Spanish command verbs are either familiar or formal, and either singular or plural. For most regular verbs, the familiar command can be formed simply by removing the "r" from the infinitive form. For infinitives ending in "ir," the final "r" is changed to an "e." Consult the chart below to see how to conjugate the verb "mirar," to look in each of the command forms:
Mirar
Singular Familiar: mira tú.
Plural Familiar: mirad vosotros.
Singular Formal: mire tú.
Plural Formal: miren ustedes.
All Spanish command forms must be either affirmative or negative. Affirmative command forms correspond in English simply to saying or writing the infinitive without the particle "to" (for example, "listen" or "read"). Negative command forms are similar to English constructions that use auxiliaries, such as "do not forget" or "don't wait up." Negative commands are formed in the same fashion as affirmative with the addition of "no" before the conjugated verb.
In Romance languages other than Spanish, such as French, as well as in English, writers and speakers usually omit subject pronouns in commands. "Listen," not "You listen" would be a typical English command. In Spanish, however, subject pronouns usually accompany commands. The Spanish form of the same command is "Escuchen usted," literally "Listen, you."
To avoid seeming rude, it is sometimes necessary to make commands implicitly, in the form of requests or expressions of preferences. The verb querer is often used in the the imperfect subjunctive form to make a request, though this is not, technically, grammatically correct. Gustar can be used in the conditional form to express wants and desires in a delicate fashion. Poder allows speakers to ask if others are able to perform certain actions.