Μην αφήνεις την καφετιέρα ανοιχτή όταν φεύγεις από το σπίτι.

the house

Breakdown of Μην αφήνεις την καφετιέρα ανοιχτή όταν φεύγεις από το σπίτι.

• από: from
• μην: not
• όταν: when

Questions & Answers about Μην αφήνεις την καφετιέρα ανοιχτή όταν φεύγεις από το σπίτι.

Why is it Μην and not Δεν?

Because Μην is used for negative commands and prohibitions.

• Δεν = negates a statement
• Μην = negates an instruction like don’t ...

So:

• Δεν αφήνεις... would mean something like you are not leaving...
• Μην αφήνεις... means don’t leave...

Also, the final -ν in μην is kept here because the next word, αφήνεις, begins with a vowel.

Why is the verb αφήνεις and not αφήσεις?

This is an aspect choice.

• Μην αφήνεις uses the imperfective form
• Μην αφήσεις uses the perfective form

In a sentence like this, Μην αφήνεις sounds like a general instruction or habitual warning: whenever you leave, don’t leave the coffee maker on/open.

By contrast, Μην αφήσεις would sound more like a warning about one specific occasion.

So:

• Μην αφήνεις... = Don’t leave it on/open (as a general rule)
• Μην αφήσεις... = Don’t leave it on/open (this one time / in this instance)