¿Puedes llevar estos libros a la biblioteca, por favor?

the book

Breakdown of ¿Puedes llevar estos libros a la biblioteca, por favor?

• la biblioteca: the library
• a: to
• ¿puedes: can you
• llevar: to carry
• estos: these
• por favor: please

Questions & Answers about ¿Puedes llevar estos libros a la biblioteca, por favor?

Why is the pronoun tú omitted before "¿Puedes..."?

In Spanish, especially in everyday, informal speech, the subject pronoun (tú, usted, etc.) is often left out because the verb ending makes the subject clear. In the question "¿Puedes llevar...?," the use of "puedes" (second person singular) already indicates the subject is tú.

How do I decide between "¿Puedes llevar...?" and "¿Podrías llevar...?"?

Both are polite requests, but "¿Podrías llevar...?" sounds slightly more polite or softer, similar to "Could you take...?" in English. "¿Puedes llevar...?" is perfectly polite too, just a bit more direct—more like "Can you take...?"

What is the difference between "estos libros" and "esos libros"?

"Estos" refers to things close to the speaker (in this case, the speaker is presumably holding or pointing to the books). "Esos" refers to things near the listener or somewhat farther from the speaker. Since you’re talking about books that are right there with you, "estos libros" makes sense.

Why do we say "a la biblioteca" instead of "para la biblioteca"?

"A la biblioteca" indicates the direction or destination to which the books need to be taken (literally "to the library"). If you said "para la biblioteca," it could suggest that the books are meant "for the library" as a recipient, which would change the focus. Usually, when we talk about physically taking something somewhere, we use "a" (to).

Is it necessary to add "por favor" at the end?

No, it’s not strictly necessary. However, adding "por favor" turns the command or request into a polite one, similar to "please" in English. If you leave it out, it may sound more direct. In most polite conversation, especially when asking someone for a favor, "por favor" is very common.