No metas más basura en el basurero.

in

Breakdown of No metas más basura en el basurero.

• más: more
• no: not
• la basura: the trash

Questions & Answers about No metas más basura en el basurero.

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

Metas is the present subjunctive of meter used as a negative informal command (tú). In Spanish, negative tú commands use the present subjunctive:

• Affirmative: Mete más basura…
• Negative: No metas más basura…

Why not say No metes?

No metes is indicative and means you don’t put in (a statement of fact), not a command. To tell someone not to do something, Spanish uses the negative imperative with the subjunctive: No metas.

Why is meter used instead of poner?

Meter means to put something inside a container or space. A trash can is a container, so meter fits well. Poner is to put/place (not necessarily inside), so it’s broader and less precise here. Both can be heard, but:

• More precise: meter (put inside)
• More general: poner (put/place)

Are there other common verbs for this idea?