Dejar and salir: leaving things and leaving places

The idea

In these examples, dejar takes the object left somewhere; salir de names the place someone or something departs from.

Examples

• Dejo las llaves en la mesa.I leave the keys on the table.
• Salgo de casa a las ocho.I leave home at eight.
• Ella dejó el bolso en la oficina.She left her bag at the office.
• El tren sale de la estación.The train leaves the station.
• Dejamos los zapatos junto a la puerta.We leave our shoes by the door.
• ¿A qué hora sales del trabajo?What time do you leave work?

Watch out

Both verbs have other meanings too; these examples compare only leaving an object and departing from a place.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the verb for leaving the keys somewhere. ___ las llaves en la mesa. (Dejo / Salgo)

   Show answer or example answer

   Dejo

   Dejo takes the keys as the object left behind.

2. Choose the verb for leaving home. ___ de casa a las ocho. (Salgo / Dejo)

   Show answer or example answer

   Salgo

   Salgo de introduces the place of departure.

3. Choose the form for the train departing. El tren ___ de la estación. (sale / deja)

   Show answer or example answer

   sale

   Sale de describes the train departing from the station.

Use it today

Describe where you leave your keys and what time you leave home using the appropriate patterns.