Spanish affirmative commands, or direct orders, for verbs ending in -UIR require a special change: a ‘y’ is inserted before the ending in most forms. This ensures correct pronunciation and follows 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 | -uye |
| usted | -uya |
| nosotros | -uyamos |
| vosotros | -uid |
| ustedes | -uyan |
Example Verbs
1. Construir (to build)
| Person | Command Form |
|---|---|
| tú | construye |
| usted | construya |
| nosotros | construyamos |
| vosotros | construid |
| ustedes | construyan |
Example sentence: “Construyamos un futuro mejor juntos.” (Let’s build a better future together.)
2. Incluir (to include)
| Person | Command Form |
|---|---|
| tú | incluye |
| usted | incluya |
| nosotros | incluyamos |
| vosotros | incluid |
| ustedes | incluyan |
Example sentence: “Incluya todos los detalles en el informe.” (Include all the details in the report.)
Other Common -UIR Verbs
- Distribuir (to distribute)
- Example: “Distribuyan los recursos equitativamente.” (Distribute the resources equitably.)
- Sustituir (to substitute)
- Example: “Sustituya la mantequilla por aceite de oliva.” (Substitute butter with olive oil.)
- Influir (to influence)
- Example: “No influyas negativamente en sus decisiones.” (Don’t influence their decisions negatively.)
- Huir (to flee)
- Example: “Huyan del peligro inmediatamente.” (Flee from danger immediately.)
Special Cases
- The verb “arguir” (to argue) follows this pattern but changes the ‘i’ to ‘y’ in some forms:
- Arguye (tú), arguya (usted), arguyamos (nosotros), argüid (vosotros), arguyan (ustedes)
- Note that in the ‘vosotros’ form, the ‘y’ is not added, and the verb keeps its original spelling.
Pronunciation Matters
The added ‘y’ in these commands creates a sound similar to the ‘y’ in “yes”. For example:
- Construye: con-STROO-yeh
- Incluya: een-KLOO-yah
This change helps separate the ‘u’ and ‘i’ sounds, maintaining pronunciation consistency across different verb conjugations.
Comparison with Other Verb Types
Unlike other verb types with spelling changes in commands:
- -GER/-GIR verbs (where ‘g’ changes to ‘j’)
- -GUIR verbs (where ‘u’ is dropped)
- -CER/-CIR verbs (where ‘c’ changes to ‘z’)
-UIR verbs add a letter rather than changing or removing one. This addition happens in all forms except the ‘vosotros’ command.
By mastering this rule, you’ll confidently give commands with -UIR verbs, showcasing your grasp of Spanish pronunciation and grammar. ¡Sigue adelante!
Synonyms:
- English: -UIR Spelling-Change Verbs in Imperative Mood, Positive Commands, Direct Commands, Affirmative Imperatives
- Spanish: Verbos en -UIR con Cambios Ortográficos en Imperativo Afirmativo, Modo Imperativo Afirmativo, Mandatos Afirmativos, Órdenes Afirmativas