Using a Shared Office | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: In a shared office, two adults talk about choosing an open desk, finding a quiet place, and leaving the desk clean..

EN → ES / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Using a Shared Office to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

¿Puedo trabajar en esta oficina compartida?

PWEH-doh trah-bah-HAR en EH-stah oh-fee-SEE-nah kohm-par-TEE-dah. Can I work in this shared office?
B

Elige un escritorio libre.

eh-LEE-heh oon ehs-kree-TOH-ryoh LEE-breh. Choose an open desk.
A

Puedo usar el que está cerca de la puerta.

PWEH-doh oo-SAR el keh eh-STAH SEHR-kah deh lah PWEHR-tah. I can use the one near the door.
B

Déjalo limpio cuando termines.

DEH-hah-loh LEEM-pyoh KWAHN-doh tehr-MEE-nehs. Leave it clean when you finish.
A

Necesito un lugar tranquilo.

neh-seh-SEE-toh oon loo-GAR trahn-KEE-loh. I need a quiet place.
B

Prueba el escritorio junto a la pared.

PROO-eh-bah el ehs-kree-TOH-ryoh HOON-toh ah lah pah-REHD. Try the desk by the wall.
A

Quitaré mis cosas antes de irme.

kee-tah-REH mees KOH-sahs AHN-tehs deh EER-meh. I will clear my things before I leave.
B

Así el escritorio queda listo para la siguiente persona.

ah-SEE el ehs-kree-TOH-ryoh KEH-dah LEES-toh PAH-rah lah see-GYEN-teh pehr-SOH-nah. That keeps the desk ready for the next person.

Word by Word

Puedo “Puedo” means “I can” or “I am able to” in “Puedo trabajar”. It is the first-person form of “poder” and is used before an infinitive; use “Puedo + infinitive” when saying what you can do.
trabajar “Trabajar” means “to work” and names the action that the speaker can do in “Puedo trabajar”. It is used after a conjugated verb such as “Puedo”; new example: “Quiero trabajar” means “I want to work”.
en “En” means “in” here and places the action inside “esta oficina compartida”. It commonly comes before a place, as in the dialogue phrase “en esta oficina”.
esta “Esta” means “this” and points to the office being discussed in “esta oficina compartida”. It comes before the feminine singular noun “oficina”; use “esta + place or thing” to identify something nearby or specific.
oficina “Oficina” means “office” and identifies the shared workplace in “esta oficina compartida”. It can be used after a place word such as “en”; new example: “una oficina” means “an office”.
compartida “Compartida” means “shared” and describes the office in “oficina compartida”. It follows the noun here and shows that the office is used by more than one person.
Elige “Elige” means “choose” in the instruction “Elige un escritorio libre”. It is the form of “elegir” used to tell one person what to do; use “Elige + thing” when recommending or directing a choice.
un “Un” means “a” or “an” before “escritorio” in “un escritorio libre”. It introduces one non-specific masculine singular noun; use “un + noun” when mentioning one item.
escritorio “Escritorio” means “desk” in “un escritorio libre”. It is the item being chosen or used in the shared office; new example: “mi escritorio” means “my desk”.
libre “Libre” means “free” or “available” in “un escritorio libre”, so the desk can be chosen. It follows the noun here and describes its availability; use “un lugar libre” for an available place.
usar “Usar” means “to use” in “Puedo usar el que está cerca de la puerta”. It names the action after “Puedo”; new example: “Quiero usar el escritorio” means “I want to use the desk”.
el “El” means “the” in “el que está cerca de la puerta”. Together with “que”, “el que” refers to the one that is near the door; use “el + noun” for a specific masculine noun.
que “Que” means “that” or “which” in “el que está cerca de la puerta”. It links “el” to the clause describing which desk is meant; the reusable pattern is “el que + description” for “the one that + description”.
está “Está” means “is located” in “está cerca de la puerta”. It is the form of “estar” used here to locate the desk; use “está + place expression” when saying where something is.
cerca “Cerca” means “near” in “cerca de la puerta”. It is commonly used with “de” to identify the reference point, as in “cerca de + place”.
de “De” means “of” in the location phrase “cerca de la puerta” and introduces the place used as the reference point. Keep it after “cerca” when saying that something is near a person or place.
la “La” means “the” before “puerta” in “la puerta”. It introduces the specific feminine singular noun being used as the location reference; use “la + noun” for a specific feminine noun.
puerta “Puerta” means “door” in “cerca de la puerta”. It identifies the reference point for the desk’s location; new example: “junto a la puerta” means “next to the door”.
Déjalo “Déjalo” means “leave it” in the instruction “Déjalo limpio”. It is the command form of “dejar” with “lo” attached, referring to the desk; use “Déjalo + adjective” when telling someone to leave something in a certain condition.
limpio “Limpio” means “clean” in “Déjalo limpio”. It describes the condition in which the desk should be left; use “dejar algo limpio” when asking someone to leave something clean.
cuando “Cuando” means “when” in “cuando termines” and introduces the time for leaving the desk clean. Use “cuando + clause” to connect an action with the time it happens.
termines “Termines” means “you finish” in “cuando termines”. It is the form of “terminar” used for the person being addressed in this time clause; use “cuando termines” when giving an instruction for after someone finishes an activity.
Necesito “Necesito” means “I need” in “Necesito un lugar tranquilo”. It is the first-person form of “necesitar” and is followed here by the thing needed; use “Necesito + noun” to state a need.
lugar “Lugar” means “place” in “un lugar tranquilo”. It identifies the kind of space the speaker needs; new example: “un lugar cerca de la puerta” means “a place near the door”.
tranquilo “Tranquilo” means “quiet” in “un lugar tranquilo”. It describes the place the speaker wants for working; use “lugar tranquilo” when referring to a calm or quiet place.
Prueba “Prueba” means “try” in the suggestion “Prueba el escritorio junto a la pared”. It is the form of “probar” used to tell one person to try something; use “Prueba + object” when suggesting an option.
junto “Junto” contributes the meaning “next to” in the location phrase “junto a la pared”. Together, “junto a” says that the desk is beside the wall; use “junto a + place or object” to describe a nearby position.
a “A” completes the location phrase “junto a la pared” and connects “junto” with the wall. In this expression, use “junto a + noun” to say that something is next to that noun.
pared “Pared” means “wall” in “junto a la pared”. It identifies the object beside which the desk is located; new example: “cerca de la pared” means “near the wall”.
Quitaré “Quitaré” means “I will clear” or “I will remove” in “Quitaré mis cosas”. It is the first-person form of “quitar” used for a future action; use “Quitaré + object” when promising to remove something.
mis “Mis” means “my” before the plural noun “cosas” in “mis cosas”. It identifies the things belonging to the speaker; use “mis + plural noun” for more than one thing that belongs to you.
cosas “Cosas” means “things” in “Quitaré mis cosas”. It refers generally to the speaker’s items on the desk; use “mis cosas” when talking about your belongings without naming each item.
antes “Antes” means “before” in “antes de irme”. It places one action earlier than another; use “antes de + infinitive” when saying what happens before an action.
irme “Irme” means “to leave” or “to go away” in “antes de irme”. It is based on “ir” with “me” attached and is used after “de” in this expression; use “antes de irme” when saying what you will do before leaving.
Así “Así” means “that way” or “so” at the start of “Así el escritorio queda listo”. It introduces the result of clearing the speaker’s things; use “Así + result” to explain how an action produces a result.
queda “Queda” means “remains” or “is left” in “el escritorio queda listo”. It is the form of “quedar” used with the desk as the subject; in this dialogue, “queda listo” says that the desk is left ready after the action.
listo “Listo” means “ready” in “queda listo”. It describes the desk’s resulting condition for the next person; use “quedar listo” when something is left prepared for use.
para “Para” means “for” in “para la siguiente persona”. It identifies the person who will use the ready desk; use “para + person” to show who something is intended for.
siguiente “Siguiente” means “next” in “la siguiente persona”. It identifies the person who comes after the current user; use “el siguiente” or “la siguiente + noun” when referring to the next person or thing.
persona “Persona” means “person” in “la siguiente persona”. It identifies the next user of the desk; new example: “para otra persona” means “for another person”.

Grammar Points

Déjalo + adjetivo

Déjalo limpio.

DEH-hah-loh LEEM-pyoh.

Leave it clean.

The imperative déjalo combines deja (leave) with lo (it). The pronoun is attached to the verb.

antes de + infinitivo

Antes de irme, quitaré cosas.

AHN-tehs deh EER-meh, kee-tah-REH KOH-sahs.

Before I leave, I will clear things away.

After antes de, Spanish uses an infinitive. The reflexive pronoun me is attached to ir.

Spanish Vocabulary

cerca de prep
SEHR-kah deh near

cerca de la puerta

compartida adj
kohm-par-TEE-dah shared

oficina compartida

déjalo verb
DEH-hah-loh leave it

Déjalo limpio.

elige verb
eh-LEE-heh choose

Elige un escritorio libre.

escritorio noun
ehs-kree-TOH-ryoh desk

un escritorio libre

libre adj
LEE-breh open; available

escritorio libre

limpio adj
LEEM-pyoh clean

Déjalo limpio.

oficina noun
oh-fee-SEE-nah office

esta oficina compartida

puerta noun
PWEHR-tah door

la puerta

termines verb
tehr-MEE-nehs you finish

cuando termines

trabajar verb
trah-bah-HAR to work

Puedo trabajar...

usar verb
oo-SAR to use

Puedo usar...

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Can I work in this shared office?

Show Answer¿Puedo trabajar en esta oficina compartida?

Choose an open desk.

Show AnswerElige un escritorio libre.

Leave it clean when you finish.

Show AnswerDéjalo limpio cuando termines.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

desk

Show Answerescritorio

office

Show Answeroficina

door

Show Answerpuerta

to work

Show Answertrabajar