Fixing a Loose Chair | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: In a room, two adults notice a loose chair, choose another seat, and move the unsafe chair away from the walkway..

EN → ES / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Fixing a Loose Chair to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Esta silla está floja.

ESS-tah SEE-yah ess-TAH FLOH-hah. This chair feels loose.
B

¿Qué parte se mueve?

keh PAR-teh seh MWEH-beh? Which part is moving?
A

La pata trasera se mueve un poco.

lah PAH-tah trah-SEH-rah seh MWEH-beh oon POH-koh. The back leg wobbles a little.
B

Debemos arreglarla antes de que alguien la use.

deh-BEH-mohs ah-rreh-GLAR-lah AHN-tehs deh keh ahl-GYEHN lah OO-seh. We should fix it before anyone uses it.
A

¿Me siento en otro sitio?

meh SYEHN-toh ehn OH-troh SEE-tyoh? Should I sit somewhere else?
B

Usa otra silla por ahora.

OO-sah OH-trah SEE-yah pohr ah-OH-rah. Use another chair for now.
A

Voy a apartar esta silla.

boy ah ah-par-TAR ESS-tah SEE-yah. I will move this one away.
B

Ponla contra la pared para dejar libre el paso.

POHN-lah KOHN-trah lah pah-REHD PAH-rah deh-HAR LEE-breh ehl PAH-soh. Put it against the wall so the walkway stays clear.

Word by Word

Esta “Esta” means “this” in “Esta silla está floja,” pointing to the chair being discussed. It is used before a noun, as in “Esta silla” for “this chair.” You could use it when identifying one nearby thing to another person.
silla “Silla” means “chair” in “Esta silla está floja.” It is the thing being described and is used after a word such as “Esta” or “otra.” Use it when talking about a chair someone can sit on or move.
está “Está” says that the chair is currently in the condition described by “floja.” In “Esta silla está floja,” it links the chair with its present condition; it is a form of “estar.” Use “está” when describing a current condition or state.
floja “Floja” means “loose” here, describing the chair as unsafe or not firmly fixed. In “Esta silla está floja,” it describes “silla” and matches that noun’s form. Use it to describe something that is not tight or firm when that meaning is clear.
Qué “Qué” asks what or which in “¿Qué parte se mueve?” It appears before the noun “parte” to ask which part is moving. Use “Qué” in a question when asking for information about an identified thing or part.
parte “Parte” means “part” in “¿Qué parte se mueve?” and refers to one section of the chair, such as a leg. It can follow “Qué” in the pattern “¿Qué parte...?” Use it when asking which section of an object is involved.
se In “¿Qué parte se mueve?”, “se” is part of “se mueve,” describing the part as moving. Its meaning comes from the movement expression as a whole, not from “se” alone. Use “se” with this kind of movement expression when describing something that moves.
mueve “Mueve” means “moves” or “is moving” in “¿Qué parte se mueve?” It describes movement by the part being asked about and is used with “se” here. Use “se mueve” to ask or say that something is moving.
La “La” means “the” in “La pata trasera se mueve un poco,” referring to a specific leg. It comes before the noun “pata.” Use it before a known feminine noun when referring to a particular thing.
pata “Pata” means “leg” here, specifically a leg of the chair in “La pata trasera se mueve un poco.” It is followed by “trasera” to identify which leg. Use it when referring to the leg of furniture or another object.
trasera “Trasera” means “back” or “rear” in “La pata trasera,” identifying the leg at the back. It describes “pata” in this expression. Use it after a noun when specifying that something is at the back.
un “Un” means “a” in “un poco,” the expression used for a small amount. It combines with “poco” rather than describing the leg by itself. Use “un poco” before an adjective or verb expression to indicate a small degree or amount.
poco “Poco” means “a little” in “se mueve un poco,” showing that the movement is small. Together with “un,” it forms the quantity expression “un poco.” Use “un poco” when something happens to a small degree.
Debemos “Debemos” means “we should” or “we must” in “Debemos arreglarla,” expressing that the speakers consider fixing the chair necessary. It is a form of “deber” used with “arreglarla.” Use “Debemos + infinitive” to state what we should or must do.
arreglarla “Arreglarla” means “fix it” in “Debemos arreglarla,” referring to the chair. It combines “arreglar” with “la,” which refers to the feminine noun “silla.” Use the pattern “Debemos + infinitive + la” when saying that we should fix a particular feminine object.
antes “Antes” means “before” in “antes de que alguien la use,” setting a time limit for the fixing. Here it is part of the larger expression “antes de que.” Use “antes de que” before a clause describing something that must not happen first.
de In “antes de que alguien la use,” “de” is the connecting word in the expression “antes de que.” It links “antes” to the clause that follows. Use “antes de que” to say that one action should happen before another event.
que In “antes de que alguien la use,” “que” introduces the clause about someone using the chair. It completes the expression “antes de que” and connects it to “alguien la use.” Use “que” here to introduce the event that must come later.
alguien “Alguien” means “anyone” or “someone” in “antes de que alguien la use,” referring to an unspecified person. It is used before the clause “la use.” Use it when the person is not identified or does not matter.
use “Use” describes the action of using the chair in “antes de que alguien la use.” It follows “alguien” in the clause about a possible later user. Use it in this pattern when referring to someone using an object.
Me “Me” marks the speaker as the person sitting in “¿Me siento en otro sitio?” It is part of the expression “me siento,” not a separate translation of the whole question. Use “me siento” when asking or saying that you sit somewhere.
siento “Siento” means “sit” in “¿Me siento en otro sitio?” because it is used with “Me” in the expression “me siento.” The phrase asks whether the speaker should sit in another place. Use “me siento en...” to say where you sit.
en “En” means “in” or “at” in “en otro sitio,” indicating the place where someone sits. It comes before the location expression “otro sitio.” Use “en” before a place when saying where someone is or sits.
otro “Otro” means “another” in “otro sitio,” referring to a different place from the current one. It comes before the noun “sitio.” Use “otro + noun” when choosing a different option.
sitio “Sitio” means “place” or “spot” in “¿Me siento en otro sitio?” and refers to another place to sit. It follows “otro” in the phrase “otro sitio.” Use it when referring to a place or available spot.
Usa “Usa” tells one person to use another chair in “Usa otra silla por ahora.” It is a direct instruction followed by the object “otra silla.” Use “Usa + object” when telling one person to use something.
otra “Otra” means “another” in “otra silla,” directing the person to choose a different chair. It comes before “silla” and matches that noun’s form. Use “otra + noun” when referring to a different feminine thing.
por In “por ahora,” “por” is part of the expression meaning “for now.” It combines with “ahora” to limit the instruction to the present situation. Use “por ahora” when a temporary choice applies at the moment.
ahora “Ahora” means “now” in “por ahora,” referring to the current time. Together with “por,” it makes the temporary expression “por ahora.” Use it when talking about what applies at the present moment.
Voy “Voy” means “I am going to” in “Voy a apartar esta silla,” introducing the speaker’s planned action. It is a form of “ir” used with “a” and an infinitive. Use “Voy a + infinitive” to say what you are going to do.
a In “Voy a apartar esta silla,” “a” is part of the construction “Voy a + infinitive,” which expresses a planned action. It connects “Voy” with “apartar.” Use this construction before an infinitive to say what you are going to do.
apartar “Apartar” means “move aside” or “move away” in “Voy a apartar esta silla.” It is the action planned by the speaker and follows “Voy a.” Use “Voy a + apartar” when saying that you are going to move something out of the way.
Ponla “Ponla” means “put it” in “Ponla contra la pared,” referring to the chair. It combines the command “Pon” with “la,” which refers to “silla.” Use “Ponla + place” when telling someone to put a feminine object somewhere.
contra “Contra” means “against” in “contra la pared,” describing contact with the wall. It comes before the location “la pared.” Use “poner algo contra...” when placing something against a surface.
pared “Pared” means “wall” in “contra la pared,” the surface against which the chair should be placed. It follows “la” in the expression “la pared.” Use it when describing a room’s wall or placing something against it.
para “Para” means “to” or “in order to” in “para dejar libre el paso,” introducing the purpose of moving the chair. It comes before the infinitive “dejar.” Use “para + infinitive” to explain why an action is done.
dejar “Dejar” means “leave” or “keep” in “para dejar libre el paso,” meaning to leave the walkway clear. It follows “para” and takes “libre el paso” as the result. Use “para dejar + object + adjective” to describe keeping something in a particular condition.
libre “Libre” means “clear” or “free” in “dejar libre el paso,” describing the walkway as unobstructed. It describes “el paso” in this expression. Use “dejar algo libre” when an action keeps or leaves a space unobstructed.
el “El” means “the” in “el paso,” referring to the specific walkway or passage in the room. It comes before “paso.” Use it before a known masculine noun when referring to a particular thing.
paso “Paso” means “walkway” or “passage” in “dejar libre el paso,” the space people need to walk through. It is the object that should remain clear. Use “dejar libre el paso” when keeping a route open.

Grammar Points

antes de que + subjuntivo

Debemos arreglarla antes de que alguien la use.

deh-BEH-mohs ah-rreh-GLAR-lah AHN-tehs deh keh ahl-GYEHN lah OO-seh.

We should fix it before someone uses it.

After “antes de que,” Spanish uses the subjunctive; “use” refers to an action that has not happened yet.

imperativo afirmativo + pronombre: ponla

Ponla contra la pared para dejar libre el paso.

POHN-lah KOHN-trah lah pah-REHD PAH-rah deh-HAR LEE-breh ehl PAH-soh.

Put it against the wall to leave the passage clear.

In an affirmative command, the object pronoun attaches to the verb: pon + la → ponla.

Spanish Vocabulary

alguien pron
ahl-GYEHN someone; anyone

antes de que alguien la use

antes de que conj
AHN-tehs deh keh before

Debemos arreglarla antes de que alguien la use.

arreglar verb
ah-rreh-GLAR to fix arreglarla

Debemos arreglarla antes de que alguien la use.

deber verb
deh-BEHR should; must debemos

Debemos arreglarla antes de que alguien la use.

flojo adj
FLOH-hoh loose floja

Esta silla está floja.

moverse verb
moh-BEHR-seh to move se mueve

¿Qué parte se mueve?

parte noun
PAR-teh part

¿Qué parte se mueve?

pata noun
PAH-tah leg

La pata trasera se mueve un poco.

poco adv
POH-koh a little

La pata trasera se mueve un poco.

silla noun
SEE-yah chair

Esta silla está floja.

trasero adj
trah-SEH-roh back; rear trasera

La pata trasera se mueve un poco.

usar verb
oo-SAR to use use

antes de que alguien la use

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

This chair feels loose.

Show AnswerEsta silla está floja.

Which part is moving?

Show Answer¿Qué parte se mueve?

Should I sit somewhere else?

Show Answer¿Me siento en otro sitio?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

leg

Show Answerpata

loose

Show Answerfloja

a little

Show Answerpoco

chair

Show Answersilla