About This Lesson
Use Finding orange juice in a grocery shop to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
¿Cuántas rebanadas de pan debemos comprar?
KWAHN-tahs reh-bah-NAH-dahs deh pahn deh-BEH-mohs kohm-PRAR? How many slices of bread should we buy?
B
Cuatro rebanadas en total.
KWAH-troh reh-bah-NAH-dahs ehn toh-TAHL. Four slices in total.
B
Dos para mí y dos para ti.
Dohs PAH-rah MEE ee dohs PAH-rah TEE. Two for me and two for you.
A
Eso debería ser suficiente. Todavía necesitamos jugo de naranja.
EH-soh deh-beh-REE-ah sehr soo-fee-SYEN-teh. Toh-dah-BEE-ah neh-seh-see-TAH-mohs HOO-goh deh nah-RAHN-hah. That should be enough. We still need orange juice.
B
¿Puedes encontrar el jugo de naranja?
PWEH-dehs ehn-kohn-TRAHR ehl HOO-goh deh nah-RAHN-hah? Can you find the orange juice?
A
Todavía no. Vamos a mirar el siguiente estante.
Toh-dah-BEE-ah noh. BAH-mohs ah mee-RAHR ehl see-GYEN-teh ehs-TAHN-teh. Not yet. Let's check the next shelf.
B
Vamos a preguntarle a alguien que trabaja aquí.
BAH-mohs ah preh-goon-TAR-leh ah ahl-GYEN keh trah-BAH-hah ah-KEE. Let's ask someone who works here.Word by Word
Cuántas
“Cuántas” asks how many of the feminine plural items mentioned here, “rebanadas”. It is used before the noun in the question “¿Cuántas rebanadas de pan debemos comprar?”. A reusable pattern is “¿Cuántas …?” when asking about a quantity.
rebanadas
“Rebanadas” means slices, specifically the slices of bread being bought here. The pattern “rebanadas de + food” identifies what has been sliced, as in “rebanadas de pan”.
de
“De” links “rebanadas” with “pan” and means of in “rebanadas de pan”. The reusable pattern “noun de noun” can identify the material, type, or thing associated with a noun.
pan
“Pan” means bread and identifies what the slices are made from in “rebanadas de pan”. It can be used after “de” to specify the kind of slices.
debemos
“Debemos” means we should or need to in “debemos comprar”. It is followed here by the action “comprar”; a reusable pattern is “debemos + infinitive” for something the speakers should or need to do.
comprar
“Comprar” means to buy and names the action that follows “debemos”. The pattern “comprar + object” identifies what someone plans or needs to buy.
en
In “en total”, “en” helps express that the amount is counted altogether. The fixed expression “en total” is used after or before an amount to give the complete sum.
total
“Total” specifies the complete amount in “en total”, meaning altogether. Use it in “en total” when reporting the full number or quantity.
para
“Para” means for in “para mí” and “para ti”, marking who receives or is intended to have the slices. The reusable pattern “para + person” identifies who something is for.
mí
“Mí” means me after “para” in “para mí”, showing that two slices are intended for the speaker. Use “para mí” to say that something is for me.
y
“Y” means and and connects the two allocations, “dos para mí” and “dos para ti”. Use it to join people, objects, or actions.
ti
“Ti” means you after “para” in “para ti”, showing that two slices are intended for the other person. Use “para ti” to say that something is for you.
Eso
“Eso” means that and refers here to the amount of bread just discussed. In “Eso debería ser suficiente”, it serves as the thing that is expected to be enough.
debería
“Debería” means should in “debería ser suficiente”, expressing that the amount is expected to be enough. The reusable pattern “debería + infinitive” gives a recommendation or expectation.
ser
“Ser” means be and follows “debería” in “debería ser suficiente”. The pattern “debería ser + description” expresses that something should have a particular quality or result.
suficiente
“Suficiente” means enough and completes “ser suficiente”, describing the amount of bread as adequate. Use “ser suficiente” when saying that an amount or thing meets a need.
Todavía
“Todavía” means still in “Todavía necesitamos jugo de naranja”, showing that the need continues. With “no” in “Todavía no”, it means yet or not yet; the reusable patterns are “todavía + verb” and “todavía no”.
necesitamos
“Necesitamos” means we need and states that the speakers still need orange juice. A reusable pattern is “necesitamos + noun”, as in “necesitamos jugo de naranja”, or “necesitamos + infinitive” for an action that is necessary.
jugo
“Jugo” means juice and is the main item still needed in “jugo de naranja”. The pattern “jugo de + noun” identifies the kind of juice.
naranja
“Naranja” means orange and specifies the kind of juice in “jugo de naranja”. Use it after “jugo de” to identify orange juice.
Puedes
“Puedes” means can you in “¿Puedes encontrar el jugo de naranja?”, asking whether the other person is able to find something. The reusable pattern “¿Puedes + infinitive …?” asks someone to do or check something.
encontrar
“Encontrar” means find and follows “puedes” in the question “¿Puedes encontrar el jugo de naranja?”. The pattern “puedes encontrar + object” asks whether someone can locate a specific thing.
el
“El” means the and introduces the specific juice being sought in “el jugo de naranja”. It helps present “jugo de naranja” as a particular item in the shop.
no
“No” means not and combines with “Todavía” in “Todavía no” to mean not yet. Use “todavía no” when an expected action has not happened at the present time.
Vamos
“Vamos” means let’s in “Vamos a mirar” and “Vamos a preguntarle”, suggesting a joint action. The reusable pattern “vamos a + infinitive” proposes something the speakers will do together.
a
In “vamos a mirar” and “vamos a preguntarle”, “a” connects “vamos” with the following action. The pattern “vamos a + infinitive” is used to suggest or announce a shared action.
mirar
“Mirar” means look at or check and names the action directed toward the next shelf. It follows “vamos a” in “Vamos a mirar el siguiente estante”; a reusable pattern is “mirar + object”.
siguiente
“Siguiente” means next and identifies which shelf the speakers will check in “el siguiente estante”. Use “el siguiente + noun” to refer to the next item in an order or sequence.
estante
“Estante” means shelf and is the object being checked in “mirar el siguiente estante”. It can be used after “mirar” to name the shelf someone is looking at.
preguntarle
“Preguntarle a alguien” means to ask someone; “le” refers to the person being asked, and “a alguien” identifies that person as someone unspecified. The reusable pattern is “preguntarle a alguien” when asking a person for information or help.
alguien
“Alguien” means someone and refers here to an unspecified person who works in the shop. In “preguntarle a alguien”, it identifies the person the speakers plan to ask.
que
“Que” means who or that here and introduces “que trabaja aquí”, which describes the person they want to ask. The reusable pattern “alguien que + verb” identifies someone by what that person does.
trabaja
“Trabaja” means works and describes the person in “alguien que trabaja aquí”. The pattern “trabaja + location” can say where someone works, as in “trabaja aquí”.
aquí
“Aquí” means here and indicates that the person works in the grocery shop where the speakers are. It can be placed after a verb to state the relevant location, as in “trabaja aquí”.
Grammar Points
vamos a + infinitivo
Vamos a mirar.
BAH-mohs ah mee-RAHR.Let's look.
Use vamos a followed by an infinitive to suggest an action or say what we are going to do.
Spanish Vocabulary
comprar
verb
kohm-PRAR
to buy
debemos comprar
cuántas
det
KWAHN-tahs
how many
¿Cuántas rebanadas?
cuatro
num
KWAH-troh
four
Cuatro rebanadas
dos
num
dohs
two
Dos para mí y dos para ti.
en total
phrase
ehn toh-TAHL
in total
Cuatro rebanadas en total.
eso
pron
EH-soh
that
Eso debería ser suficiente.
mí
pron
MEE
me
para mí
pan
noun
pahn
bread
rebanadas de pan
para
prep
PAH-rah
for
Dos para mí.
rebanada
noun
reh-bah-NAH-dah
slice
rebanadas
Cuatro rebanadas de pan.
suficiente
adj
soo-fee-SYEN-teh
enough; sufficient
ser suficiente
ti
pron
TEE
you
para ti
Quiz
Word Order
Arrange the words in the correct order.
How many slices of bread should we buy?
Show Answer
¿Cuántas rebanadas de pan debemos comprar?Four slices in total.
Show Answer
Cuatro rebanadas en total.Can you find the orange juice?
Show Answer
¿Puedes encontrar el jugo de naranja?Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
four
Show Answer
cuatroslice
Show Answer
rebanadashow many
Show Answer
cuántasfor