español · B1 · grammar · 4 minutes
Pronouns with commands
Move and attach pronouns according to command polarity.
Understand the choice
Object pronouns change position with command polarity. They attach to affirmative commands as one written word, but stand before negative commands. Attachment may require an accent to preserve the command’s original stress.
Core rule: Attach pronouns to affirmative commands; place them before negative commands, and change le or les to se before lo, la, los, or las.
Notice it in context
Dímelo ahora, pero no se lo cuentes a Ana.
Tell it to me now, but do not tell Ana.
Attach pronouns to affirmative commands; place them before negative commands, and change le or les to se before lo, la, los, or las.
Escríbeme cuando llegues.
Write to me when you arrive.
Me attaches to the affirmative command.
No lo abras todavía.
Do not open it yet.
Lo precedes the negative command.
What to remember
- Affirmative: dime, escríbeme, cómpralo, dáselas. Negative: no me digas, no lo compres.
- Two third-person pronouns avoid le lo: le becomes se before lo, la, los, or las.
Common trap: Do not keep le before a direct-object pronoun: dile la verdad but dísela. Le changes to se in the sequence se + la.