Breakdown of Giras la llave y empujas la puerta.
y
and
la puerta
the door
la llave
the key
girar
to turn
empujar
to push
Questions & Answers about Giras la llave y empujas la puerta.
Why use the present tense (giras, empujas) instead of the command form here?
In Spanish, the present indicative is very commonly used to give instructions or explain how to do something, especially in a step-by-step sequence. It sounds natural and a bit more conversational than using direct imperative commands like gira and empuja.
Could I use doblas or vuelves instead of giras to say "turn the key"?
No, girar is specifically used for rotating or turning a physical object on its axis, like a key, a steering wheel, or a doorknob. Doblar is used for turning a corner or folding a physical object, and volver means to return.
I always mix up push and pull on Spanish doors! How can I remember which one empujar is?
Empujar means to push. The opposite is tirar (to pull), which is why you will often see the sign Tirar or Tire on doors that you need to pull towards you. It helps to remember that empujar shares roots with the English word "impulse" or "impel," implying forcing something away from you.
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