Question 1

Why is “nos vayamos” used instead of “nos vamos”?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 2

What’s the difference between ir and irse here?

Accepted Answer

- 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.

Question 3

Why can’t I say “No vámonos”?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

- 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).

Question 5

Where do pronouns go with commands?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 7

Can I use “sin que” + subjunctive instead?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 8

Would “sin haber barrido” be better?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 9

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

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

- 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.

Question 13

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

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 14

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

Accepted Answer

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…

Question 15

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 16

Does “barrer” mean to mop?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 17

Are there softer/alternative ways to express this?

Accepted Answer

- 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)

Question 18

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

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 19

What’s the present subjunctive of “irse”?

Accepted Answer

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

No nos vayamos sin barrer el suelo del balcón.

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