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Deja el libro encima de la mesa, detrás del vaso.

Deja el libro encima de la mesa, detrás del vaso.
Leave the book on top of the table, behind the glass.
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Questions & Answers about Deja el libro encima de la mesa, detrás del vaso.

What form is Deja here?
It’s the affirmative imperative for informal singular tú of the verb dejar (“to leave”). So Deja el libro... means “Leave the book...”.
How would I say this to someone formally or to more than one person in Spain?
  • Formal singular (usted): Deje el libro encima de la mesa, detrás del vaso.
  • Informal plural (vosotros, Spain): Dejad el libro encima de la mesa, detrás del vaso.
  • Formal/informal plural in Latin America (ustedes): Dejen el libro encima de la mesa, detrás del vaso.
Could Deja also be present tense (“he/she leaves”)? How do I know it’s a command?

Yes, deja can be 3rd person singular present indicative (“he/she leaves”). Context and intonation or punctuation show it’s a command. With an omitted subject and the sentence starting with the verb (and often an exclamation or a period), Deja el libro... is read as a command. Compare:

  • Statement: Él deja el libro encima de la mesa.
  • Command: Deja el libro encima de la mesa.
Why use dejar and not poner?
  • Dejar = leave (and implies you’re not taking it with you afterward). Deja el libro... = “Leave the book...”
  • Poner = put/place (focus on the act of placing, not on leaving it behind). Pon el libro... = “Put the book...” Both can work here, but dejar is natural when you mean “leave it there (and don’t take it).”
How do I make the negative command?
Use the negative tú imperative (subjunctive form): No dejes el libro encima de la mesa, detrás del vaso. With pronouns: No lo dejes... (pronoun goes before the verb in negative commands).
Where do object pronouns go with commands?
  • Affirmative: attach to the end. Déjalo encima de la mesa... (Note the accent: déjalo to keep the stress.)
  • Negative: place before the verb. No lo dejes encima de la mesa...
Why encima de la mesa and not just en la mesa?
  • Encima de = on top of (often suggests contact).
  • En = in/on/at (broad and sometimes ambiguous).
  • Sobre = on (also “over/above” in some contexts). All three are common in Spain; encima de la mesa and sobre la mesa both clearly mean “on the table.” En la mesa can mean “on the table” or “at the table.”
Is encima always followed by de?
When you specify what something is on top of, yes: encima de la mesa. You can use encima alone if the reference is understood: Déjalo encima. Don’t say encima la mesa (the de is required).
Why is it detrás del vaso and not detrás el vaso?
Because the preposition is detrás de (“behind”). Before a masculine singular noun, de + el contracts to del: detrás del vaso. There’s no detrás el.
What does del stand for? Is it the same as de él?

Del = de + el (of/from the + masculine singular noun). De él (with an accent) means “of him/from him.” Compare:

  • detrás del vaso = behind the glass
  • detrás de él = behind him
Is the comma necessary in encima de la mesa, detrás del vaso?
It’s optional. The comma helps separate two coordinate location phrases. You can also write encima de la mesa detrás del vaso; both are acceptable. Spanish often goes from a broader location to a more specific one, but the order can be switched: detrás del vaso, encima de la mesa is also fine.
Could I say por encima de la mesa here?
Por encima de means “above/over” and suggests no contact. For “on the table,” use encima de or sobre. So stick with encima de la mesa or sobre la mesa.
What’s the difference between detrás de, tras, and atrás?
  • Detrás de
    • noun = behind (standard): detrás del vaso.
  • Tras
    • noun = behind/after (more formal/literary but perfectly correct in Spain): tras el vaso.
  • Atrás (no de before a noun) = back/behind as an adverb: Da un paso atrás (“Take a step back”).
Is vaso the right word for “glass”?

In Spain:

  • Vaso = a (usually stemless) glass/tumbler (water, juice).
  • Copa = a stemmed glass (wine).
  • Taza = cup with a handle (coffee/tea). So vaso is correct here.
Why el libro and not un libro?
El libro refers to a specific book both speaker and listener know about. Un libro would mean “a book” (any book), which is unlikely in a command like this unless context allows.
Any agreement issues to watch?

Yes, article–noun gender/number must match:

  • el libro (masc. sing.)
  • la mesa (fem. sing.)
  • el vaso (masc. sing.) Pluralize everything if needed: Dejad los libros encima de las mesas, detrás de los vasos.
Could this sentence mean “let the book...” since dejar can mean “to let/allow”?
Not here. Deja el libro... with a direct object means “Leave the book...”. When dejar means “to let,” it takes an object + infinitive: Deja al perro entrar (“Let the dog come in”). Different structure, different meaning.
Is there any difference in Spain between arriba de and encima de?
In Spain, encima de and sobre are standard for “on (top of).” Arriba de is more common in some Latin American varieties and sounds colloquial or regional; it’s not the usual choice in Spain.
How would I say “behind it” referring to the glass?
Use a prepositional pronoun: detrás de él (behind it/him) for a masculine singular antecedent like el vaso. For feminine: detrás de ella (e.g., la taza).