About This Lesson
Use A Close Deadline to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
¿Se acerca pronto la fecha límite?
seh ah-SEHR-kah PROHN-toh lah FEH-chah LEE-mee-teh Is the deadline coming up soon?
B
La fecha límite está cerca.
lah FEH-chah LEE-mee-teh ehs-TAH SEHR-kah The deadline is close.
B
Entonces, vamos a empezar con la parte principal.
en-TOHN-sehs, VAH-mohs ah ehm-peh-SAR kohn lah PAR-teh preen-see-PAHL So let's start with the main part.
A
¿Quieres ocuparte de eso ahora?
KYEH-rehs oh-koo-PAR-teh deh EH-soh ah-OH-rah Do you want to take that on now?
B
Puedo empezar mientras tú revisas el archivo.
PWEH-doh ehm-peh-SAR mee-EHN-trahs too reh-BEE-sahs ehl ar-CHEE-boh I can start while you check the file.
A
¿Qué debo buscar primero?
keh DEH-boh boos-KAR pree-MEH-roh What should I look for first?
B
Asegúrate de que las notas coincidan con la solicitud.
ah-seh-GOO-rah-teh deh keh lahs NOH-tahs koyn-see-DAHN kohn lah soh-lee-see-TOOD Make sure the notes match the request.
A
Luego escribiré una actualización breve.
LWEH-goh ehs-kree-bee-REH OO-nah ahk-twah-lee-sah-SYOHN BREH-beh Then I'll write a short update.
B
Cuando esté lista, podemos compartirla.
KWAHN-doh ehs-TEH LEE-stah, poh-DEH-mohs kohm-par-TEER-lah When it's ready, we can share it.Word by Word
Se
In 'Se acerca', 'Se' helps express that the deadline is approaching. The full expression 'Se acerca' means that something is coming closer; the citation form is acercarse.
acerca
'acerca' means 'approaches' in 'Se acerca pronto la fecha límite'. Together with 'Se', it describes the deadline coming closer. A reusable pattern is 'Se acerca + a time or event'.
pronto
'pronto' means 'soon' here and shows that the deadline will be close in time. It commonly appears with an event or action that will happen soon, as in 'Se acerca pronto la fecha límite'.
la
'la' is the feminine singular form of 'the'. It appears as 'la' in 'la fecha' and as 'La' at the beginning of 'La fecha límite'. It comes before the feminine singular noun it introduces.
fecha
'fecha' means 'date' in 'la fecha límite'. Together, 'fecha límite' means 'deadline', so 'fecha' identifies the date involved. A reusable pattern is 'la fecha de + event or activity'.
límite
'límite' contributes the idea of a limit in 'la fecha límite'. The complete expression 'fecha límite' means 'deadline', the date by which something is due. It is used after 'fecha' in this expression.
está
'está' says that the deadline is currently near in 'La fecha límite está cerca'. It is a form of estar used for a current state or location. A reusable pattern is 'está + a state or location'.
cerca
'cerca' means 'near' or 'close' in 'está cerca'. It describes the deadline as close in time here. It commonly follows estar when describing something’s location or proximity.
Entonces
'Entonces' means 'so' or 'then' and connects the close deadline with the next action. Here it introduces the suggestion 'Entonces, vamos a empezar'. It can also mark what happens next in a conversation.
vamos
'vamos' helps form the suggestion 'vamos a empezar', meaning 'let’s start'. The citation form is ir, and this form is used when proposing an action for the speaker and listener together. A reusable pattern is 'vamos a + infinitive'.
a
'a' is the linking word in 'vamos a empezar'. In this construction, it connects 'vamos' with the action expressed by the infinitive 'empezar'. The reusable pattern is 'vamos a + infinitive' for suggesting a shared action.
empezar
'empezar' means 'to start' or 'to begin' in 'vamos a empezar'. It remains in this infinitive form after 'vamos a'. A reusable pattern is 'empezar con + thing or activity'.
con
'con' means 'with' and introduces what the speakers will start with in 'empezar con la parte principal'. It links the action of starting to its first part or focus. A reusable pattern is 'empezar con + noun'.
parte
'parte' means 'part' in 'la parte principal'. It identifies one section of the work rather than the whole task. It commonly appears with an article and an adjective, as in 'la parte principal'.
principal
'principal' means 'main' in 'la parte principal'. It identifies which part the speakers will begin with. It follows the noun in this dialogue and describes its importance within the task.
Quieres
'Quieres' asks whether the other person wants to do something in '¿Quieres ocuparte de eso ahora?'. The citation form is querer, and 'Quieres + infinitive' is a reusable way to ask about someone’s willingness to act.
ocuparte
'ocuparte' means 'to take care of' or 'to handle' in 'ocuparte de eso'. The form belongs to the construction ocuparse de, with 'te' attached for the person being addressed. A reusable pattern is 'ocuparte de + task or thing'.
de
'de' links 'ocuparte' to the thing being handled in 'ocuparte de eso'. In this construction, it introduces the task or matter someone will take care of. The reusable pattern is 'ocuparse de + thing'.
eso
'eso' means 'that' and refers to the task under discussion in 'ocuparte de eso'. It points to something already understood from the conversation. It commonly follows 'de' when naming the matter someone will handle.
ahora
'ahora' means 'now' and asks whether the task should be handled at this time. It adds the timing to '¿Quieres ocuparte de eso ahora?'. It can be placed with an action to specify that it is happening at the present time.
Puedo
'Puedo' means 'I can' and expresses the speaker’s ability or availability to start in 'Puedo empezar'. The citation form is poder, and 'Puedo + infinitive' is a reusable pattern for saying what the speaker can do.
mientras
'mientras' means 'while' and introduces an action happening at the same time as another action. In 'mientras tú revisas el archivo', it links the listener’s checking with the speaker’s starting. It commonly introduces a clause with a subject and verb.
tú
'tú' means 'you' and explicitly identifies the person who checks the file in 'mientras tú revisas el archivo'. It makes the subject clear in this clause. It is used here before the verb 'revisas'.
revisas
'revisas' means 'you check' or 'you review' in 'tú revisas el archivo'. The citation form is revisar, and this form is used with the person addressed. A reusable pattern is 'revisar + document or file'.
el
'el' means 'the' before the masculine singular noun 'archivo'. In 'el archivo', it introduces the specific file being checked. It is the masculine singular article.
archivo
'archivo' means 'file' in 'revisas el archivo'. It identifies the workplace document that the listener will check. A reusable pattern is 'revisar el archivo'.
Qué
'Qué' means 'what' and asks which thing the speaker should look for in '¿Qué debo buscar primero?'. The accent marks it as a question word. It commonly appears before a verb or noun when asking for specific information.
debo
'debo' means 'I should' or 'I must' in 'debo buscar'. The citation form is deber, and 'debo + infinitive' expresses what the speaker is expected or required to do. Here it asks about the first required search.
buscar
'buscar' means 'to look for' or 'to search' in 'debo buscar primero'. The citation form is buscar, and it remains in the infinitive after 'debo'. A reusable pattern is 'buscar + thing'.
primero
'primero' means 'first' and shows the order in which the speaker should search. In '¿Qué debo buscar primero?', it asks which item should be checked before the others. It can be used with an action to mark its first step.
Asegúrate
'Asegúrate' means 'make sure' and gives a direct instruction in 'Asegúrate de que las notas coincidan con la solicitud'. The citation form is asegurarse, and this form addresses one person. The reusable pattern is 'Asegúrate de que + clause'.
que
'que' introduces the clause describing what must be checked in 'Asegúrate de que las notas coincidan con la solicitud'. It connects the instruction with the condition that the notes match the request. It commonly follows 'de' in this construction.
las
'las' means 'the' before the feminine plural noun 'notas'. In 'las notas', it introduces the specific notes being checked. It is the feminine plural article.
notas
'notas' means 'notes' in 'las notas coincidan con la solicitud'. It refers to the written information that must match the request. A reusable pattern is 'revisar las notas'.
coincidan
'coincidan' means 'match' in 'que las notas coincidan con la solicitud'. The citation form is coincidir, and the construction 'coincidir con + thing' expresses agreement or correspondence with something. Here the notes must correspond to the request.
solicitud
'solicitud' means 'request' in 'la solicitud'. It identifies the request that the notes must match. A reusable pattern is 'coincidir con la solicitud'.
Luego
'Luego' means 'then' or 'afterward' and places the writing action after the checking task. In 'Luego escribiré una actualización breve', it organizes the next step. It is useful for describing actions in sequence.
escribiré
'escribiré' means 'I will write' and announces a later action in 'Luego escribiré una actualización breve'. The citation form is escribir, and this form presents the writing as the speaker’s next step. A reusable pattern is 'escribiré + document or message'.
una
'una' means 'a' before the feminine singular noun 'actualización'. In 'una actualización breve', it introduces one update that has not been specified before. It comes before the noun and its description.
actualización
'actualización' means 'update' in 'una actualización breve'. It refers to the short piece of information the speaker will write. A reusable pattern is 'escribir una actualización'.
breve
'breve' means 'short' or 'brief' in 'una actualización breve'. It describes the update as containing only a small amount of information. It follows the noun in this dialogue.
Cuando
'Cuando' means 'when' and introduces the time condition in 'Cuando esté lista'. It connects the update being ready with the later action of sharing it. It commonly begins a clause that states when something will happen.
esté
'esté' expresses the state of being ready in 'Cuando esté lista'. The citation form is estar, and this form appears in the time clause introduced by 'Cuando'. Together with 'lista', it means 'is ready'.
lista
'lista' means 'ready' in 'Cuando esté lista'. It describes the update, which is feminine in 'una actualización'. It follows 'esté' to state the condition required before sharing.
podemos
'podemos' means 'we can' and expresses the speakers’ ability or possibility to share the update in 'podemos compartirla'. The citation form is poder, and 'podemos + infinitive' is a reusable pattern for saying what a group can do.
compartirla
'compartirla' means 'to share it' in 'podemos compartirla'. It combines the infinitive compartir, 'to share', with 'la', referring to the update. A reusable pattern is 'podemos compartirla' when an already mentioned feminine item can be shared.
Grammar Points
Asegúrate de que + subjuntivo
Asegúrate de que las notas coincidan.
ah-seh-GOO-rah-teh deh keh lahs NOH-tahs koyn-see-DAHNMake sure the notes match.
After “asegúrate de que,” Spanish uses the subjunctive for something that must be ensured: coincidan.
cuando + subjuntivo
Cuando esté lista, compartiré la actualización.
KWAHN-doh ehs-TEH LEE-stah, kohm-par-tee-REH lah ahk-twah-lee-sah-SYOHNWhen it is ready, I will share the update.
Use the subjunctive after “cuando” for a future event that has not happened yet: esté.
Spanish Vocabulary
acercarse
verb
ah-sehr-KAR-seh
to approach; to come closer
se acerca
¿Se acerca pronto la fecha límite?
ahora
adv
ah-OH-rah
now
cerca
adv
SEHR-kah
close; nearby
empezar
verb
ehm-peh-SAR
to start
entonces
adv
en-TOHN-sehs
so; then
fecha límite
phrase
FEH-chah LEE-mee-teh
deadline
mientras
conj
mee-EHN-trahs
while
ocuparse de
phrase
oh-koo-PAR-seh deh
to take care of; to handle
ocuparte de
parte
noun
PAR-teh
part
principal
adj
preen-see-PAHL
main; principal
pronto
adv
PROHN-toh
soon
querer
verb
keh-REHR
to want
quieres
Quiz
Word Order
Arrange the words in the correct order.
Is the deadline coming up soon?
Show Answer
¿Se acerca pronto la fecha límite?The deadline is close.
Show Answer
La fecha límite está cerca.Do you want to take that on now?
Show Answer
¿Quieres ocuparte de eso ahora?Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
so; then
Show Answer
entoncessoon
Show Answer
prontomain; principal
Show Answer
principalto want