In Spanish, classroom management often involves giving instructions to students. One important way to do this is by using commands (mandatos). Some essential verbs for managing a classroom end in -GAR, such as:
- Llegar (to arrive)
- Entregar (to turn in)
- Apagar (to turn off)
These verbs follow a special spelling change when conjugated in the command form. Let’s explore how to use them!
Conjugating -GAR Verbs in Commands
When forming commands in Spanish, -GAR verbs change their spelling to maintain the hard “g” sound. This happens in the usted and negative tú forms:
- The yo form in the present tense helps us see the change:
- Llegar → Yo llego
- Entregar → Yo entrego
- Apagar → Yo apago
- For formal (usted) commands and negative tú commands, the “g” changes to “gu” before adding the endings:
- Llegar → Llegue (usted), No llegues (tú)
- Entregar → Entregue (usted), No entregues (tú)
- Apagar → Apague (usted), No apagues (tú)
- The affirmative tú command keeps the regular ending:
- Llega temprano. (Arrive early.)
- Entrega la tarea. (Turn in the homework.)
- Apaga el teléfono. (Turn off the phone.)
1. Using “Llegar” in Classroom Instructions
🔹 ¡Llega a tiempo! (Arrive on time!) [Affirmative tú]
🔹 No llegues tarde a clase. (Don’t arrive late to class.) [Negative tú]
🔹 Llegue/lleguen temprano para la reunión, por favor. (Arrive early for the meeting, please.) [Formal usted & ustedes form]
📝 Tip: Use “llegar” to talk about punctuality and expectations for students.
2. Using “Entregar” in Classroom Instructions
🔹 Entrega tu tarea antes del viernes. (Turn in your homework before Friday.) [Affirmative tú]
🔹 No entregues el examen sin tu nombre. (Don’t turn in the test without your name.) [Negative tú]
🔹 Entregue/entreguen los proyectos al final de la clase. (Turn in the projects at the end of class.) [Formal usted & ustedes form]
📝 Tip: “Entregar” is useful when giving deadlines and submission instructions.
3. Using “Apagar” in Classroom Instructions
🔹 Apaga el celular en clase. (Turn off your phone in class.) [Affirmative tú]
🔹 No apagues la computadora todavía. (Don’t turn off the computer yet.) [Negative tú]
🔹 Apague/apaguen las luces antes de salir. (Turn off the lights before leaving.) [Formal usted & ustedes form]
📝 Tip: “Apagar” is great for classroom rules related to devices and electronics.
Using -GAR verbs in commands helps maintain an organized classroom. Remember:
✅ Tú commands: Regular for affirmative, but “gu” in negative.
✅ Usted & ustedes commands: Always “gu” in the command form.
Try using these verbs to give clear instructions in Spanish! 😊
Would you like to learn more classroom phrases? Remember we offer Spanish for Teachers online workshops throughout the year—join us to keep improving your classroom Spanish!
