Attaching Spanish Pronouns to Commands and Preserving Stress

In this lesson, you will use one direct object pronoun or one reflexive pronoun with a command. With affirmative commands, the pronoun attaches to the end. With negative commands, the pronoun goes before the command.

Affirmative command plus direct object pronoun

Attach the pronoun to the end of the affirmative command.

— Buy the book.
— Buy it.
— Open the door.
— Open it.
— Wash the T-shirt.
— Wash it.

Match the pronoun to the object

Examples:

— Put the dishes away.
— Put them away.
— Wash the vegetables.
— Wash them.

Negative command plus direct object pronoun

With a negative command, put the pronoun before the command.

— Do not buy it.
— Do not open it.
— Do not put them away here.
— Do not wash them now.

Affirmative reflexive commands

Attach the reflexive pronoun to the end of the affirmative command.

— Sit down here.
— Get up.
— Wash your hands.

For this lesson, — sit down is a familiar reflexive command form.

Negative reflexive commands

Put the reflexive pronoun before the negative command.

— Do not sit here.
— Do not get up now.
— Do not wash your hands here.

Formal command plus one pronoun

The same affirmative-versus-negative placement contrast applies to usted.

— Open the door.
— Open it.
— Do not open it.
— Sit down here.
— Do not sit here.

Why accent marks appear

When you attach a pronoun, the word becomes longer. Spanish spelling may add a written accent to preserve the stress of the original command.

Compare:

— buy → buy it
— open → open it
— put away → put them away
— wash → wash them

Reflexive command stress

— sit down
— get up
— wash yourself

The accent mark is not decoration. It preserves the intended stressed syllable after the pronoun is attached.

Do not attach the pronoun in a negative command

Correct:

— Do not buy it.

Correct:

— Do not get up.

Use only one pronoun in this lesson

Do not combine an indirect object pronoun and a direct object pronoun in the same command yet.

Use:

— Give the book to Ana.

For this lesson, dale is shown only as a familiar one-pronoun command with le attached. The full two-pronoun system is taught in lesson 201.

Identify the affected person or thing

Before selecting a pronoun, ask what the command acts on.

— Wash the T-shirt.

— Wash it.

For a reflexive command, the same person performs and receives the action:

— Wash yourself.

Short instruction sequence

— Open the box. Open it carefully. Afterward put the book away. Put it away here.

For this lesson, — box and — carefully are useful instruction phrases.

A practical pronoun-command method

Identify the object or reflexive person affected by the command.
Choose one matching pronoun.
Attach it to an affirmative command.
Put it before a negative command.
Add a written accent when needed to preserve the original stress.
Do not combine two object pronouns yet.

From Command Pronouns to Reading Rules and Prohibitions

You can now use one pronoun with an affirmative or negative command and preserve the correct stress in writing. The next lesson applies command forms to public notices about rules and prohibited actions.