Learn Hardcore Spanish (Spain): Si te pierdes, mira el mapa y confirma la dirección. - If you get lost, look at the map and confirm the address.

Te is a reflexive pronoun. Perderse means “to get lost.” So te pierdes = “you get lost (yourself).” Without the reflexive (e.g., pierdes), it usually means “you lose (something).”

Why is it pierdes (with ie) and not “perdes”?

Perder is a stem‑changing verb (e → ie) in the present: pierdo, pierdes, pierde, perdemos, perdéis, pierden. Hence te pierdes.

Why is the verb after si in the indicative and not the subjunctive?

In real/possible conditions, Spanish uses the present indicative after si: Si te pierdes, …. The subjunctive appears in more hypothetical frames (e.g., Si te perdieras, …), but you wouldn’t normally follow that with an imperative.

Why are mira and confirma used—what forms are they?

They’re affirmative tú commands (imperatives). For regular verbs:

Affirmative tú: 3rd‑person singular present indicative (mira, confirma).
Negative tú: present subjunctive (no mires, no confirmes).

How do I say this formally or to a group in Spain?

Usted (formal singular): Si se pierde, mire el mapa y confirme la dirección.
Vosotros (informal plural, Spain): Si os perdéis, mirad el mapa y confirmad la dirección.
Ustedes (formal plural in Spain): Si se pierden, miren el mapa y confirmen la dirección.

Why is it el mapa (masculine) when it ends in -a?

Some -a nouns of Greek origin are masculine, including el mapa, el problema, el tema, el idioma, el sistema.

Do I need the preposition a after mirar? Can I say mira en el mapa?

With things, mirar takes a direct object: mira el mapa (no a).
Mira en el mapa is also possible and emphasizes “look in the map (to find something).” Mira el mapa is the most neutral here.
With people, you often use mirar a: mira a tu profesor.

Does dirección mean “direction” or “address” here?

Both exist. In this context it likely means “direction/way.” If you mean “address,” context or wording can clarify:

Direction: confirma la dirección correcta / el rumbo / el camino.
Address: confirma la dirección del sitio / la dirección de la calle.

Why is there la before dirección?

Spanish typically uses the definite article with specific nouns. Here, la dirección refers to a particular direction/address in context. You could also say tu dirección (your address) if that’s what you mean.

How do I add object pronouns to the commands?

In affirmative commands, pronouns attach to the end and may trigger an accent:

Míralo (look at it—the map), because mapa is masculine → lo.
Confírmala (confirm it—the direction), because dirección is feminine → la. Negative commands place pronouns before: No lo mires. No la confirmes.

Why does dirección have an accent on the last syllable?

Words ending in a vowel, n, or s are normally stressed on the penultimate syllable. Dirección is stressed on the last syllable, so it takes a written accent: direc‑ción.

Is the comma after Si te pierdes necessary?

Yes. When the dependent clause comes first, Spanish uses a comma: Si te pierdes, …. If the main clause comes first, no comma is needed: Mira el mapa si te pierdes.

Why is it y confirma and not e confirma?

Spanish changes y to e only before words starting with the “i/hi” sound (e.g., padre e hijo). Confirma doesn’t start with that sound, so y stays y.

Can I use por si instead of si?

Different meaning:

Si te pierdes, mira… = If you get lost (then do this).
Por si te pierdes, lleva un mapa. = In case you get lost (prepare in advance). Use por si for precaution, not for a conditional instruction like in the original sentence.

Is te estás perdiendo okay here?

Grammatically yes, but it stresses an ongoing process: Si te estás perdiendo, mira… sounds like “if you’re (right now) getting confused/lost.” The simple present Si te pierdes is the default for general instructions.

How can I soften the command or make it more natural?

Add politeness: Si te pierdes, por favor, mira el mapa y confirma la dirección.
Use poder for a gentler suggestion: Si te pierdes, puedes/podrías mirar el mapa y confirmar la dirección.
Common alternatives for “confirm”: comprueba (check), consulta (consult), revisa (review).