No entres a la casa si estás mojado.

to be

Breakdown of No entres a la casa si estás mojado.

• si: if
• a: to
• la casa: the house
• mojado: wet
• entrar: to enter

Questions & Answers about No entres a la casa si estás mojado.

Why is it No entres and not No entrar?

In Spanish, negative commands directed at tú take the present subjunctive form. For the verb entrar, in the tú form it changes to entres. So No entres acts as “Don’t enter,” while No entrar is not a correct way to address someone directly in everyday use.

Why do some people say entrar a la casa while others say entrar en la casa?

Both constructions can be heard in Latin America and Spain. Generally, entrar a + place is common in Latin America to express “to go into,” and entrar en + place is more commonly heard in Spain. They’re both correct; it’s often a matter of regional preference.

What is the function of si estás mojado?

Si estás mojado is a conditional phrase meaning “if you are wet.” It provides the condition under which the command applies. If the condition is met (you are wet), then you shouldn’t enter the house.

Could I say si estabas mojado instead of si estás mojado?

You could, but it would change the meaning and time perspective. Si estabas mojado refers to a condition in the past (e.g., “if you were wet at some point in the past”); si estás mojado refers to you being wet right now.

What if I’m talking to more than one person?

For more than one person, you’d use No entren a la casa si están mojados if you’re speaking to a group in most of Latin America. Entren is the ustedes form, and están is the plural of estás.