Apago el móvil por la noche para no distraerme antes de dormir.

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Breakdown of Apago el móvil por la noche para no distraerme antes de dormir.

• la noche: the night
• dormir: to sleep
• antes de: before

Questions & Answers about Apago el móvil por la noche para no distraerme antes de dormir.

1. Why is it “apago” (present tense) and not something like “apagar” or another tense?

Apago is the present indicative, 1st person singular (yo apago = I turn off).

In Spanish, the present tense is commonly used for habits and routines, just like the English simple present:

• Apago el móvil por la noche.
  I turn off my phone at night. (I usually do this.)

You wouldn’t use the infinitive apagar here; infinitives aren’t used as the main verb of a normal sentence like this.

Other tenses would change the meaning:

• Apagué el móvil por la noche. – I turned off the phone last night (one specific past time).
• Apagaré el móvil por la noche. – I will turn off the phone tonight (future, a specific time or promise).

So apago is correct because it describes a regular habit.

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2. Why is there no “yo” before “apago”?

In Spanish, subject pronouns (yo, tú, él, ella, nosotros, etc.) are often omitted because the verb ending already tells you who the subject is.

• Apago el móvil… – the -o ending clearly shows the subject is yo.
• Saying Yo apago el móvil… is not wrong, but it usually adds emphasis, like:
  
  • Yo apago el móvil, pero mi hermano no. – I turn off my phone, but my brother doesn’t.

In a neutral, simple statement of habit, it’s more natural to just say Apago el móvil… without yo.

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3. Why “el móvil” and not or ?