Giving Simple Advice and Explaining Household Rules in Spanish

Giving Simple Advice and Explaining Household Rules in Spanish

In this lesson, you will distinguish a recommendation, an obligation, and a prohibition when talking about household routines. You will use poder, tener que, hay que, and commands without introducing later advice structures.

Recommendation with poder

Use puedes + infinitive to offer a simple possible action rather than a strict obligation.

• Puedes abrir la ventana. — You can open the window.
• Puedes guardar los platos aquí. — You can put the dishes away here.
• Puedes limpiar la mesa después. — You can clean the table afterward.

The listener has an option. This is not the same as a mandatory rule.

Obligation with tener que

• Tienes que sacar la basura hoy. — You have to take out the trash today.
• Tienes que lavar los platos después de comer. — You have to wash the dishes after eating.
• Tienes que cerrar la puerta por la noche. — You have to close the door at night.

For this lesson, la basura — trash / garbage is useful household vocabulary.

General household obligation with hay que

• Hay que limpiar la cocina una vez al día. — The kitchen has to be cleaned once a day / You have to clean the kitchen once a day.
• Hay que guardar la comida en el frigorífico. — Food has to be stored in the refrigerator.

Hay que gives a general requirement without naming one specific person.

Prohibition with no puedes

• No puedes fumar aquí. — You cannot smoke here.
• No puedes dejar la puerta abierta por la noche. — You cannot leave the door open at night.

This expresses a restriction, not simply advice.

Direct rule with a command

• Cierra la puerta, por favor. — Close the door, please.
• No dejes la comida aquí. — Do not leave the food here.
• Guarda los platos después de lavarlos. — Put the dishes away after washing them.

For this lesson, lavarlos — wash them is a familiar infinitive with one direct object pronoun.

Add a reason with porque

A rule is easier to understand when the reason is clear.

• Cierra la ventana porque hace frío. — Close the window because it is cold.
• Guarda la comida en el frigorífico porque hace calor. — Put the food in the refrigerator because it is hot.
• No dejes los platos en el suelo porque es peligroso. — Do not leave the dishes on the floor because it is dangerous.

For this lesson, peligroso — dangerous is useful household-rule vocabulary.

Recommendation versus obligation

Compare:

• Puedes limpiar la mesa ahora. — You can clean the table now.
• Tienes que limpiar la mesa ahora. — You have to clean the table now.

The first offers an option. The second presents a requirement.

Obligation versus prohibition

• Tienes que cerrar la puerta. — You have to close the door.
• No puedes abrir la puerta. — You cannot open the door.

One requires an action; the other forbids an action.

Soften the tone without using a later grammar structure

Use por favor or a possible-action phrase with poder when the situation allows it.

• Cierra la puerta, por favor. — Close the door, please.
• Puedes poner la taza aquí. — You can put the cup here.

Frequency and quantities

• Hay que sacar la basura una vez al día. — The trash has to be taken out once a day.
• Tienes que añadir medio litro de agua. — You have to add half a liter of water.
• Limpia la mesa dos veces al día. — Clean the table twice a day.

Household conversation

Person A: ¿Dónde pongo los platos? — Where do I put the dishes?

Person B: Puedes guardarlos aquí. — You can put them away here.

Person A: ¿Tengo que limpiar la mesa ahora? — Do I have to clean the table now?

Person B: Sí, por favor. Hay que usarla después. — Yes, please. It has to be used afterward.

A practical rule method

1. Decide whether the message is advice, obligation, or prohibition.
2. Use poder for a simple option or suggestion.
3. Use tener que for a personal obligation.
4. Use hay que for a general household requirement.
5. Use no puedes or a negative command for a prohibition.
6. Add a clear reason with porque when useful.
7. Use por favor to soften a direct instruction when appropriate.

From Household Rules to Vosotros Commands

You can now explain a simple household recommendation, obligation, or prohibition and give a reason for it. The next lesson teaches you how to recognize commands addressed to vosotros and distinguish them from other forms of “you.”