Sticking to the grocery list | Learn Spanish in English

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Use Sticking to the grocery list to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Vamos a seguir la lista de compras.

BAH-mohs ah seh-GEER lah LEES-tah deh KOM-prahs Let's stick to the grocery list.

Eso debería evitar que compremos demasiado.

EH-soh deh-beh-REE-ah eh-bee-TAR keh kohm-PREH-mohs deh-mah-SYAH-doh That should keep us from buying too much.

¿Dónde están la pasta y el arroz?

DON-deh ehs-TAHN lah PAHS-tah ee ehl ah-RROHS Where are the pasta and rice?

Están en el pasillo de productos secos.

ehs-TAHN ehn ehl pah-SEE-yoh deh proh-DOOK-tohs SEH-kohs They are in the dry food aisle.

Esta es la pasta que compramos la última vez.

EH-stah ehs lah PAHS-tah keh kohm-PRAH-mohs lah OOL-tee-mah behs This is the pasta we bought last time.

Pongamos un paquete en el carrito.

pohn-GAH-mohs oon pah-KEH-teh ehn ehl kah-RREE-toh Let's put one pack in the cart.

Después de eso, solo necesitamos leche.

dehs-PWEHS deh EH-soh SOH-loh neh-seh-see-TAH-mohs LEH-cheh After that, we only need milk.

Entonces podemos ir directamente a la caja.

ehn-TOHN-sehs poh-DEH-mohs eer dee-rehk-tah-MEHN-teh ah lah KAH-hah Then we can head straight to checkout.

Word by Word

Vamos In “Vamos a seguir la lista de compras”, “Vamos” helps propose a shared action: let’s follow the shopping list. It is used with “a” and an infinitive for this kind of suggestion. A new example is “Vamos a cocinar” for “Let’s cook.”

a Here “a” links “Vamos” to the action “seguir”, so “Vamos a seguir” means “Let’s follow.” In this pattern, use “a” before the infinitive that names the proposed action. A new example is “Vamos a comprar pan.”

seguir “Seguir” means to follow or stick to in “seguir la lista de compras.” It takes the thing being followed directly, here “la lista de compras.” A new example is “seguir las instrucciones” for “to follow the instructions.”

la “La” means “the” before the feminine singular noun “lista” in “la lista de compras.” It is used directly before that noun. A new example is “la bolsa” for “the bag.”

lista “Lista” means “list” in “la lista de compras”, the list that guides the grocery shopping. The reusable pattern is “lista de” followed by the type or purpose of the list. A new example is “lista de tareas” for “to-do list.”

de In “lista de compras”, “de” links “lista” with its purpose or content, giving “shopping list.” Use “de” to connect a noun with the thing it concerns. A new example is “botella de agua” for “bottle of water.”

compras “Compras” refers to shopping or purchases in “lista de compras”, so the list is for grocery shopping. It follows “de” in this expression: “lista de compras.” A new example is “hacer compras” for “to go shopping.”

Eso “Eso” means “that” and refers to the plan just mentioned in “Vamos a seguir la lista de compras.” It can point back to an idea or situation rather than a named object. A new example is “Eso es importante” for “That is important.”

debería “Debería” expresses “should” in “Eso debería evitar que compremos demasiado”, describing an expected result of the plan. It is followed here by the infinitive “evitar.” A new example is “Eso debería funcionar” for “That should work.”

evitar “Evitar” means “to prevent” or “to avoid” in “debería evitar que compremos demasiado.” The reusable pattern here is “evitar que” followed by a clause describing what should be prevented. A new example is “evitar que lleguemos tarde” for “to prevent us from arriving late.”

que In “evitar que compremos demasiado”, “que” introduces the clause describing the action to be prevented. It connects “evitar” with the people and action in the following clause. A new example is “Espero que vengas” for “I hope that you come.”

compremos “Compremos” means “we buy” in the clause “que compremos demasiado”; it describes the buying that the plan should prevent. It follows “evitar que” in this dialogue. A new example is “que compremos lo necesario” for “that we buy what is necessary.”

demasiado “Demasiado” means “too much” in “compremos demasiado”, referring to buying more than is needed. It can follow a verb to describe an excessive amount of an action. A new example is “comer demasiado” for “to eat too much.”

Dónde “Dónde” means “where” in the question “¿Dónde están la pasta y el arroz?” It asks for the location of the items named after the verb. A new example is “¿Dónde está la leche?” for “Where is the milk?”

están “Están” means “are” here in the sense of being located somewhere: “¿Dónde están la pasta y el arroz?” and “Están en el pasillo de productos secos.” Use it with plural things when asking or stating where they are. A new example is “Los libros están aquí” for “The books are here.”

pasta “Pasta” means pasta in “la pasta y el arroz”, one of the foods being located in the shop. It is used here as a food name after the article “la.” A new example is “Quiero pasta” for “I want pasta.”

y “Y” means “and” in “la pasta y el arroz”, joining the two foods being asked about. Use it to connect nouns, phrases, or clauses. A new example is “pan y leche” for “bread and milk.”

el “El” means “the” before “arroz” in “el arroz.” It is placed directly before this masculine singular noun. A new example is “el pan” for “the bread.”

arroz “Arroz” means rice in “la pasta y el arroz”, the second food being located in the shop. It commonly appears after a quantity, article, or other determiner. A new example is “un kilo de arroz” for “a kilo of rice.”

en “En” means “in” in “Están en el pasillo de productos secos”, giving the location of the pasta and rice. Use “en” before the place where something is located. A new example is “en la cocina” for “in the kitchen.”

pasillo “Pasillo” means aisle in “el pasillo de productos secos”, the section of the grocery shop where the items are found. The reusable pattern is “el pasillo de” followed by the type of products. A new example is “el pasillo de bebidas” for “the drinks aisle.”

productos “Productos” means products in “productos secos”, referring here to the grocery items in that aisle. It is used with “de” to identify the type of products. A new example is “productos frescos” for “fresh products.”

secos “Secos” means dry in “productos secos”, describing the products sold in that aisle. It follows the noun in this expression: “productos secos.” A new example is “alimentos secos” for “dry foods.”

Esta “Esta” means “this” in “Esta es la pasta que compramos la última vez”, pointing to the pasta being identified. It appears before “es” when introducing or identifying something nearby or currently under discussion. A new example is “Esta es mi bolsa” for “This is my bag.”

es “Es” means “is” in “Esta es la pasta que compramos la última vez”, identifying what “Esta” refers to. It links the demonstrative with the noun phrase that follows. A new example is “Es la correcta” for “It is the correct one.”

compramos “Compramos” refers here to what “we bought” on the previous shopping occasion in “que compramos la última vez.” It follows “que” and comes before the time expression “la última vez.” A new example is “el pan que compramos ayer” for “the bread we bought yesterday.”

última “Última” means “last” in “la última vez”, referring to the most recent occasion. It appears before “vez” in this time expression. A new example is “la última semana” for “last week.”

vez “Vez” means “time” or “occasion” in “la última vez”, meaning the last occasion when they bought the pasta. The reusable expression is “la última vez” for referring to the most recent occasion. A new example is “una vez” for “once” or “one time.”

Pongamos “Pongamos” means “let’s put” in “Pongamos un paquete en el carrito”, proposing that both people place the pack in the cart. It is used before the object being placed and the location introduced by “en.” A new example is “Pongamos la leche aquí” for “Let’s put the milk here.”

un “Un” means “a” or “one” before “paquete” in “un paquete.” It introduces one unspecified pack in this sentence. A new example is “un kilo” for “a kilo” or “one kilo.”

paquete “Paquete” means pack or package in “un paquete”, referring to the unit of pasta they want to place in the cart. It can be used after a quantity or article to name a packaged item. A new example is “un paquete de arroz” for “a pack of rice.”

carrito “Carrito” means cart in “en el carrito”, the shopping cart where the pasta is placed. Use it after “en” to express that something is in or goes into the cart. A new example is “empujar el carrito” for “to push the cart.”

Después “Después” means “after” or “afterwards” in “Después de eso”, referring to the step that follows putting the pasta in the cart. In this pattern, it is followed by “de” and the event or thing that comes first. A new example is “Después de comer, salimos” for “After eating, we leave.”

solo “Solo” means “only” in “solo necesitamos leche”, limiting the remaining need to milk. It normally appears directly before the verb or the part being limited, as here before “necesitamos.” A new example is “Solo quiero agua” for “I only want water.”

necesitamos “Necesitamos” means “we need” in “solo necesitamos leche”, stating what is still required. The thing needed follows directly here: “necesitamos leche.” A new example is “Necesitamos más arroz” for “We need more rice.”

leche “Leche” means milk in “solo necesitamos leche”, the final item still needed on the list. It follows “necesitamos” as the thing required. A new example is “comprar leche” for “to buy milk.”

Entonces “Entonces” means “then” in “Entonces podemos ir directamente a la caja”, marking the next step after getting the milk. It can introduce a result or action that follows from what was just said. A new example is “Entonces, empezamos” for “Then, we start.”

podemos “Podemos” means “we can” in “podemos ir directamente a la caja”, expressing that going to checkout is now possible. It is followed here by the infinitive “ir.” A new example is “Podemos esperar aquí” for “We can wait here.”

ir “Ir” means “to go” in “podemos ir directamente a la caja”, naming the movement toward checkout. It follows “podemos” as the action that is possible. A new example is “ir al mercado” for “to go to the market.”

directamente “Directamente” means “directly” or “straight” in “ir directamente a la caja”, showing that they will go there without another shopping stop. It can be placed before the destination introduced by “a.” A new example is “ir directamente a casa” for “to go straight home.”

caja “Caja” means checkout or cash register in “ir directamente a la caja”, the place they will go after finishing the list. The reusable pattern is “ir a la caja” for going to checkout. A new example is “pagar en la caja” for “to pay at the checkout.”

Grammar Points

Pongamos + sustantivo

Pongamos un paquete en el carrito.

pohn-GAH-mohs oon pah-KEH-teh ehn ehl kah-RREE-toh

Let's put a package in the cart.

Pongamos is a first-person plural suggestion meaning “let's put,” rather than the infinitive poner.

sustantivo plural + adjetivo plural

productos secos

proh-DOOK-tohs SEH-kohs

dry products

The adjective follows the noun and agrees with it in number and gender: productos becomes secos.

Spanish Vocabulary

arroz noun

ah-RROHS rice

¿Dónde están la pasta y el arroz?

comprar verb

kohm-PRAR to buy compremos

Eso debería evitar que compremos demasiado.

compras noun

KOM-prahs shopping; purchases

lista de compras

demasiado adv

deh-mah-SYAH-doh too much; too many

Eso debería evitar que compremos demasiado.

dónde adv

DON-deh where Dónde

¿Dónde están la pasta y el arroz?

estar verb

ehs-TAR to be; to be located están

Están en el pasillo de productos secos.

evitar verb

eh-bee-TAR to avoid; to prevent

Eso debería evitar que compremos demasiado.

lista de compras phrase

LEES-tah deh KOM-prahs grocery list; shopping list

Vamos a seguir la lista de compras.

pasillo noun

pah-SEE-yoh aisle

Están en el pasillo de productos secos.

pasta noun

PAHS-tah pasta

¿Dónde están la pasta y el arroz?

producto noun

proh-DOOK-toh product; food item productos

productos secos

seguir verb

seh-GEER to follow; to stick to

Vamos a seguir la lista de compras.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

That should keep us from buying too much.

Show Answer

Eso debería evitar que compremos demasiado.

Let's put one pack in the cart.

Show Answer

Pongamos un paquete en el carrito.

After that, we only need milk.

Show Answer

Después de eso, solo necesitamos leche.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to avoid; to prevent

Show Answer

evitar

too much; too many

Show Answer

demasiado

pasta

Show Answer

pasta

to buy

Show Answer

compremos