Commands (Formal, USTED, negative) 1

Free Spanish exercise on negative usted commands. Fill in the correct negative command. Intermediate level.

📚 Quick grammar review

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Negative usted commands — still the subjunctive — Both affirmative and negative usted commands use the 3rd-person singular present subjunctive: Hable usted / No hable usted. Coma / No coma. The only difference is adding no before — the verb form itself is identical.

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Pronoun placement: before in negative commands — In negative usted commands, pronouns go before the verb: No me llame, no lo haga, no se preocupe. Contrast with affirmative commands where pronouns attach: Llámeme, hágalo, preocúpese. The position reversal is absolute in Spanish.

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Irregular subjunctive stems — Verbs with irregular present subjunctive stems affect usted commands: ir → vaya, ser → sea, estar → esté, dar → dé, saber → sepa, haber → haya. These same six are also irregular in the subjunctive — learning them once covers commands, subjunctive, and more.

✨ Ready to practice? ¡Vamos!

Complete the translations, filling in the blanks with the correct USTED (polite/formal) negative command of each verb (in parentheses).
Example: Don't talk to her! = ¡No hable con ella! (hablar)

1. Don't go to the beach! = ¡No a la playa! (ir)✓

2. Don't tell him anything! = ¡No le nada! (decir)✓

3. Don't put the book on the table! = ¡No el libro en la mesa! (poner)✓

4. Don't be sad! = ¡No triste! (estar)✓

5. Don't be silly! = ¡No tonto! (ser)✓

6. Don't buy the magazine! = ¡No la revista! (comprar)✓

7. Don't sell the car! = ¡No el coche! (vender)✓

8. Don't leave the building! = ¡No del edificio! (salir)✓

9. Don't read the article! = ¡No el artículo! (leer)✓

10. Don't look at that girl! = ¡No a esa muchacha! (mirar)✓

11. Don't lose your purse! = ¡No su bolsa! (perder)✓

12. Don't see that movie! = ¡No esa película! (ver)✓

13. Don't live in that neighborhood! = ¡No en esa zona! (vivir)✓

14. Don't attend the meeting! = ¡No a la reunión! (asistir)✓

15. Don't fall asleep! = ¡No te dormido! (quedar)✓

16. Don't dance with her! = ¡No con ella! (bailar)✓

17. Don't give back the money! = ¡No el dinero! (devolver)✓

18. Don't answer the phone! = ¡No el teléfono! (contestar)✓

19. Don't open the box! = ¡No la caja! (abrir)✓

20. Don't wait for his answer! = ¡No su respuesta! (esperar)✓