Basic messages and asking for help | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: A beginner practices six useful English phrases about basic messages and asking for help..

EN → ES / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Basic messages and asking for help to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Por favor, dilo otra vez.

pohr fah-VOR, DEE-loh OH-trah bes. Please say it again.
B

Por favor, escríbelo.

pohr fah-VOR, es-KREE-beh-loh. Please write it down.
A

Por favor, muéstramelo.

pohr fah-VOR, MWEHS-trah-meh-loh. Please show me.
B

Por favor, ayúdame.

pohr fah-VOR, ah-YOO-dah-meh. Please help me.
A

¿Cómo puedo ayudar?

KOH-moh PWEH-doh ah-yoo-DAR? How can I help?
B

Por favor, llámame más tarde.

pohr fah-VOR, YAH-mah-meh mahs TAR-deh. Please call me later.

Word by Word

Por favor “Por favor” is the polite request expression used in all six lines. “Por” contributes “for” and “favor” contributes “favor,” but together “Por favor” functions as “please,” making the request more polite. Use it before a request, as in “Por favor, dilo otra vez.”
dilo “dilo” means “say it” in “Por favor, dilo otra vez.” It asks the listener to say the relevant words again, with “lo” referring to what should be said. Use the pattern “Por favor, dilo...” when asking someone to repeat something.
otra “otra” means “another” in the expression “otra vez.” Here it contributes the idea of another occurrence, so “otra vez” means “again.” Use “otra vez” when asking for an action to happen again.
vez “vez” means a time or occasion in “otra vez.” Together with “otra,” it forms “otra vez,” meaning “again,” rather than describing a separate object. Use “otra vez” for a repeated action, as in “Por favor, dilo otra vez.”
escríbelo “escríbelo” means “write it down” in “Por favor, escríbelo.” The form combines the writing request with “lo,” which refers to the thing to be written. Use “Por favor, escríbelo” when asking someone to put a specific message or piece of information in writing.
muéstramelo “muéstramelo” means “show it to me” in “Por favor, muéstramelo.” The form includes both the thing being shown and the person receiving the showing: “lo” refers to it and “me” refers to me. Use it when asking someone to show an item or information directly to you.
ayúdame “ayúdame” means “help me” in “Por favor, ayúdame.” The ending “me” shows that the speaker is the person who needs help. Use it when directly asking another person for assistance.
Cómo “Cómo” means “how” in the question “¿Cómo puedo ayudar?” It asks about the way or manner of helping. Use “Cómo” to ask how an action can be done or how someone can help.
puedo “puedo” expresses “can” or “am able to” in “¿Cómo puedo ayudar?” Here it asks what help the speaker is able to provide. A useful pattern is “puedo” followed by an action, as in “puedo ayudar.”
ayudar “ayudar” means “help” in “¿Cómo puedo ayudar?” It names the action the speaker offers to do. Use it after “puedo” to ask or state whether you can help, as in “puedo ayudar.”
llámame “llámame” means “call me” in “Por favor, llámame más tarde.” The ending “me” identifies the person who should receive the call. Use it when asking someone to contact you by phone.
más “más” means “more” in the expression “más tarde.” Together, “más tarde” means “later,” with “más” moving the time further on. Use “más tarde” when asking or saying that something will happen at a later time.
tarde “tarde” means “late” in “más tarde.” With “más,” it forms “más tarde,” meaning “later,” or at a time further on. Use “más tarde” when arranging a later call or another action.

Grammar Points

Imperativo + pronombre átono

Muéstramelo, por favor.

MWEHS-trah-meh-loh, pohr fah-VOR.

Show it to me, please.

In commands, object pronouns attach to the end of the verb: muestra + me + lo → muéstramelo.

cómo + poder + infinitivo

¿Cómo puedo ayudar?

KOH-moh PWEH-doh ah-yoo-DAR?

How can I help?

Use cómo puedo + infinitive to ask how you can do something. The infinitive follows puedo.

Spanish Vocabulary

ayúdame verb
ah-YOO-dah-meh help me
ayudar verb
ah-yoo-DAR to help
cómo adv
KOH-moh how
dilo verb
DEE-loh say it
escríbelo verb
es-KREE-beh-loh write it down
llámame verb
YAH-mah-meh call me
más tarde adv
mahs TAR-deh later
muéstramelo verb
MWEHS-trah-meh-loh show it to me
otra vez adv
OH-trah bes again

Indicates that something should happen one more time.

por favor phrase
pohr fah-VOR please

Used to make a request polite.

puedo verb
PWEH-doh can

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Please say it again.

Show AnswerPor favor, dilo otra vez.

Please write it down.

Show AnswerPor favor, escríbelo.

Please show me.

Show AnswerPor favor, muéstramelo.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

can

Show Answerpuedo

show it to me

Show Answermuéstramelo

to help

Show Answerayudar

how

Show Answercómo