -CER and -CIR verbs, demonstrating your understanding of Spanish pronunciation and grammar. ¡Sigue aprendiendo!
Synonyms:
- English: -CER and -CIR Spelling-Change Verbs in Imperative Mood, Positive Commands, Direct Commands, Affirmative Imperatives
- Spanish: Verbos en -CER and -CIR con Cambios Ortográficos en Imperativo Afirmativo, Modo Imperativo Afirmativo, Mandatos Afirmativos, Órdenes Afirmativas