Question 1

Why does an -ar verb like limpiar end in -éis here?

Accepted Answer

This sentence is a negative command for vosotros (you all). To tell a group not to do something, Spanish uses opposite vowel endings. Since limpiar is an -ar verb, its negative vosotros command takes an -e instead of an -a, which gives us the -éis ending in no limpiéis.

Question 2

If I wanted to tell them TO clean the stain, would I just remove the "no"?

Accepted Answer

No, positive commands for vosotros are formed using a completely different rule. You take the full verb (limpiar), drop the final -r, and add a -d. So, "Clean the stain!" would be ¡Limpiad la mancha!. You only use the -éis ending when telling them not to do it.

Question 3

Why is there an accent mark on the e in limpiéis?

Accepted Answer

The accent mark tells you to stress that specific vowel. In the ending -iéis, the vowels slide together into one syllable. The written accent ensures your voice stresses the e (lim-pi-ÉIS), which is required for this specific negative command form.

Question 4

Why is sucio placed after trapo?

Accepted Answer

In Spanish, descriptive adjectives like sucio (dirty) generally come right after the noun they describe, which is el trapo (the rag). So instead of the English order "the dirty rag", the Spanish structure is "the rag dirty" (el trapo sucio).

No limpiéis la mancha con el trapo sucio.

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