Spanish Phrase
Por favor, devuélvelo después de usarlo.
Meaning
A courteous request asking someone to give back an item after they have finished using it. The phrase combines politeness (por favor) with a clear instruction (devuélvelo) and a time condition (después de usarlo).
When to use
Use this sentence when you lend something—books, tools, a pen, a device—or when you are in a shared space like an office or a classroom and want the item returned promptly after use.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Porfavor,devuélvelodespuésdeusarlo.
Por favor
A polite phrase used to soften requests, equivalent to 'please' in English.
Imperative + enclitic pronoun
‘devuélvelo’ combines the affirmative imperative of ‘devolver’ with the direct‑object pronoun ‘lo’; the pronoun is attached to the verb.
Después de + infinitive
‘después de’ introduces a temporal clause; the verb that follows stays in the infinitive form.
Infinitive + enclitic pronoun
‘usarlo’ = ‘usar’ (to use) + ‘lo’ (it); the pronoun is attached because it follows an infinitive.
🗨In Conversation
¿Te puedo prestar mi cargador?
Can I lend you my charger?
Sí, gracias. Por favor, devuélvelo después de usarlo.
Yes, thanks. Please return it after you use it.
✕Common Mistakes
Por favor, devuelve lo después de usarlo.
The pronoun must be attached to the verb in affirmative commands; write ‘devuélvelo’ as one word.
Por favor, devuélvelo despues de usarlo.
‘Después’ always carries an accent on the ‘e’. Without it the word is misspelled.
Por favor, devuélvelo después de usar lo.
When a pronoun follows an infinitive, it attaches directly: ‘usarlo’, not ‘usar lo’.
↔Alternatives
Por favor, devuélvelo cuando termines de usarlo.
Please return it when you finish using it.
Devuélvelo, por favor, después de usarlo.
Return it, please, after you use it.
Regresa el objeto después de usarlo, por favor.
Return the object after using it, please.
Cultural Tip
In most Spanish‑speaking countries, adding ‘por favor’ and ‘gracias’ is essential for maintaining politeness, especially in requests involving personal belongings. Note the placement of clitic pronouns: in affirmative commands they attach to the verb (devuélvelo, usarlo), while in negative commands they precede the verb (no lo devuelvas).