Anota la fecha en tu agenda.

Write down the date in your planner.

Breakdown of Anota la fecha en tu agenda.

• en: in
• tu: your
• la fecha: the date
• anotar: to write down
• la agenda: the planner

Questions & Answers about Anota la fecha en tu agenda.

What form is anota, and why is it used here?

Anota is the affirmative tú imperative of anotar (to jot down/write down). It’s a direct command addressed to one person you’re on informal terms with. Regular -ar verbs form the affirmative tú command from the third-person singular present: anota (he/she writes down) → anota (you, jot down!).

How would I say this to someone formally (usted)?

Use the usted imperative: Anote la fecha en su agenda. You switch to su for “your” in the formal register.

How do I say “Don’t write the date in your planner”?

Use the negative tú imperative with the subjunctive: No anotes la fecha en tu agenda. For usted: No anote la fecha en su agenda.

Can I use a pronoun instead of repeating “la fecha”?

Yes. If “the date” is already known, you can say:

• Affirmative: Anótala en tu agenda. (Attach the pronoun, add an accent: anótala.)
• Negative: No la anotes en tu agenda. (Pronoun goes before the verb in negatives.)

Why is it la fecha and not el fecha?

Because fecha is a feminine noun in Spanish, so it takes the article la. It’s a fixed lexical gender you just memorize: la fecha.

Could it be una fecha instead of la fecha?

Yes, if you mean “a date” in general or an unspecified date: Anota una fecha en tu agenda. With a specific, known date, Spanish prefers the definite article: la fecha.

Why is it en tu agenda and not a tu agenda?

Spanish uses en to indicate writing “in/on” a medium: anotar algo en algo (write something in something). A is typically for movement or direction toward something, not for the surface/medium you write in.

What exactly does agenda mean in Latin America? Is it the same as “agenda” in English?

In Latin America, agenda commonly means a personal planner/diary (paper or digital). It can also mean a meeting agenda (list of topics), but in this sentence it’s your planner. Related words:

• calendario: calendar (month grid; physical or app)
• cita: an appointment
• libreta/cuaderno: notebook

Could I say this about a phone calendar?

Yes. Common options:

• Anota la fecha en tu calendario.
• Guárdala en tu calendario.
• Pon la fecha en tu calendario. If you’re “scheduling” an event rather than just jotting, many speakers use agendar: Agenda la cita para el 5. (Schedule the appointment for the 5th.)

Is there a difference between anotar, apuntar, and escribir?

• anotar: to jot down/register (very common in Latin America).
• apuntar: to note down/jot (very common too; some regions favor it more).
• escribir: to write (general, not specifically “jot down”). All three can work, but anotar/apuntar sound most natural for quick notes. E.g., Apunta la fecha en tu agenda is perfectly fine.

Can I change the word order?

Yes, Spanish allows some flexibility:

• Anota la fecha en tu agenda. (most common)
• Anota en tu agenda la fecha. (also fine, slightly different emphasis) With a pronoun: La fecha, anótala en tu agenda is possible for emphasis.

How do I say this to more than one person?

• Latin America (ustedes): Anoten la fecha en sus agendas.
• Spain (vosotros): Anotad la fecha en vuestras agendas. Negative: No anoten… / No anotad…

What about regions that use vos?

With voseo (e.g., Argentina, Uruguay, parts of Central America):

• Affirmative: Anotá la fecha en tu agenda.
• Negative: No anotés la fecha en tu agenda. Note the accent shift: anotá / anotés.

Is “anota” ever written with an accent?

Not by itself. It’s anota (no accent). But when you attach pronouns, you may need an accent to keep the original stress: anótala, anótenla, apúntala, etc.

Is using the imperative like this rude?

Not inherently. It depends on tone and context. To soften it:

• Add por favor: Por favor, anota la fecha…
• Use a polite request: ¿Podrías anotar la fecha en tu agenda? / ¿Puedes anotar…?
• Use usted: ¿Podría anotar la fecha en su agenda?

What’s the difference between tu and tú here?

• tu (no accent) = your: tu agenda.
• tú (with accent) = you (subject pronoun). In the sentence, tu is the possessive, so no accent.