Question 1

Since this lesson is about 'de' + infinitive for conditions, why isn't it used here, and how would it look?

Accepted Answer

This specific sentence gives direct commands rather than setting a condition. If you wanted to turn it into a condition like 'If you read the printed protocol, keep it', you could use this lesson's structure: De leer el protocolo impreso, guárdalo. This acts as a more formal alternative to using si (if).

Question 2

Why is the word for printed impreso instead of imprimido?

Accepted Answer

The verb imprimir (to print) is one of the few verbs in Spanish with two accepted past participles: impreso and imprimido. When acting as an adjective to describe a noun, like el protocolo impreso, impreso is the standard choice in Spain. You will hear both used in perfect tenses, such as he impreso or he imprimido, though impreso remains more common overall.

Question 3

Why does guárdalo have a written accent mark?

Accepted Answer

When you attach a pronoun like lo to the end of an affirmative command like guarda, you add an extra syllable to the word. To maintain the spoken stress on the original syllable (guar), a written accent is required. Without it, Spanish pronunciation rules would incorrectly shift the stress to the second-to-last syllable (da).

Question 4

Are these commands formal or informal?

Accepted Answer

They are informal tú commands. The affirmative tú command usually takes the same form as the third-person singular in the present tense, which gives us lee and guarda. If this were directed at a formal usted, the sentence would change to lea el protocolo impreso y guárdelo.

Lee el protocolo impreso y guárdalo.

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