How to use tener + past participle and dejar + past participle in Spanish

Have you ever heard a Mexican Spanish speaker say “Tengo apagado el celular” or “Dejé abierta la puerta” and wondered why they don’t use a simple present or past tense?

These expressions are very common in everyday Spanish, but they can be confusing for English speakers. That’s why understanding tener + past participle and dejar + past participle is so important.

In this post, you’ll learn what they mean, how they are built, and when to use each one to sound more natural and confident in Spanish.

What is a past participle?

In English, the Participio (Past Participle) is the equivalent of words ending in “-ed” or

“-en”, such as closed, broken, locked.

The easiest way to think about it is as the result form of a verb.

 It describes the state of something after an action has happened.

How do you build it in Spanish?

Past Participle Structure

“Tengo + participle” (present meaning)

This structure focuses on the current state of something. The time of the action is not important—only the result.

Examples:

• Tengo cerrada la ventana.

• Tengo lista la comida.

• Tengo apagado el celular.

  
  

In English, this idea is often expressed as:

• The window is closed.

• The food is ready.

In Mexican Spanish, this structure is often used to reassure someone:

Don’t worry, I have the door closed.

tengo vs dejé participio examples

“Dejé + participle” (past action)

This structure highlights a past action. It shows that you did something and left, but the result is still visible.

Examples:

• Dejé cerrada la ventana.

• Dejé prendida la luz.

• Dejé preparado el café.

  
  

In English:

• I left the window closed.

• I left the light on.

tengo vs dejé participio examples

Pronunciation tip

Pronounce each syllable clearly and stress the tonic syllable: ce-RRA-da, a-BIER-ta, pre-pa-RA-do. Listen to native speakers and repeat aloud to improve rhythm and intonation.

Conclusion

Now that you know the difference: can you think of real situations where you would use tengo + participle or dejé + participle? Practicing with real examples (your room, your car, your food) will help you internalize the distinction.

Mastering tener + past participle and dejar + past participle will help you sound more natural and understand real conversations in Mexico. These structures are essential if you want to move beyond textbook Spanish and speak with confidence.

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