Keeping a Shared Kitchen Clean | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: In a shared kitchen, two adults talk about washing a cup, wiping the table, and putting trash in the right bin..

EN → ES / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Keeping a Shared Kitchen Clean to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

¿Puedo lavar mi taza aquí?

PWEH-doh lah-BAR mee TAH-sah ah-KEE Can I wash my cup here?
B

Usa el fregadero de la izquierda.

OO-sah el freh-gah-DEH-roh deh lah ees-KYEHR-dah Use the sink on the left.
A

Quiero mantener limpio el espacio.

KYEH-roh mahn-teh-NEHR LEEM-pyoh el ehs-PAH-syoh I want to keep the space clean.
B

Por favor, limpia la mesa después de terminar.

pohr fah-BOR, LEEM-pyah lah MEH-sah dehs-PWEHS deh tehr-mee-NAHR Please wipe the table after you finish.
A

¿La basura va en este cubo?

LAH bah-SOO-rah bah en EH-steh KOO-boh Does trash go in this bin?
B

Ponla en el cubo junto a la puerta.

POHN-lah en el KOO-boh HOON-toh ah lah PWEHR-tah Put it in the bin by the door.
A

Me encargo de eso ahora.

meh en-KAHR-goh deh EH-soh ah-OH-rah I will take care of it now.
B

Eso mantiene la cocina lista para todos.

EH-soh mahn-TYEH-neh lah koh-SEE-nah LEES-tah PAH-rah TOH-dohs That keeps the kitchen ready for everyone.

Word by Word

Puedo “Puedo” means “can” or “may” here, asking for permission to wash the cup. It is the form used in the question “¿Puedo lavar mi taza aquí?”. A reusable pattern is “Puedo” followed by an action to ask whether you may do it.
lavar “Lavar” means “to wash” in “¿Puedo lavar mi taza aquí?”. It names the action the speaker wants permission to do. A reusable pattern is “Puedo lavar” followed by the thing being washed.
mi “Mi” means “my” and identifies the cup as belonging to the speaker in “mi taza”. It comes directly before the thing that belongs to the speaker. The same pattern can be used with another personal possession.
taza “Taza” means “cup” in “mi taza”. It is the thing that the speaker wants to wash. A reusable pattern is “lavar” followed by an object such as “mi taza”.
aquí “Aquí” means “here”, referring to the place where the speaker wants to wash the cup. It appears at the end of “¿Puedo lavar mi taza aquí?”. This word is useful when asking whether an action is allowed in the current place.
Usa “Usa” tells someone to use something, here the sink on the left. It is the direct instruction in “Usa el fregadero de la izquierda”. A reusable pattern is “Usa” followed by the thing or place to use.
el “El” means “the” before “fregadero”, referring to a specific sink. In “el fregadero de la izquierda”, it introduces the sink being identified. It is used before a masculine singular noun in this dialogue.
fregadero “Fregadero” means “sink” in “el fregadero de la izquierda”. It identifies the place where the cup should be washed. A reusable pattern is “usar el fregadero” when directing someone to use the sink.
de “De” links “fregadero” with “la izquierda” in “el fregadero de la izquierda”, identifying which sink is meant. Here it contributes the sense of “of” or “on the”. It commonly links a noun with information that specifies or describes it.
la “La” means “the” before “izquierda” in “la izquierda”. It introduces the left side being used to identify the sink. It is used before a feminine singular noun in this dialogue.
izquierda “Izquierda” means “left” in “de la izquierda”, specifying the side where the sink is located. Together with “la”, it identifies one side as “the left”. This pattern can be used to distinguish a place by its side or direction.
Quiero “Quiero” means “I want” in “Quiero mantener limpio el espacio”. It expresses the speaker’s intention to keep the shared area clean. A reusable pattern is “Quiero” followed by an action.
mantener “Mantener” means “to keep” or “maintain” in “Quiero mantener limpio el espacio”. It describes continuing the space’s clean condition. A reusable pattern is “mantener” followed by a thing and the condition to keep it in.
limpio “Limpio” means “clean” in “mantener limpio el espacio”, describing the condition the space should remain in. It appears between “mantener” and “el espacio”. This pattern expresses keeping something clean.
el espacio “El espacio” means “the space” in “Quiero mantener limpio el espacio”. It refers to the shared area of the kitchen. A reusable pattern is “mantener limpio el espacio” when talking about keeping an area clean.
Por favor “Por favor” is the polite expression “please” in “Por favor, limpia la mesa”. “Por” and “favor” work together: “por” supplies the first part of the expression and “favor” refers to a favor or kindness. Use “Por favor” before a request to make it polite.
limpia “Limpia” tells the other person to wipe or clean the table in “limpia la mesa”. It is the action requested after “Por favor”. A reusable pattern is “limpia” followed by the surface or thing that should be cleaned.
mesa “Mesa” means “table” in “limpia la mesa”. It is the surface that should be wiped after the person finishes. A reusable pattern is “limpiar la mesa” when asking someone to clean the table.
después “Después” means “after” or “afterward” in “después de terminar”. It places the wiping after the other action is complete. A reusable pattern is “después de” followed by an action or event.
terminar “Terminar” means “to finish” in “después de terminar”. It identifies the action that must be completed before wiping the table. The pattern “después de terminar” means after finishing.
basura “Basura” means “trash” or “garbage” in “¿La basura va en este cubo?”. It is the material whose correct bin placement is being checked. A reusable pattern is “la basura” followed by a question about where it goes.
va “Va” means “goes” in “¿La basura va en este cubo?”. Here it asks whether the trash belongs in this bin. A common reuse pattern is “[something] va en [a place]” to ask or say where something should go.
en “En” means “in” in “va en este cubo”, showing the bin where the trash would go. It links the action of going with the destination or location. A reusable pattern is “va en” followed by a container or place.
este “Este” means “this” in “este cubo”, pointing to the bin near the speaker. It comes directly before “cubo” to identify a specific nearby item. Use this pattern when selecting one particular object.
cubo “Cubo” means “bin” in “este cubo”. It is the container being considered for the trash. A reusable pattern is “en este cubo” when asking whether something belongs in this bin.
Ponla “Ponla” means “put it” in “Ponla en el cubo junto a la puerta”. The form combines the instruction to put something with “la”, referring here to “la basura”. A reusable pattern is “Ponla en” followed by the destination when directing someone where to put a feminine object.
junto “Junto” means “next to” in “junto a la puerta”, locating the bin beside the door. It works with “a” to identify what the bin is next to. A reusable pattern is “junto a” followed by a place or object.
a “A” completes the location expression “junto a la puerta”, meaning “next to the door”. It links “junto” with the object used as the reference point. The reusable pattern is “junto a” followed by the nearby object.
puerta “Puerta” means “door” in “junto a la puerta”. It is the reference point used to locate the bin. A reusable pattern is “junto a la puerta” when describing something positioned beside the door.
Me “Me” is the “me” element in “Me encargo de eso ahora”. With “encargo”, the whole expression means that the speaker will take care of it. This expression is used when the speaker accepts responsibility for handling something.
encargo “Encargo” contributes to the expression “Me encargo de eso ahora”, meaning “I take care of that” or “I will handle that”. The complete construction includes “Me” and “de eso”, so it keeps its object and responsibility meaning. Use “Me encargo de” followed by the thing that will be handled.
eso “Eso” means “that” in “Me encargo de eso ahora”, referring to the task just discussed, such as putting the trash in the correct bin. It appears after “de” as the thing the speaker will handle. A reusable pattern is “Me encargo de eso” when taking responsibility for that task.
ahora “Ahora” means “now” in “Me encargo de eso ahora”. It shows that the speaker will handle the task at this time. This word can be placed with an action to specify that it happens now.
mantiene “Mantiene” means “keeps” or “maintains” in “Eso mantiene la cocina lista para todos”. It describes how the action keeps the kitchen in a ready condition. A reusable pattern is “[something] mantiene [something] [condition]” when explaining an ongoing result.
cocina “Cocina” means “kitchen” in “la cocina lista para todos”. It is the shared place that remains ready. A reusable pattern is “la cocina” followed by a description of its condition.
lista “Lista” means “ready” in “mantiene la cocina lista para todos”. It describes the kitchen as prepared for everyone to use. A reusable pattern is “mantener la cocina lista” when talking about keeping the kitchen ready.
para “Para” means “for” in “lista para todos”, identifying the people the kitchen is ready for. It links a condition with the people who benefit from it. A reusable pattern is “[condition] para” followed by the intended people.
todos “Todos” means “everyone” or “all” in “para todos”. It refers to all the people who share the kitchen. The pattern “para todos” is useful when something is intended for everyone.

Grammar Points

poder + infinitivo

¿Puedo lavar la taza aquí?

PWEH-doh lah-BAR lah TAH-sah ah-KEE

Can I wash the cup here?

En español, poder va seguido de un infinitivo: puedo lavar.

después de + infinitivo

Después de terminar, limpia la mesa.

dehs-PWEHS deh tehr-mee-NAHR, LEEM-pyah lah MEH-sah

After finishing, clean the table.

Después de va seguido de un infinitivo cuando la misma persona realiza las dos acciones.

Spanish Vocabulary

aquí adv
ah-KEE here

¿Puedo lavar mi taza aquí?

espacio noun
ehs-PAH-syoh space

Quiero mantener limpio el espacio.

fregadero noun
freh-gah-DEH-roh sink

Usa el fregadero de la izquierda.

izquierda noun
ees-KYEHR-dah left

Usa el fregadero de la izquierda.

lavar verb
lah-BAR to wash

¿Puedo lavar mi taza aquí?

limpio adj
LEEM-pyoh clean

Quiero mantener limpio el espacio.

mantener verb
mahn-teh-NEHR to keep; to maintain

Quiero mantener limpio el espacio.

poder verb
poh-DEHR can; to be able to puedo

¿Puedo lavar mi taza aquí?

por favor phrase
pohr fah-BOR please

Por favor, limpia la mesa después de terminar.

querer verb
keh-REHR to want quiero

Quiero mantener limpio el espacio.

taza noun
TAH-sah cup

¿Puedo lavar mi taza aquí?

usar verb
oo-SAHR to use usa

Usa el fregadero de la izquierda.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Can I wash my cup here?

Show Answer¿Puedo lavar mi taza aquí?

Use the sink on the left.

Show AnswerUsa el fregadero de la izquierda.

I want to keep the space clean.

Show AnswerQuiero mantener limpio el espacio.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to want

Show Answerquiero

cup

Show Answertaza

to keep; to maintain

Show Answermantener

here

Show Answeraquí