Pronouns with Negative Commands
With negative commands, pronouns like 'me', 'te', 'lo', 'la', 'le' always go before the verb.
How It Works
When you use a negative command with an object pronoun (direct, indirect, or reflexive), the pronoun placement is simple and consistent: it always goes between no and the conjugated verb.
This is the opposite of affirmative commands, where the pronoun is attached to the end of the verb.
Structure:
no + [pronoun] + [verb in subjunctive]
This rule applies to all types of object pronouns:
- Direct Object: No lo compres. (Don't buy it.)
- Indirect Object: No le digas nada. (Don't tell him/her anything.)
- Reflexive: No te levantes todavía. (Don't get up yet.)
When using two pronouns together (e.g., indirect + direct), they both go before the verb, with the indirect pronoun first.
Structure with two pronouns:
no + [indirect pronoun] + [direct pronoun] + [verb]
Example: No me lo des. (Don't give it to me.)
Remember that the verb form for negative commands comes from the present subjunctive.
Examples (5)
- No lo hagas.
Don't do it.
Word by Word: Not it you-do.
The direct object pronoun 'lo' (it) is placed before the verb 'hagas'.
- No te preocupes.
Don't worry.
Word by Word: Not yourself you-worry.
The reflexive pronoun 'te' (yourself) comes before the verb 'preocupes'.
- No le digas la verdad.
Don't tell him the truth.
Word by Word: Not to-him you-tell the truth.
The indirect object pronoun 'le' (to him/her) is placed before 'digas'.
- No nos miren así.
Don't look at us like that.
Word by Word: Not us you-all-look like-that.
This example uses the 'ustedes' command form. The direct object pronoun 'nos' (us) goes before 'miren'.
- No se lo compres.
Don't buy it for him/her.
Word by Word: Not for-him it you-buy.
With two pronouns, the indirect 'se' (le) and direct 'lo' (it) both go before the verb.
Common Mistakes
Attaching the pronoun to the end of a negative command.
No cómelo.No lo comas.Pronouns are attached to the end of affirmative commands (¡Cómelo!), but they must come before the verb in negative commands.
Placing the pronoun before 'no'.
Te no levantes.No te levantes.The correct word order is always
no+pronoun+verb. The pronoun never comes beforeno.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To place pronouns correctly with negative commands, you first need to know how to form negative commands (which use the subjunctive). You also need to understand the general rule for object pronoun placement in Spanish, which dictates that pronouns precede conjugated verbs, unlike affirmative commands where they are attached to the end.
- no hables/no comas/no escribasNegative Tú Commands
Negative commands provide the verbal structure and conjugation (present subjunctive) required for this pattern.
Level 3 - Object Pronoun Position
Understanding that object pronouns typically precede conjugated verbs is the foundational rule that negative commands follow.
Level 2
Related Patterns
- Pronouns with Commands
This is the direct opposite rule. Understanding both patterns is crucial for using pronouns with commands correctly. Affirmative commands attach pronouns, while negative commands place them before.
Level 3 - lo/la/los/lasDirect Object Pronouns
These are some of the pronouns that follow this placement rule. You need to know which pronoun to use to replace the direct object in your sentence.
Level 2 - le/lesIndirect Object Pronouns
Like direct object pronouns, these indirect object pronouns also go before the verb in negative commands.
Level 2 - se lo/se la/se los/se lasDouble Object Pronouns
This pattern explains what to do when you have two pronouns together (e.g., 'le lo' becomes 'se lo'). This combination also follows the rule of being placed before the verb in negative commands.
Level 2
Practice Pronouns with Negative Commands in Bubblegum
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