In Spanish, indirect commands are used to state a wish or hope that something will happen or that someone will do something. Indirect commands are formed with que plus the subjunctive.

Indirect commands are commonly used when referring to the third person (singular or plural). They are usually translated by "let," "may," or "have."

Que vaya bien.		May it go well. I hope it goes well.
Que pase.		Let/Have him come in.
Que me llamen.		Have them call me.

If the subject is stated, usually in order to emphasize or clarify the subject, it follows the verb.

Que pase ella.		Let her come in.
Que me llame Ana.		Have Ana call me.
Que no vea mamá.		I hope Mom doesn't see.

This construction can also be in the second person, with an implication of encouragement or hoping:

Que lo hagas tú.	You do it.
Que pongas un sombrero.	(I want you to) put on a hat.
Que tenga éxito Ud.	I hope you succeed.

 
Indirect Commands vs Imperative

For the third person, there is no third person imperative, so indirect commands are the only option.

For the second person, the imperative gives a direct order, while indirect commands offer encouragement, guidance, or the speaker's own hope/wish. The indirect command is softer, less emphatic than the imperative.

Spanish imperative

More Verb Lessons      Spanish for Beginners

The Everything Spanish Verb Book, by Laura K. Lawless
Introductory lessons on Spanish verb tenses and moods, 250 verb conjugation tables, a list of 1,000 similarly-conjugated verbs, and a Spanish-English verb dictionary.

Subscribe to the free  e Learn Spanish Language weekly newsletter

©   Laura K. Lawless  All rights reserved.
About Me ~ About This Site