About This Lesson
Use Choosing between a salad and a sandwich to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
¿Debo elegir un sándwich o una ensalada?
DEH-boh eh-leh-HEER oon SAND-weech oh OO-nah eh-nah-SAH-dah Should I choose a sandwich or a salad?
B
La ensalada es una opción más ligera.
lah eh-nah-SAH-dah ehs OO-nah ohp-SYOHN mahs lee-HEH-rah The salad is a lighter option.
A
No tengo mucha hambre.
noh TEN-goh MOO-chah AHM-breh I am not very hungry.
B
Entonces te puede ir mejor.
ehn-TOHN-sehs teh PWEH-deh eer meh-HOR Then it may suit you better.
A
¿Qué vas a pedir?
keh vahs ah peh-DEER What are you getting?
B
Quiero algo más grande.
KYEH-roh AHL-goh mahs GRAHN-deh I want something bigger.
B
Voy a elegir el sándwich.
boy ah eh-leh-HEER ehl SAND-weech I will choose the sandwich.
A
La ensalada me parece bien.
lah eh-nah-SAH-dah meh pah-REH-seh byen The salad works for me.
B
Vamos a pedir cuando vuelva el camarero.
BAH-mohs ah peh-DEER KWAHN-doh BWEHL-bah ehl kah-mah-REH-roh Let's order when the server comes back.Word by Word
Debo
In “¿Debo elegir un sándwich o una ensalada?”, “Debo” asks whether the speaker should or must choose something. It is used with an infinitive in the pattern “Debo + infinitive”, such as “Debo elegir”. You can use it when asking about an action you are considering.
elegir
In “¿Debo elegir un sándwich o una ensalada?”, “elegir” means to choose between options. It follows “Debo” in “Debo elegir”; after “elegir”, the alternatives are introduced with “o”. Use it when selecting food, an activity, or another option.
un
In “un sándwich”, “un” means “a” and introduces the masculine singular noun “sándwich”. It is used directly before that noun in “un sándwich”. Use “un” before a masculine singular item when referring to one unspecified item.
sándwich
In “un sándwich”, “sándwich” means sandwich, the food option being considered. The complete phrase is “un sándwich”, with “un” before the noun. You can use “sándwich” when ordering or discussing this food.
o
In “un sándwich o una ensalada”, “o” connects two alternatives and means “or”. It appears between the two choices. Use it to ask or state which of two options someone wants.
una
In “una ensalada”, “una” means “a” and introduces the feminine singular noun “ensalada”. It is placed directly before that noun in “una ensalada”. Use “una” before a feminine singular item when referring to one unspecified item.
ensalada
In “una ensalada”, “ensalada” means salad, one of the foods being considered. The complete phrase is “una ensalada”, with “una” before the noun. You can use “ensalada” when ordering or discussing this food.
La
In “La ensalada es una opción más ligera”, “La” means “the” and identifies the salad already being discussed. It appears before the feminine noun “ensalada”. Use “La” before a known feminine singular noun.
es
In “La ensalada es una opción más ligera”, “es” links the salad with its description as a lighter option. It is used in the pattern “X es Y” to say what something is or how it is described. You can use “es” to describe a food or another known item.
opción
In “una opción más ligera”, “opción” means option or choice. The phrase “una opción más ligera” presents the salad as one choice in the decision. Use “opción” when discussing one possible choice among others.
más
In “una opción más ligera”, “más” means “more” and helps form the comparison “más ligera”, meaning “lighter”. It comes before the describing word. Use “más + adjective” when comparing qualities.
ligera
In “una opción más ligera”, “ligera” describes the option as lighter, in this context referring to the food choice. It follows “más” in “más ligera” and agrees with “opción” in this phrase. Use “más ligera” when comparing a food or choice with another one.
No
In “No tengo mucha hambre”, “No” makes the statement negative: the speaker does not have much hunger. It comes before “tengo” in this expression. Use “No” before the verb to say that something is not the case.
tengo
In “No tengo mucha hambre”, “tengo” is used with “hambre” to express that the speaker has hunger. Together, “No tengo mucha hambre” means that the speaker is not very hungry. Use “tengo” with a noun when saying that you have something.
mucha
In “No tengo mucha hambre”, “mucha” means “much” or “a lot of” and describes the amount of “hambre”. It comes before “hambre” in “mucha hambre”. Use “mucha” with a feminine singular noun for a large amount.
hambre
In “No tengo mucha hambre”, “hambre” means hunger. Spanish expresses the idea of being hungry with the construction “tener hambre”, so this dialogue says “tengo hambre” rather than using a separate adjective for hungry. Use “hambre” when talking about how much you want to eat.
Entonces
In “Entonces te puede ir mejor”, “Entonces” means “then” and connects this conclusion to the earlier statement that the speaker is not very hungry. It comes at the beginning of the sentence. Use it to introduce a result or conclusion.
te
In “Entonces te puede ir mejor”, “te” refers to the person who may be better served by the salad. It appears before “puede” in the expression “te puede ir mejor”. Use “te” when referring to something that affects or suits the person you are addressing.
puede
In “Entonces te puede ir mejor”, “puede” expresses possibility: the salad may suit the other person better. It is used with “te” and the infinitive “ir” in “te puede ir mejor”. Use “puede + infinitive” to say that something can or may happen.
ir
In “te puede ir mejor”, “ir” does not describe physical movement; the expression means that something may work or suit the person better. It follows “puede” in “puede ir”. Use “ir bien” or “ir mejor” when talking about how an option or situation works for someone.
mejor
In “te puede ir mejor”, “mejor” means “better” and compares how well the salad may suit the person. It comes after “ir” in “ir mejor”. Use “mejor” to describe an improved fit or result.
Qué
In “¿Qué vas a pedir?”, “Qué” means “what” and asks which thing the other person is going to order. It appears at the beginning of the question. Use “Qué” to ask for information about an object or choice.
vas
In “¿Qué vas a pedir?”, “vas” helps form the expression for what the other person is going to order. It is followed by “a pedir” in the pattern “vas a + infinitive”. Use this pattern to ask about a planned or imminent action.
a
In “vas a pedir”, “a” is the linking word in the pattern “ir a + infinitive”, which expresses going to do something. Here it connects “vas” with “pedir”. Use “a” in this construction before the action word.
pedir
In “¿Qué vas a pedir?”, “pedir” means to order or ask for something, especially food at a counter. It follows “vas a” in “vas a pedir”. Use “pedir” when ordering an item or requesting something.
Quiero
In “Quiero algo más grande”, “Quiero” means “I want” and states the speaker’s preference. It comes before the thing wanted in “Quiero algo más grande”. Use “Quiero + item” when ordering or expressing a preference.
algo
In “Quiero algo más grande”, “algo” means “something” and refers to an unspecified item. It is followed by “más grande”, which describes the desired item. Use “algo + description” when you want something with a particular quality.
grande
In “algo más grande”, “grande” describes the desired item as big, with “más grande” meaning bigger. It comes after “algo” in this phrase. Use “más grande” when comparing the size of one item with another.
Voy
In “Voy a elegir el sándwich”, “Voy” helps express the speaker’s intention to choose the sandwich. It is used with “a elegir” in the pattern “voy a + infinitive”. Use this pattern to say what you are going to do.
el
In “el sándwich”, “el” means “the” and identifies the specific sandwich the speaker has chosen. It comes before the masculine singular noun “sándwich”. Use “el” before a known masculine singular item.
me
In “La ensalada me parece bien”, “me” refers to the speaker and shows that the salad seems acceptable to that person. It appears before “parece” in “me parece bien”. Use “me” in expressions about how something seems or feels to you.
parece
In “La ensalada me parece bien”, “parece” helps express the speaker’s evaluation that the salad seems fine. It is used with “me” and “bien” in the expression “me parece bien”. Use “me parece bien” to say that you find a suggestion or option acceptable.
bien
In “La ensalada me parece bien”, “bien” means “fine” or “okay” and completes the expression “me parece bien”. The whole expression shows acceptance of the salad as a choice. Use “me parece bien” when agreeing that a plan or option is acceptable.
Vamos
In “Vamos a pedir cuando vuelva el camarero”, “Vamos” helps express “let’s” do the action together. It is followed by “a pedir” in the pattern “vamos a + infinitive”. Use this pattern to suggest a shared action.
cuando
In “cuando vuelva el camarero”, “cuando” means “when” and introduces the time condition for ordering. It connects the return of the server with the decision to order. Use “cuando” before an event that sets the time for another action.
vuelva
In “cuando vuelva el camarero”, “vuelva” means “comes back” or “returns” and refers to the server returning to the counter. It follows “cuando” in the time expression “cuando vuelva el camarero”. Use this expression when waiting for someone to return before doing something.
camarero
In “cuando vuelva el camarero”, “camarero” means server or waiter, the person expected to return before the speakers order. It is the subject of “vuelva” in this phrase. Use “camarero” when referring to the person serving customers in a restaurant or food counter.
Grammar Points
tener hambre
Tengo hambre.
TEN-goh AHM-brehI am hungry.
Spanish uses tener + hambre, literally “to have hunger,” instead of an adjective like “hungry.”
me parece bien
Me parece bien.
meh pah-REH-seh byenThat works for me.
The pronoun me comes before parece to show whose opinion or impression it is.
Spanish Vocabulary
algo
pron
AHL-goh
something
Quiero algo más grande.
elegir
verb
eh-leh-HEER
to choose
¿Debo elegir un sándwich o una ensalada?
ensalada
noun
eh-nah-SAH-dah
salad
La ensalada es una opción más ligera.
grande
adj
GRAHN-deh
big; large
Quiero algo más grande.
hambre
noun
AHM-breh
hunger
No tengo mucha hambre.
ir
verb
eer
to go
vas
¿Qué vas a pedir?
ligero
adj
lee-HEH-roh
light
ligera
La ensalada es una opción más ligera.
opción
noun
ohp-SYOHN
option
La ensalada es una opción más ligera.
pedir
verb
peh-DEER
to order; to ask for
¿Qué vas a pedir?
querer
verb
keh-REHR
to want
quiero
Quiero algo más grande.
sándwich
noun
SAND-weech
sandwich
¿Debo elegir un sándwich o una ensalada?
tener
verb
teh-NEHR
to have
tengo
No tengo mucha hambre.
Quiz
Word Order
Arrange the words in the correct order.
I am not very hungry.
Show Answer
No tengo mucha hambre.Then it may suit you better.
Show Answer
Entonces te puede ir mejor.What are you getting?
Show Answer
¿Qué vas a pedir?Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
hunger
Show Answer
hambresandwich
Show Answer
sándwichto order; to ask for
Show Answer
pediroption