Breakdown of Sella las cajas y apílanoslas en la estantería.
y
and
en
in / on / at
la caja
box
nos
to us
las
them (feminine direct object)
apilar
to stack
la estantería
the rack
sellar
to seal
Questions & Answers about Sella las cajas y apílanoslas en la estantería.
Why are nos and las attached to the end of apila?
Because apila is an affirmative command. In Spanish, object pronouns must be attached directly to the end of affirmative commands, infinitives, and gerunds.
Why does apílanoslas have a written accent on the í?
When you attach pronouns to a command, the spoken stress stays on the same vowel as the base verb (a-PI-la). By adding nos and las, that stressed í is now four syllables from the end. Spanish spelling rules require a written accent here to maintain the original pronunciation.
Is there a specific rule for the order of the pronouns in apílanoslas?
Yes. When using double object pronouns, the indirect object (nos, meaning "for us") always comes before the direct object (las, meaning "them"). The sequence is always Reflexive, then Indirect, then Direct.
Could we place the pronouns before the verb instead?
Not in this sentence. Because this is a positive command, the pronouns must attach to the end. If it were a negative command ("don't stack them"), they would have to go in front as separate words: no nos las apiles.
Why does the sentence use estantería instead of estante?
An estante is typically a single shelf, whereas an estantería refers to the entire piece of furniture, shelving unit, or rack that holds multiple shelves.
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