Dejo la mochila detrás de la puerta cuando llego a casa.

I leave the backpack behind the door when I get home.

Breakdown of Dejo la mochila detrás de la puerta cuando llego a casa.

• yo: I
• la casa: the house
• cuando: when
• a: to

Questions & Answers about Dejo la mochila detrás de la puerta cuando llego a casa.

Why is dejo in the present tense?

In this sentence, the present tense is being used for a habit or routine: something the speaker usually does.

So dejo means I leave / I put / I place, depending on context.

Here it is not necessarily describing what is happening right now at this exact second. It can mean:

• This is what I do when I get home
• I usually leave my backpack behind the door

Spanish uses the simple present a lot for regular actions, just like English does.

Why is there no yo before dejo?

Spanish often drops subject pronouns when they are not needed, because the verb ending already shows who the subject is.

• dejo = I leave
• llego = I arrive / I get

So yo dejo is possible, but yo is unnecessary unless you want emphasis or contrast, for example:

• Yo dejo la mochila, pero mi hermano la tira en el sofá.

In a neutral sentence, leaving out yo sounds more natural.

Why does Spanish use la mochila instead of mi mochila?