Mantengo la casa ordenada para relajarme.

I keep the house organized to relax.

Breakdown of Mantengo la casa ordenada para relajarme.

• yo: I
• para: to
• relajarse: to relax
• la casa: the house
• mantener: to keep
• ordenado: organized

Questions & Answers about Mantengo la casa ordenada para relajarme.

Why is mantengo used in the sentence instead of mantener?

Mantengo is the first-person singular present tense form of mantener. It directly translates to "I keep" or "I maintain," indicating that the speaker is the one actively keeping the house tidy.

What does la casa ordenada mean, and why use ordenada in the feminine form?

La casa is a feminine noun meaning "the house." Since ordenada is an adjective describing la casa, it has to match the feminine gender and singular number of the noun. Essentially, la casa ordenada means "the house [that is] tidy."

Why is para relajarme used instead of para relajar?

In Spanish, adding -me at the end of relajar makes it reflexive: relajarme ("to relax myself"). The structure para + infinitive shows purpose or intention, and relajarme indicates that the speaker intends to relax themselves. So, para relajarme means "in order for me to relax."

Could I say por relajarme instead of para relajarme?

It's more natural to use para to express purpose. Por can have different nuances, such as cause or motivation, but when you want to say "in order to" in Spanish, para is the typical choice, and it fits best in this sentence.

Do native speakers ever say mi casa instead of la casa?

Yes, they can. Using la casa is common when referencing one's own house in a general sense. However, mi casa ("my house") is perfectly acceptable if you want to emphasize that it is specifically your house. The meaning doesn't change drastically; it’s more about stylistic preference.