Learn Hardcore Spanish (Latin America): No nos vayamos sin barrer el suelo del balcón. - Let’s not leave without sweeping the balcony floor.

Spanish uses the present subjunctive for “let’s (not) …” with the first-person plural. So no nos vayamos means “let’s not leave.”
By contrast, no nos vamos is indicative: “we’re not leaving.” It states a plan/fact, not a suggestion or instruction.

What’s the difference between ir and irse here?

ir = to go (toward a place): “Let’s not go to the store…” = No vayamos a la tienda…
irse = to leave/go away (from where you are): “Let’s not leave…” = No nos vayamos…
In this sentence, you’re preventing departure, so irse is the natural choice.

Why can’t I say “No vámonos”?

Negative “let’s … not” commands use the present subjunctive and place pronouns before the verb.
Correct: No nos vayamos…
Affirmative: ¡Vámonos!

How do I say “Let’s leave” in the affirmative?

Most natural: ¡Vámonos! (Let’s leave/let’s get out of here.)
Also common: ¡Vamos! (Let’s go.)
Note the difference: irse (leave) vs ir (go).

Where do pronouns go with commands?

Affirmative: attach to the end (with written accent if needed): Vámonos, Digámoselo.
Negative: place before the verb: No nos vayamos, No se lo digamos.

What exactly does “sin barrer” mean, and why an infinitive?

sin + infinitive = “without -ing” in English: sin barrer = “without sweeping.”
When the subject is the same (we leave and we sweep), Spanish uses the infinitive after a preposition like sin.

Can I use “sin que” + subjunctive instead?

Use sin que + subjunctive when the subject changes:

“Let’s not leave without you sweeping …” = No nos vayamos sin que tú barras…
If the subject is the same, stick with sin + infinitive.

Would “sin haber barrido” be better?

sin haber barrido = “without having swept,” which emphasizes completed action prior to leaving.

Neutral/general: sin barrer
Emphasizing completion: sin haber barrido
Both are correct; choose based on nuance.

Is “barrer el suelo” the most natural phrase in Latin America?

In much of Latin America, piso is more common for “floor,” so barrer el piso (del balcón) is very natural. You can also just say barrer el balcón. suelo is correct too, and widely understood.

Why “del balcón” and not “de el balcón”?

Spanish contracts de + el to del. So del balcón = “of the balcony.”

Could I replace “el suelo del balcón” with a pronoun?

Yes: No nos vayamos sin barrerlo if “lo” clearly refers to “the balcony floor.”
With infinitives, object pronouns normally attach to the end: barrerlo, hacerlo, etc.

Are the accents correct? Why “balcón” has one but “vayamos” doesn’t?

balcón needs an accent to keep the stress on the last syllable.
vayamos is naturally stressed on the penultimate syllable; no accent needed.
In the affirmative “Let’s leave,” vámonos bears an accent to preserve stress when attaching -nos.

What is “nos” doing in “nos vayamos”? Is it reflexive?

It’s the clitic pronoun required by the pronominal verb irse. It doesn’t mean you’re doing something “to yourselves”; it’s just how irse is formed: irme, irte, irse, irnos, irse.

Could I say “No vayamos sin barrer …” (without “nos”)?

You can, but it means “Let’s not go (somewhere) without sweeping …” If the idea is “Let’s not leave (this place),” irse is more precise: No nos vayamos…

What if I’m talking to a group I’m not part of? (“Don’t leave without sweeping …”)

Use ustedes in Latin America: No se vayan sin barrer el piso del balcón.
(In Spain with vosotros: No os vayáis…)

Does “barrer” mean to mop?

No. barrer = to sweep (with a broom).
To mop: trapear (common in Latin America) or fregar el piso/suelo (more in Spain).

Are there softer/alternative ways to express this?

Antes de irnos, barramos el piso del balcón. (Before we leave, let’s sweep…)
Asegurémonos de barrer el balcón antes de irnos. (Let’s make sure to sweep…)
Hay que barrer el balcón antes de irnos. (We need to sweep… impersonal/neutral)

Is the word order fixed, or can I move parts around?

Keep the negative sequence no + pronoun(s) + verb: No nos vayamos…
You can vary the rest a bit:

No nos vayamos sin barrer el balcón.
No nos vayamos sin barrer el piso del balcón.
Avoid ungrammatical structures like “barrer del balcón” for the direct object; use barrer el (piso del) balcón.

What’s the present subjunctive of “irse”?

me vaya, te vayas, se vaya, nos vayamos, se vayan.