Tell me more ×
Spanish Language & Usage Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for students, teachers, and linguists wanting to discuss the finer points of the Spanish language. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 3 down vote favorite

I understand that usted is used for formal usage.

When conjugating a verb is there a rule for its use? Must it always be used in conjunction with a conjugated verb? Or are there any instances where an implied usted is appropriate?

share|improve this question
What do you mean by "conjugated verb"? In Spanish, verbs are always conjugated. – MikMik Jan 17 '12 at 7:37
2  
With "usted" you must use the third person singular, so if in a conversation you adress someone using the third person singular you're implying the "usted". I'm not sure if this answers your question. – Laura Jan 17 '12 at 7:54
@MikMik, not quite true. The infinitive is an exception. – Peter Taylor Jan 17 '12 at 13:10

2 Answers

up vote 4 down vote accepted

Usted is grammatically third person singular, such a use is called honorific third person. Actually word usted doesn't have to be used, it's enough if you address person directly, but using 3rd person.

Obviously being grammatical 3rd person singular means that the verbs need to be conjugated as 3rd person singular. Also all pronouns must be 3rd person.

Example:

Estimado Señor Lee, le recordamos que las reglas gramaticales exigen conjugación de los verbos.

share|improve this answer
1  
+1. I would add another +1 for the example if I could – MikMik Jan 17 '12 at 12:17
Tú irás conmigo/Usted irá conmigo, ¿Fuiste a la fiesta?/¿Usted fue a la fiesta?. Tú eres mi jefe/Usted es mi jefe. Please, don't tell me this is a regionalism!! – Ricardo Jan 17 '12 at 16:02
Thanks for the example too! – chrisjlee Jan 17 '12 at 17:31
up vote 1 down vote

Usted needn't always be used directly with a verb; it can also be an object.

Se lo doy a usted.

This means "I give it to you." In this case, of course, doy is conjugated for yo, not for usted, and usted is the indirect object of the sentence.

Estos papeles son de usted.

Here, usted is the object of the preposition de, and the sentence means "These papers are of you" or, more idiomatically, "These papers are yours." Again, son isn't conjugated for usted.

share|improve this answer

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.