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el presente de mandato |
One of the uses of the present that doesn't get much attention in grammar books is the so-called 'presente de mandato'. This is where the present simple (and sometimes continuous) is used to express an order, instruction or suggestion, similar to the imperative form.1
As discussed previously, the present is used for requests, offers, and suggestions, especially in informal spoken Spanish.
-¿Me pones un café, por favor? — Could I have a coffee, please?
-¿Me ayudas? — Can you help me?
-¿Te ayudo? — Will I help you?
-¿Salimos? — Shall we go out?
For instructions, it is very similar to English in that it alternates with the imperative.
-¿Cómo se llega a la Plaza Mayor? -Vais/id hasta el final de esta calle, giráis/girad a la izquierda y seguís/seguid recto unos 500 metros — How do you get to the Plaza Mayor? -(You) go to the end of this street, (you) turn left and continue down that street for about 500 meters
-¿Cómo se hace eso? -Cortas/corta la cebolla, entonces le echas/échale una pizca de sal y la salteas/saltéala con un chorrito de aceite — How do you make that? - (You) cut the onion, then (you) add a bit of salt and (you) fry it with a dash of oil
Sometimes with suggestions and instructions, depending on the context and the tone of the speaker, it can come very close in meaning to the imperative. Often this is best translated using the imperative in English.
-Pero, he quedado con Juan -Pues, le llamas y le dices que hoy no puedes —Well, (you can) call him and tell him you can't go
-Lo siento, anoche me bebí la cerveza que quedaba -Pues, vas ahora mismo a la tienda y me compras más — Sorry, last night I drank the last of the beer - Well, (you can) go to the shop and buy me more, right now
-Bueno, cuando lo sepas me llamas y me lo dices — Right, when you find out, call me and tell me
In other contexts, the presente de mandato is clearly used instead of the imperative when ordering someone to do something. Most grammar books suggest that it sounds more severe/abrupt than the imperative.
-Tú te callas y te comes la sopa— You, shut it/keep quiet and eat your soup
-¡Te sientas ahora mismo! — Sit down, right now!
-Ahora mismo te pones a trabajar — Get to work, now!
-Cuando termines, me cierras la puerta, ¿vale? — When you finish, close the door for me, will you
-Vosotros os vais a acostar hora mismo — You lot, off to bed now!
In colloquial Spanish, the construction 'ya+estar+gerundio' is used to express an order that the speaker wishes to be obeyed urgently/immediately.2
-Si vienes a molestar a mi hijo, ya te estás largando — If you've come to bother my son, you can clear off right now
-Ya te estás disculpando con tu madre — Apologize to your mum immediately
-Ya le estás llamando para cambiar la hora — You can call him right now to change the time
-Ya te estás levantando — You're getting up right now
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-el presente de mandato-
