The Imperative Mood (Affirmative Commands) of Intentar is used to give direct orders or instructions to try something, for example Intenta terminar tu tarea antes de salir. (Try to finish your homework before going out.)

Intentar is a regular -ar verb, so its Imperative conjugations follow the typical pattern for this verb type.

Conjugations

Conjugations of Intentar (to try) in the Imperative Mood (Affirmative Commands) tense (Castilian Spanish):

Intentar generally means “to try” or “to attempt”, but has several different meanings in the Imperative Mood (Affirmative Commands), some of which might surprise you.

To try or attempt: This is the most common meaning. For example, Intenta hacerlo de nuevo. (Try doing it again.)

To make an effort: For example, ¡Intenta estudiar más! (Try to study more!)

To dare or challenge: This usage implies a provocative tone. For example, ¡Inténtalo si te atreves! (Try it if you dare!)

To pursue or go after (colloquial): For example, ¡Inténtala, tío! (Go after her, dude!)

To hit on or make a pass at someone (rude): For example, ¡No la intentes, es mi novia! (Don’t hit on her, she’s my girlfriend!)

Examples

Examples of Intentar in the Imperative Mood (Affirmative Commands)

¡Intenta de nuevo! No te rindas. (Try again! Don’t give up.)

Cuando tengas un problema difícil, intenta resolverlo paso a paso. (When you have a difficult problem, try to solve it step by step.)

Si quieres mejorar tu español, intenta practicar todos los días. (If you want to improve your Spanish, try to practice every day.)

Para tener éxito, intentemos trabajar en equipo. (To be successful, let’s try to work as a team.)

Cuando viajen, intenten probar la comida local. (When you travel, try to sample the local cuisine.)

¡Intentad disfrutar del momento y no os preocupéis tanto! (Try to enjoy the moment and don’t worry so much!)

En la fiesta, intenten conocer a gente nueva. (At the party, try to meet new people.)

Para mantenerse en forma, intenta hacer ejercicio regularmente. (To stay in shape, try to exercise regularly.)

Cuando tengas un desacuerdo, intenta escuchar al otro lado con mente abierta. (When you have a disagreement, try to listen to the other side with an open mind.)

En tu próxima aventura, intenta salir de tu zona de confort. (On your next adventure, try to step out of your comfort zone.)

Para mejorar tus habilidades culinarias, intenta seguir recetas nuevas. (To improve your culinary skills, try following new recipes.)

Cuando te sientas estresado, intenta tomar un respiro profundo. (When you feel stressed, try taking a deep breath.)

En tu próximo viaje, intenta aprender algunas palabras básicas del idioma local. (On your next trip, try to learn some basic words in the local language.)

Para mantenerte motivado, intenta establecer metas alcanzables. (To stay motivated, try setting achievable goals.)

Conjugations with English Translations

Conjugations of Intentar (to try) in the Imperative Mood (Affirmative Commands) tense (Castilian Spanish) with English Translations:

This post covers Castilian Spanish. For Latin American Spanish, click here

Synonyms

The Imperative mood is also known as the Command Form, Affirmative Command Mood, or Direct Command Form in English, and as Modo Imperativo, Imperativo Afirmativo, Mandatos Afirmativos, or Forma de Mandato in Spanish.