Breakdown of Ellos suelen multarte si no vacías el casillero.
no
no, not
ellos
they
te
to you / you (direct object)
vaciar
to empty
si
if
soler
to usually do / to tend to
multar
to fine
el casillero
the locker
Questions & Answers about Ellos suelen multarte si no vacías el casillero.
Why is the verb soler used here instead of just saying normalmente te multan?
While you can absolutely say normalmente te multan, Spanish often prefers the verb soler to express something that happens regularly or as a habit. It translates nicely to 'tend to' or 'usually.' Remember that soler is always followed by an infinitive, like multar (to fine) in this sentence.
Could the te go before the verbs instead of being attached to multar?
Yes! Because suelen multar works together as a single verb phrase, you have two options for the pronoun. You can attach it to the infinitive at the end (suelen multarte) or put it right before the conjugated verb (te suelen multar). Both are perfectly natural and mean the exact same thing.
Why is there an accent mark on the 'i' in vacías?
The infinitive is vaciar. Normally, the 'i' and 'a' would blend into a single syllable (a diphthong). Adding the accent mark breaks that blend, forcing the emphasis onto the 'i' so it is pronounced as three distinct syllables: va-CÍ-as. This happens with several verbs ending in -iar, like enviar (envías).
Is casillero the most common word for 'locker' in Latin America?
Yes, casillero is widely understood across Latin America for school, gym, or work lockers. If you travel to Spain, however, you will hear them call it a taquilla.
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