Guardo mis llaves en el cajón.

I keep my keys in the drawer.

Breakdown of Guardo mis llaves en el cajón.

• yo: I
• en: in
• mi: my
• guardar: to keep
• el cajón: the drawer
• la llave: the key

Questions & Answers about Guardo mis llaves en el cajón.

What does "guardo" mean in this sentence?

"Guardo" is the first-person singular present tense form of the verb "guardar," which means "to keep," "to store," or "to guard." In the sentence, it translates as "I keep."

Why is there no subject pronoun (like "yo") before "guardo"?

In Spanish, the subject is often implied by the verb conjugation. Since "guardo" already indicates the first-person singular (I), including "yo" (which means I) is unnecessary and typically omitted for brevity.

What are the meanings of "mis llaves" in this sentence?

"Mis" is the possessive adjective meaning "my," and "llaves" means "keys." Together, "mis llaves" translates directly to "my keys."

What does "en el cajón" mean, and why is "el" used?

"En el cajón" means "in the drawer." The preposition "en" corresponds to "in," and "el" is the definite article "the," used here because it refers to a specific drawer. This mirrors how English uses "the" to denote a particular object known to both the speaker and listener.

Why does the word "cajón" have an accent on the "ó"?

The accent on "cajón" indicates that the stress falls on the last syllable. Spanish uses accent marks to help indicate correct pronunciation, especially when the natural stress of the word does not follow the default rules.

How does the use of the verb "guardar" compare to a verb like "poner" when talking about keys?

While "guardar" means to keep or store something safely over time, "poner" generally means to put something in a place. Using "guardar" suggests a habitual or secure placement—implying that the keys are kept in a consistent, safe spot (the drawer)—whereas "poner" would simply indicate the action of placing them without that nuance.