Comparing Jackets Before Buying | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: In a clothing shop, two adults compare similar jackets by fabric, warmth, and fit before deciding..

EN → ES / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Comparing Jackets Before Buying to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Estas dos chaquetas se ven muy parecidas.

EH-stahs dohs chah-KEH-tahs seh behn MOO-ee pah-reh-SEE-dahs. These two jackets look very similar.
B

Vamos a comparar la tela y el ajuste.

BAH-mohs ah kohm-pah-RAHR lah TEH-lah ee el ah-HOOS-teh. Let's compare the fabric and fit.
A

Esta se siente ligera.

EH-stah seh SYEHN-teh lee-EH-rah. This one feels light.
A

La tela parece fina.

lah TEH-lah pah-REH-seh FEE-nah. The fabric seems thin.
B

La otra se siente más resistente y más abrigada.

lah OH-trah seh SYEHN-teh mahs reh-sees-TEHN-teh ee mahs ah-bree-GAH-dah. The other one feels sturdier and warmer.
A

Esa podría ser mejor para el uso diario.

EH-sah poh-DREE-ah sehr meh-HOR pah-rah el OO-soh DYAH-ree-oh. That might be better for everyday use.
B

Pruébatela primero y ve cómo se siente.

PROO-eh-bah-teh-lah pree-MEH-roh ee beh KOH-moh seh SYEHN-teh. Try it on first and see how it feels.
A

Me probaré las dos antes de decidir.

meh proh-bah-REH lahs dohs AHN-tehs deh deh-see-DEER. I will try both before I decide.
B

Así será más fácil elegir.

ah-SEE seh-RAH mahs fah-SEEL eh-leh-HEER. That should make the choice easier.

Word by Word

Estas “Estas” means “these” and points to the two jackets in “Estas dos chaquetas”. It is the feminine plural form used with “chaquetas”; a reusable pattern is “estas + feminine plural noun”. You would use it when identifying several nearby feminine things.
dos “dos” means “two” in “Estas dos chaquetas”. It gives the number of jackets being compared and is placed before the noun here. You can reuse “dos + noun” when referring to a pair of items.
chaquetas “chaquetas” means “jackets” and names the clothing items in the conversation. It is the plural form of “chaqueta”. You would use it when talking about one or more jackets in a shop or elsewhere.
se In “se ven muy parecidas” and “se siente ligera”, “se” helps express how something appears or feels. Its meaning depends on the verb construction rather than standing alone. You can reuse it in expressions describing how something looks or feels.
ven “ven” means “look” or “appear” in “se ven muy parecidas”. It is the form of “ver” used with the two jackets in this expression. A useful pattern is “se ven + adjective” when describing how things appear.
muy “muy” means “very” and strengthens “parecidas” in “se ven muy parecidas”. It is placed directly before the adjective it intensifies. You can reuse “muy + adjective” to express a high degree of a quality.
parecidas “parecidas” means “similar” in “se ven muy parecidas”. It is the feminine plural form of “parecido”, matching the two jackets. You would use it when comparing several feminine things that look alike.
Vamos “Vamos” helps express “let’s” in “Vamos a comparar”. Here it introduces a suggestion to do something together. A common reusable pattern is “Vamos a + infinitive” for proposing an action.
a In “Vamos a comparar”, “a” connects “Vamos” with the action that is being proposed. Together, “Vamos a comparar” means “let’s compare”. You can reuse “a” in the pattern “Vamos a + infinitive”.
comparar “comparar” means “to compare” in “Vamos a comparar la tela y el ajuste”. It is the infinitive used after “Vamos a”. You would use it when examining two or more things to see their differences or similarities.
la “la” means “the” before “tela” in “la tela”. It introduces one specific feminine singular noun. You can reuse “la + feminine singular noun” when referring to a known item.
tela “tela” means “fabric” in “la tela”. It names the material being compared between the jackets. You would use it when discussing the material of clothing or another textile item.
y “y” means “and” in “la tela y el ajuste”. It joins the two features being compared. You can reuse it to connect nouns, phrases, or actions.
el “el” means “the” before “ajuste” in “el ajuste”. It introduces one specific masculine singular noun. You can reuse “el + masculine singular noun” when referring to a known item or concept.
ajuste “ajuste” means “fit” in “el ajuste”. It refers to how the jacket fits the person wearing it. You would use it when discussing whether clothing fits comfortably or correctly.
Esta “Esta” means “this one” in “Esta se siente ligera”, referring to one jacket. It is the feminine singular form used because the omitted noun is “chaqueta”. You can reuse “esta” when selecting one nearby feminine item.
siente “siente” means “feels” in “se siente ligera”. It is the form of “sentir” used to describe the jacket’s effect when handled or worn. A useful pattern is “se siente + adjective” for describing how something feels.
ligera “ligera” means “light” in “se siente ligera”, describing the jacket’s weight. It is the feminine singular form of “ligero”, matching “chaqueta”. You would use it when describing a feminine object that does not weigh much.
parece “parece” means “seems” in “La tela parece fina”. It presents “fina” as an impression about the fabric. A reusable pattern is “parece + adjective” when something appears to have a particular quality.
fina “fina” means “thin” in “La tela parece fina”. It describes the fabric’s apparent thickness and is the feminine singular form of “fino”, matching “tela”. You would use it when describing thin fabric or another thin feminine object.
otra “otra” means “the other one” in “La otra se siente más resistente”. It refers to the second jacket, the one different from the jacket already mentioned. It is the feminine singular form of “otro”; you can reuse it when distinguishing one remaining feminine item from another.
más “más” means “more” in “más resistente y más abrigada”. It forms comparisons by showing that the other jacket has a greater degree of each quality. You can reuse “más + adjective” when comparing things.
resistente “resistente” means “sturdy” or “resistant” in “más resistente”. It describes the jacket as better able to withstand use. You would use it when discussing the durability of clothing, materials, or objects.
abrigada “abrigada” means “warm” in “más abrigada”. It describes the jacket as providing more warmth and is the feminine singular form of “abrigado”, matching “chaqueta”. You would use it when discussing warm clothing or protection from cold weather.
Esa “Esa” means “that one” in “Esa podría ser mejor”. It points back to the other jacket being considered. It is the feminine singular form used with an understood “chaqueta”; you can reuse it to refer to a particular feminine item already identified.
podría “podría” means “might” or “could” in “Esa podría ser mejor”. It presents the judgment as a possibility rather than a certainty. You can reuse “podría + infinitive” when suggesting what may be possible or suitable.
ser “ser” means “be” in “podría ser mejor”. It is the infinitive that completes the possibility expressed by “podría”. A reusable pattern is “podría ser + adjective” for saying that something might have a certain quality.
mejor “mejor” means “better” in “podría ser mejor para el uso diario”. It compares this jacket favorably for the purpose being discussed. You would use it when evaluating one option as preferable to another.
para “para” means “for” in “para el uso diario”. It introduces the purpose or intended use of the jacket. You can reuse “para + noun” when explaining what something is intended for.
uso “uso” means “use” in “el uso diario”. It refers to using the jacket as part of ordinary daily life. You would use it when discussing the purpose or frequency of using an item.
diario “diario” means “daily” or “everyday” in “el uso diario”. It describes the kind of use being considered and matches “uso”. You can reuse it with a noun when referring to something that happens or is used every day.
Pruébatela “Pruébatela” means “try it on” in the instruction “Pruébatela primero”. The form combines the instruction to try something with pronouns referring to the jacket and the person trying it on. You would use it in a clothing shop when telling someone to put on a particular garment.
primero “primero” means “first” in “Pruébatela primero”. It says that trying on the jacket should happen before the next step. You can reuse it to mark the first action in a sequence.
ve “ve” means “see” in “ve cómo se siente”. It gives an instruction to observe the result of trying on the jacket. A useful pattern is “ve cómo + clause” when telling someone to notice how something is.
cómo “cómo” means “how” in “ve cómo se siente”. It introduces the way the jacket feels after it is tried on. You can reuse “cómo + verb” when asking or describing how something happens or feels.
Me In “Me probaré las dos”, “Me” marks the person who will try the jackets on. Together with “probaré”, it makes the action about trying the clothing on oneself. A useful pattern is “Me probaré + clothing item” when saying what you will try on.
probaré “probaré” means “I will try on” in “Me probaré las dos”. It expresses the speaker’s planned action of trying both jackets. This is a form of “probar” used for a future action; you can reuse “Me probaré + clothing item” in a shop.
las “las” means “the” before “dos” in “las dos”. It refers to the two specific jackets already under discussion. You can reuse “las + feminine plural noun” when referring to known feminine plural items.
antes “antes” means “before” in “antes de decidir”. It places deciding after the action of trying on both jackets. You can reuse the pattern “antes de + infinitive” to describe an action that happens earlier.
de In “antes de decidir”, “de” connects “antes” with the action that comes afterward. Together, “antes de decidir” means “before deciding”. You can reuse “antes de + infinitive” for a time relationship between two actions.
decidir “decidir” means “to decide” in “antes de decidir”. It names the choice that the speaker will make after trying both jackets. You would use it when selecting between options or reaching a decision.
Así “Así” means “that way” or “thus” in “Así será más fácil elegir”. It refers to trying both jackets as the way to make the choice easier. You can reuse it to connect an action with its result.
será “será” means “will be” in “será más fácil elegir”. It describes the expected result of trying both jackets. A useful pattern is “será + adjective” when stating what something will be like.
fácil “fácil” means “easy” in “será más fácil elegir”. It describes the choice as requiring less difficulty after comparing and trying the jackets. You can reuse “ser fácil + infinitive” to say that an action is easy to do.
elegir “elegir” means “to choose” in “más fácil elegir”. It names the decision between the two jackets. You would use it when selecting one option from several possibilities.

Grammar Points

podría + infinitivo

Podría elegir otra.

poh-DREE-ah eh-leh-HEER OH-trah.

I might choose the other one.

Podría expresses possibility or a polite suggestion and is followed by the infinitive form of the verb.

me + verbo reflexivo

Me probaré la chaqueta primero.

meh proh-bah-REH lah chah-KEH-tah pree-MEH-roh.

I’ll try on the jacket first.

With reflexive verbs such as probarse, me shows that the action is done to oneself; it comes before the conjugated verb.

Spanish Vocabulary

abrigado adj
ah-bree-GAH-doh warm abrigada
ajuste noun
ah-HOOS-teh fit
chaqueta noun
chah-KEH-tah jacket chaquetas
comparar verb
kohm-pah-RAHR to compare
fino adj
FEE-noh thin fina
ligero adj
lee-HEH-roh light ligera
otra pron
OH-trah the other one
parecer verb
pah-reh-SEHR to seem parece
parecido adj
pah-reh-SEE-doh similar parecidas
resistente adj
reh-sees-TEHN-teh sturdy
sentirse verb
sehn-TEER-seh to feel se siente
tela noun
TEH-lah fabric

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

This one feels light.

Show AnswerEsta se siente ligera.

The fabric seems thin.

Show AnswerLa tela parece fina.

That should make the choice easier.

Show AnswerAsí será más fácil elegir.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

thin

Show Answerfina

similar

Show Answerparecidas

light

Show Answerligera

fit

Show Answerajuste