Let the pencil on the table

Question

Get the pencil

Let the pencil (on the table)

Leave the pencil (on the table)

I want to say: suelta el lápiz

I could also say: Put the pencil on the table, but I want to guess if the expressions in bold are correct.

Answer 1

You can say:

Put the pencil on the table.

Leave the pencil on the table.

Lay the pencil on the table.

Let the pencil on the table is incorrect.

yes, I agree. - 00494d19, Apr 11, 2010

Answer 2

"Leave" sounds more delicate for a pencil.

No, leave se usa siempre, ligero o no.

drop se usa más en América, en sentido de dejar, no de dejar caer.

Drop me at the cinema. Déjame en el cine.

Es lo que dirías a un amigo que te lleva en coche y te deja en el cine.

Answer 3

suelta el lápiz = leave the pencil, drop the pencil, let go of the pencil

"get the pencil" or "let the pencil" does not work for suelta.

Answer 4

There is a common saying "So quiet you can hear a pin drop". So that rules out the weight issue. To dropanything in the US has nothing to do with weight or size. It can be a command. "Drop the gun" or as a teacher giving a test would say at the end "Everybody drop you pencils. Or not used as a command;

A droplet of water will drop from the faucet. I drop plaster everywhere I work.(Ya, it's a messy job)

seeeeeeeee? my english is perfect...lol - 00494d19, Apr 12, 2010

okay, okay :) I surrender and await quietly one of your famous typos ;)) however, they seem to be contageous! - Issabela, Apr 12, 2010

Yes it is Heidita and I would ,someday, love to hear it on one of your audio threads. - Yeser007, Apr 12, 2010

Well, it would be a very good idea, Yesero. - nila45, Apr 12, 2010

Dare I point out to Issa that it is spelled contagious? :D Her Spanish and English are spectacular, I feel guilty doing so but I absolutely cannot resist. Issa, I make a lot of typos too so you can easily get me back. - Lrtward, Apr 12, 2010

I'll try... no to ;)) - Issabela, Apr 12, 2010

Answer 5

You're right, but in some contexts, like "drop the pencil on the table" it would sound strange.

I don't agree, if you say.

What shall I do with the pen? Well, just drop it on the table...

this would imply just leave it there, not strange at all.

We were told as children not to drop pencils as the inner lead will break, this may be where some confusion comes from? - galsally, Apr 12, 2010

Answer 6

suelta el lápiz = leave the pencil, drop the pencil, let go of the pencil

The English translation depends on what you are trying to say:

If you mean that the pencil is already on the table and you don't want anyone to move it, you would ask them to leave the pencil on the table.

If, however, the person is holding the pencil and you would like them to place it on the table, the most common way to say it (in England) would be 'Put the pencil on the table'. Slightly less likely but not incorrect are 'Leave the pencil on the table' or 'Place the pencil on the table.' . I don't think in that situation you would say Drop the pencil on the table. however it wouldn't be incorrect either. (You may find more use of leave it or drop it in other parts of the British Isles.)

If you want somebody to give the pencil to you but, they are unwilling, (!) you might say Let go of the pencil!

In an exam situation Drop your pencils might be said. It implies urgency, in other words, 'Don't write any more, your time is up, DROP that pencil!!!'

I really hope that doesn't confuse you more Nila, just trying to clarify your intended meaning for the phrase.

Answer 7

I think the confusion with drop vs. leave comes in where drop has a meaning of something you don't care as much about breaking. You can drop a glass on the table but you might not want to clean up the mess afterward or you could leave the glass on the table (hopefully with something refreshing still in it). You can drop a suitcase unless there is something breakable in it then you would want to leave it somewhere. I don't think it's a weight in kilograms issue as much as a weight of importance issue. Hope this didn't confuse you more.

It probably wil cause more confusion but it is a very good point. - Yeser007, Apr 12, 2010

Answer 8

Hello Nila. You ask a very good question (as always ) and the truth is ..... I don't know.

To me it sounds natural to say ...

"where do you want me to put these packages?"

"just drop them on the table!" (drop = put - colloq)

But ...

"Where do you want me to drop this pencil?"

"I don't want you to drop it! - it'll break!"

Maybe it has something to do with whether you use it in a question or an answer - but I'm not sure.

(Now I'm afraid I've only made you more confused)

Anyone else..............?

Answer 9

You can also say "take the pencil" or "pick up the pencil", but not "get the pencil".

You could say "get the pencil from the table" - ian-hill, Apr 11, 2010

Thank Godness, I was thinking that "get" was wrong. - nila45, Apr 11, 2010

I think Issa probably just made a typo for "let". :) - Nicole-B, Apr 11, 2010

I didn't - and you're right, though "get the pencil" sounded to me like involving some effort or taking the pencil in a rush - Issabela, Apr 12, 2010

take or pick sort of denotes something directly in front of you or within reach whereas "get" is more of a retrieval which would llikely be used with "go" (go get the pencil) - Yeser007, Apr 12, 2010

Answer 10

You're right, but in some contexts, like "drop the pencil on the table" it would sound strange. Drop has a number of meanings drop1 drop2.

Answer 11

Drop involves either a more violent or accidental movement.

Don't drop the vase!

I'm sorry. I didn't want to drop it, it just slipped out of my hands.

Drop the weapon!

Drop it, you'll get burnt.

not always - 00494d19, Apr 12, 2010

but in the context of letting things go "To let fall by releasing hold of.", "To cause to fall", " To fall from a higher to a lower place or position." - Issabela, Apr 12, 2010

Answer 12

Drop involves either a more violent or accidental movement.

Not always, if you say:

Just drop the suitcases over there.

This does not mean throw them on the floor, just leave them there. Same thing in my example above.

Answer 13

(dejar de tener cogido): aguanta esto y no lo sueltes-

hold this and don’t let go of it

¡suelta la pistola!

drop the gun!

¿dónde puedo soltar estos paquetes?

where can I put down o (colloq) drop these packages?;

Well, there is a problem with the word "drop". I would use "drop" for packages, but for "a very light pencil" sounds strange. What do you think?

Drop = dejar caer, soltar (generally for more weight)

Leave = dejar, soltar (for less and more weight)

It depends on the context. "Leave" sounds more delicate for a pencil. If I say: Drop the pencil, I am saying "deja caer el lápiz". This mean that you open your hand and zas!, it goes to the table. Do you understand?

But perhaps if you say "drop the suitcases", this does not imply that "tú dejes caer". It is natural because it is more weight and it is necessary for you to drop (you can also use "leave").

I don't know if that happens in the same way in English.