Breakdown of Te he dejado un recado: ¿puedes hacer un recado por mí?
un
a, an, some
poder
to be able to
hacer
to do, to make
te
to you / yourself (reflexive) / you (direct object)
Questions & Answers about Te he dejado un recado: ¿puedes hacer un recado por mí?
Why does the word recado mean message the first time and errand the second time?
Why do we use the verb hacer instead of a word for run?
In English, we run an errand, but Spanish uses the verb hacer (to do or to make). Direct translations of verbs in everyday expressions rarely match up perfectly. You will also often hear the plural hacer unos recados for running errands.
Why does this sentence use por mí instead of para mí?
Why use he dejado (I have left) instead of the simple past dejé (I left)?
In Spanish from Spain, the present perfect (he dejado) is the natural choice for actions that happened very recently or have a direct result in the present. Because you are bringing up the message to ask for a favor right this second, it is highly relevant to the present moment.