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En este bar dejamos poca propina, y a veces el postre es gratis.

En este bar dejamos poca propina, y a veces el postre es gratis.
In this bar we leave a small tip, and sometimes the dessert is free.
FromLesson 19inHardcore Spanish (Spain)

Questions & Answers about En este bar dejamos poca propina, y a veces el postre es gratis.

Why is en used instead of a or por in en este bar?
en marks location: “at/in.” Use a for movement toward: Vamos a este bar. Use por for passing by/through or “around”: Paso por este bar a menudo. So en este bar = “at this bar.”
Why dejar in dejamos poca propina? Why not dar propina?
Dejar propina is the most common collocation in Spain (you “leave” the tip on the table). Dar propina is also correct, especially when you hand it to someone. Both mean “to tip,” but dejar sounds most natural here.
Is dejamos present or past? It looks the same in both tenses.

For -ar verbs, first-person plural present and preterite are identical: dejamos. Context decides:

  • Present/habitual: En este bar dejamos poca propina.
  • Specific past: Ayer dejamos poca propina.
  • Past habitual: Antes dejábamos poca propina. (imperfect)
Why poca and not poco or pequeña?
  • poca agrees with the feminine noun propina. poco/poca = “little/not much (quantity).”
  • pequeña = “small (size),” about objects, not amount. You can say una propina pequeña, but that focuses on one tip being small.
What’s the nuance difference between poca propina and una propina pequeña?
  • poca propina focuses on the overall amount being small (“not much tip”).
  • una propina pequeña focuses on a single tip being small and needs the article una.
Why not pocas propinas?
  • poca propina treats tip as an amount of money (uncountable idea): “not much tip.”
  • pocas propinas = “few tips” (few occasions/instances), which is a different meaning.
Why is there no article before poca propina?
Quantifiers like poca, mucha, bastante don’t take an article. If you use an article, you change the structure: una propina pequeña. You can also say un poco de propina (“a bit of tip”). Avoid una poca propina.
Is the comma before y necessary?
No. Spanish normally omits a comma before y when linking clauses: En este bar dejamos poca propina y a veces el postre es gratis. The comma in the original just marks a pause; it’s optional.
What’s the difference between a veces, algunas veces, de vez en cuando, and a menudo?
  • a veces = sometimes.
  • algunas veces = sometimes; a bit more formal/emphatic.
  • de vez en cuando = from time to time (feels less frequent).
  • a menudo = often.
Can a veces go in other places?

Yes. All are natural:

  • A veces el postre es gratis.
  • El postre a veces es gratis.
  • El postre es gratis a veces. Starting the clause with a veces is very common.
Why el postre and not just postre?
Spanish often uses the definite article with generic courses and concepts. El postre es gratis = “the dessert course is free.” If you mean one dessert item, you can say un postre es gratis (e.g., in a promotion).
Why es and not está in el postre es gratis?
ser is used for classification, inherent characteristics, and price-type statements. gratis pairs with ser: es gratis. estar gratis sounds wrong in standard Spanish.
Difference between gratis, gratuito/a, and libre?
  • gratis = free of charge; invariable: el postre es gratis, las entradas son gratis.
  • gratuito/gratuita = free of charge; adjective that agrees: entrada gratuita (more formal).
  • libre = free as in freedom/availability: mesa libre, prensa libre.
Do people actually tip in Spain? Does poca propina match cultural norms?

Yes. Tipping is modest in Spain:

  • Bars/cafés: leave coins, round up, or nothing.
  • Restaurants: small tips (5–10%) for notably good service; not expected by default. So dejamos poca propina sounds typical.
What does bar mean in Spain? Is it like an English bar?
A Spanish bar is a café-bar: coffee, drinks, sandwiches, tapas, and often meals/desserts. It’s broader than an English pub/bar.
How does gender and agreement work here (este bar, poca propina)?
Does dejar de here mean “to stop”? I’ve seen dejar de + infinitive.

Different structures:

  • dejar propina = to leave a tip.
  • dejar de + infinitive = to stop doing something: dejamos de venir. Also common: specify the amount with de propina: Dejamos dos euros de propina.
How would you say “Dessert is on the house” more idiomatically?

Use invita la casa or es cortesía de la casa:

  • El postre lo invita la casa.
  • El postre es cortesía de la casa.
How can I say “We usually leave little tip at this bar”?
Use soler: En este bar solemos dejar poca propina. You can also say Normalmente dejamos poca propina.
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