discutan

Discutan is a grammatical form in the Spanish language. It is the present subjunctive form used with the third-person plural subject pronouns ellos/ellas and, in many dialects, also serves as the affirmative imperative form for ustedes. This dual function arises from the Spanish subjunctive mood, where many present-subjunctive endings are used to express wishes, doubts, necessities, or commands directed at a group.

Etymology and form: Discutir, the verb meaning “to discuss,” derives from the Latin discutere, meaning “to shake apart, examine.” The present subjunctive endings for -ir verbs yield disc u tan: yo discuta, tú discutas, él discuta, nosotros discutamos, ellos discutan. Thus, discut an appears in both subordinate clauses requiring the subjunctive and as a direct command to a group when using ustedes.

Usage: In subordinate clauses, discut an introduces situations requiring uncertainty, desirability, or valuation. Examples include: “Espero que ustedes discutan las opciones” (I hope that you all discuss the options) and “Es importante que discutan las consecuencias.” In direct address, it functions as an affirmative command to a group: “Discutan el plan” (Discuss the plan). The form can also appear in negative imperatives as “No discutan eso sin evidencia.”

Notes: In standard usage, discut an is not a separate lexical item outside Spanish grammar; it is one form of discutir. Similar forms exist in related languages, such as Portuguese, with corresponding subjunctive imperatives.