Grammarama Articles on Spanish

These four articles on the use of “vos” in Argentina are meant to be easy reading since the idea is that they  be understood by all readers. In the first of them, you can find answers to, for instance, what “vos” means,  what a verb is, or in which locations people use “vos.” Thus, we have prepared for advancing our knowledge, which covers everything, including the uses of “vos”!  Specialists -language teachers, linguists and philosophers of language- have to be asked for some patience since every topic has been described in a simple and leisurely way. Hopefully, all readers will receive information of some value.

This article expands on the discussion about the uses of “vos” in Argentina focusing on the verbs in the imperative mood that accompany the personal pronoun “vos” ( “you” –singular- in informal social contexts). In the previous articles we referred to: 1) the ways in which different groups of Argentines utilize the “voseo” (using of “vos”); 2) a communicative and expressive analysis of the use of “vos” and its associated verbs; and 3) the verb forms for  “vos” in the present tense of the indicative mood.

This sign was part of the political campaign for the presidential ticket Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and Julio Cobos ( December 2007 - December 2011). The sign was seen after winning the election. Note that it appeals to passers using "you" (vos). Class material for Spanish classes.

Affirmative Imperative mood

Imperative verb forms refer to the pure present time: that is to say, those experiences that take place at the moment of speech. Through imperatives  the speaker seeks to influence the behavior of the partner or partners who are, in fact, actually present. “Let’s go to the dining room to eat something,” a host would suggest to his/her guests.

The verb form of “vos” in the affirmative imperative mood is a bit different from that of “tú” (it refers, like “vos” does, to“you” singular in informal social contexts). It can be explained through the following rule. The main verb, called the infinitive, is taken. (These Spanish verbs end in –ar, -er or –ir). You add a written accent to the vowel of the last syllable and then you drop the final “r”. For instance, for the infinitive of the verb “venir” (come), applying this rule gives the affirmative imperative (vos) “vení” (come –you).

Note that in Argentine Spanish the affirmative imperative of the verb “andar” (walk, move) substitutes for the verbs “ir” (go) and “irse” (go out), which gives (vos) “andá” (go – you)  and (vos) “andate” (go out – you). Also, the affirmative imperative of the verb “andar” for the pronoun “tú” substitutes for the same tense and pronoun of the verb “ir” (go) in some areas from other Spanish-speaking countries. Therefore we can say “Anda (tú) a la panadería a comprar pan” (“Move” to the bakery to buy some bread) instead of  “Ve (tú) a la panadería a comprar pan” (“Go” to the bakery to buy some bread). Also, readers should be aware that in standard, international Spanish, the affirmative imperatives of “tú” (you) that refers to the infinitive verbs “ir” (go) and “irse” (leave) are: (tú) “ve” and (tú) “vete,” respectively. In English it would be: “go” (you) and “go out” (you).


Final thoughts

“¿De dónde sos?” (Where are you?), “Vení” (Come here), “Andá despacio” (“Move”  slowly) or “¿Qué querés tomar?”  (What drink would you like to have?) are forms of expression that may sound somewhat strange to those Spanish language speakers who visit Argentina for the first time. Moreover, if you attend a course or go to a hospital in Buenos Aires,  the teacher or the receptionist may ask you: “¿Cómo estás?” (How are you?) and then add smiling: “¿Por qué no me tuteás?”  (You can use the “tú” form with me).

As can be appreciated, it is only a matter of getting used to and participating in this game of the language, which does not mean you are  giving in to it unconditionally.