Spanish grammar
Usted/ustedes commands
Give polite formal instructions with usted/ustedes commands.
From the scene Pase, siéntese (Come in, sit down)
In short
For usted / ustedes commands, use the subjunctive: pase, pasen. Attach pronouns to yes commands, put them before no commands.
- come in (usted / ustedes) pase / pasen
- sit down (usted) siéntese
- sit down (ustedes) siéntense
- don't worry (ustedes) no se preocupen
- have a coffee (ustedes) tomen un café
Your turn
Which one goes with sit down (usted)?
Options: siéntese · pase / pasen · siéntense
Show answer
sit down (usted) → siéntese
How it works
Formal commands (usted / ustedes) use the present subjunctive forms: pasar → pase / pasen, tomar → tome / tomen, sentarse → siéntese / siéntense.
Good to know
Pronouns go on the end of a positive command (siéntese) but before a negative one (no se preocupen).
come in (usted / ustedes) pase / pasen
Ramón
Pasen y siéntense, por favor.
Come in and sit down, please.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) y siéntense, por favor.
Options: Siéntese · No se preocupen · Pasen
Show answer
Ramón
Pasen y siéntense, por favor.
Come in and sit down, please.
sit down (usted) siéntese
Ramón
Siéntese, por favor. ¿Y si son dos?
Sit down, please. And if there are two of them?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank), por favor. ¿Y si son dos?
Options: Siéntense · Siéntese · Pasen
Show answer
Ramón
Siéntese, por favor. ¿Y si son dos?
Sit down, please. And if there are two of them?
sit down (ustedes) siéntense
Ramón
Pasen y siéntense, por favor.
Come in and sit down, please.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Pasen y (blank), por favor.
Options: siéntese · no se preocupen · siéntense
Show answer
Ramón
Pasen y siéntense, por favor.
Come in and sit down, please.
don't worry (ustedes) no se preocupen
Ramón
No se preocupen, tomen un café. Fácil.
Don't worry, have a coffee. Easy.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank), tomen un café. Fácil.
Options: Pasen · Siéntese · No se preocupen
Show answer
Ramón
No se preocupen, tomen un café. Fácil.
Don't worry, have a coffee. Easy.
have a coffee (ustedes) tomen un café
Ramón
No se preocupen, tomen un café. Fácil.
Don't worry, have a coffee. Easy.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
No se preocupen, (blank). Fácil.
Options: pasen · siéntese · tomen un café
Show answer
Ramón
No se preocupen, tomen un café. Fácil.
Don't worry, have a coffee. Easy.
Common mistake
Not Pasa or Pasad here. Formal, with usted.
Pase, por favor.
Come in, please.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| come in (usted / ustedes) | pase / pasen |
|---|---|
| sit down (usted) | siéntese |
| sit down (ustedes) | siéntense |
| don't worry (ustedes) | no se preocupen |
| have a coffee (ustedes) | tomen un café |
More lines from the story
- RamónPase, por favor.Come in, please.
- ElenaYa. Repita conmigo: "Pase, por favor".Sure. Repeat after me: "Come in, please."
- Ramón¡Ya están aquí! Disculpe, disculpe... ¿qué era lo primero?They're here already! Excuse me, excuse me... what was the first thing?