Por favor, apaga la luz cuando salgas y enciende la lámpara pequeña si regresas tarde.

Please turn off the light when you leave and turn on the small lamp if you come back late.

Breakdown of Por favor, apaga la luz cuando salgas y enciende la lámpara pequeña si regresas tarde.

• pequeño: small
• y: and
• si: if
• tarde: late
• cuando: when
• salir: to leave
• por favor: please
• apagar: to turn off
• la luz: the light
• encender: to turn on
• la lámpara: the lamp
• regresar: to come back

Questions & Answers about Por favor, apaga la luz cuando salgas y enciende la lámpara pequeña si regresas tarde.

Why is “salgas” in “cuando salgas” in the subjunctive mood rather than the indicative?

In Spanish, when a temporal clause introduced by “cuando” refers to a future event, the verb must be in the subjunctive mood. Even though “when you leave” seems certain, it hasn’t happened yet, so “salgas” is correctly in the subjunctive.

Why does “si regresas” use the present indicative instead of the subjunctive, even though it talks about a future condition?

Unlike temporal clauses with “cuando,” conditional clauses introduced by “si” (if) use the present indicative to refer to future possibilities. So, although “if you come back late” points to a future condition, Spanish grammar requires the present tense “regresas.”

What do “apaga” and “enciende” mean, and why are they used in this sentence?

“Apaga” means “turn off” and “enciende” means “turn on.” They are both in the informal command (imperative) form directed to “tú.” These direct imperatives are used to give clear instructions, telling someone to switch off the light when leaving and turn on the small lamp if coming back late.

What is the difference between “la luz” and “la lámpara pequeña” in this context?

“La luz” generally refers to the main or overhead light, which is likely less needed when you’re not there. In contrast, “la lámpara pequeña” indicates a smaller, possibly more ambient lamp meant for situations like returning home late. The sentence instructs you to turn off the main light and use the more subtle lamp in that scenario.

Why is the adjective “pequeña” placed after the noun “lámpara”?

In Spanish, descriptive adjectives usually follow the noun they modify. That’s why it’s “lámpara pequeña” and not “pequeña lámpara.” This is the standard word order for adjectives in Spanish unless a different emphasis is intended.

Why is “por favor” placed at the beginning of the sentence, and how does it affect the command?

“Por favor” means “please” and is placed at the beginning to make the command more polite. Even though the rest of the sentence uses the direct imperative, starting with “por favor” softens the request and adds courtesy.

Is this vocabulary and these structures typical in Latin American Spanish?

Yes, the vocabulary and grammar used here are common in Latin American Spanish. The informal imperative forms (“apaga” and “enciende”), the use of the subjunctive in future-temporal clauses (“cuando salgas”), and the present indicative in conditional clauses with “si” (“regresas”) are all standard. Note that some regions might occasionally use alternatives (for example, “prender” instead of “encender”), but overall, the sentence is very typical.