Paying and checking the bag at checkout | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: At a shop checkout, a customer pays on a screen and asks staff to separate heavy and glass items while bagging..

EN → ES / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Paying and checking the bag at checkout to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

¿Está abierta esta caja ahora?

ehs-TAH ah-BYEHR-tah EHS-tah KAH-hah ah-OH-rah Is this checkout open now?
B

Puedes poner aquí tus cosas.

PWEH-dess poh-NEHR ah-KEE toos KOH-sahs You can place your items here.
A

¿Debo usar la pantalla para pagar?

DEH-boh oo-SAR lah pahn-TAH-yah pah-rah pah-GAR Should I use the screen to pay?
B

Usa la pantalla que está a tu derecha.

OO-sah lah pahn-TAH-yah keh ehs-TAH ah too deh-REH-chah Use the screen on your right.
A

La bolsa parece demasiado llena.

lah BOL-sah pah-REH-seh deh-mah-SYAH-doh YEH-nah The bag feels too full.
B

Puedo pasar el artículo pesado a otra bolsa.

PWEH-doh pah-SAR el ahr-TEE-koo-loh peh-SAH-doh ah OH-trah BOL-sah I can move the heavy item to another bag.
A

Por favor, pon los artículos de vidrio en una bolsa aparte.

pohr fah-VOR pohn lohs ahr-TEE-koo-lohs deh BEE-dryoh en OO-nah BOL-sah ah-PAR-teh Please put the glass items in a separate bag.
B

Tendré cuidado al ponerlos en la bolsa.

tehn-DREH kwee-DAH-doh al poh-NEHR-lohs en lah BOL-sah I'll be careful while bagging them.

Word by Word

Está “Está” means “is” in this dialogue. In “¿Está abierta esta caja ahora?”, it asks about the checkout’s current state; in “que está a tu derecha”, it says where the screen is located. A useful pattern is “está + description” or “está + location”.
abierta “Abierta” means “open” here and describes the checkout in “¿Está abierta esta caja ahora?”. It agrees with the feminine noun “caja” in that expression. You can reuse “estar abierta” when asking whether a shop, door, or service is open.
esta “Esta” means “this” and points to the checkout in “esta caja”. It identifies one nearby or clearly indicated thing. A common pattern is “esta + noun”, such as “esta bolsa” for “this bag”.
caja “Caja” means “checkout” or “cash register” in “esta caja”. In this shop context, it refers to the place where the customer pays, not a box. A useful shopping expression is “la caja” when referring to the checkout.
ahora “Ahora” means “now” and asks whether the checkout is open at the present time in “¿Está abierta esta caja ahora?”. It focuses the question on the current moment. You can place “ahora” at the end of a question about what is happening currently.
Puedes “Puedes” means “you can” and gives the customer permission or ability to place the items in “Puedes poner aquí tus cosas.” It is followed by the action “poner”. A useful pattern is “Puedes + infinitive” for offering an available action.
poner “Poner” means “to put” or “to place” in “Puedes poner aquí tus cosas.” It names the action the customer can do with the items. A common pattern is “poner + object + place”, as in putting something here.
aquí “Aquí” means “here” and indicates the place where the customer should place the items in “poner aquí tus cosas”. It refers to the speaker’s indicated location. You can reuse “poner + object + aquí” when directing someone to place something nearby.
tus “Tus” means “your” before the plural noun “cosas” in “tus cosas”. It shows that the items belong to or are associated with the person being addressed. A useful pattern is “tus + plural noun” when referring to someone’s belongings.
cosas “Cosas” means “things” or “items” in “tus cosas”. Here it refers generally to the customer’s shopping items. You can use “cosas” for belongings when a more specific noun is not needed.
Debo “Debo” means “should I” or “must I” in the question “¿Debo usar la pantalla para pagar?”. The speaker is asking whether using the screen is required or appropriate. A useful pattern is “¿Debo + infinitive?” when asking what action is expected.
usar “Usar” means “to use” in “Debo usar la pantalla”. It names the action the speaker is considering. It commonly appears after a modal expression such as “Debo” and before the object being used.
la “La” means “the” before the feminine singular noun in “la pantalla” and “la bolsa”. At the beginning of “La bolsa”, it appears with a capital L because it starts the sentence. It identifies a specific screen or bag already clear from the situation.
pantalla “Pantalla” means “screen” in “la pantalla”. It is the screen used for payment and the screen located to the customer’s right. A useful shopping pattern is “usar la pantalla” when operating a payment or checkout screen.
para “Para” introduces the purpose of the action in “para pagar”, meaning “in order to pay”. It connects using the screen with the reason for using it. A reliable pattern is “para + infinitive” to express purpose.
pagar “Pagar” means “to pay” in “para pagar”. It describes the purpose of using the screen at checkout. You can reuse “para pagar” when explaining why you need a payment method or device.
Usa “Usa” is a direct instruction meaning “use” in “Usa la pantalla que está a tu derecha.” It tells the customer which screen to operate. A useful pattern is “Usa + object” when giving a simple instruction.
que “Que” links “la pantalla” with the description “está a tu derecha” in “la pantalla que está a tu derecha”. It helps identify which screen the speaker means. A common pattern is “noun + que + description” when specifying a person or thing.
a “A” helps express the position in “a tu derecha”, meaning “on your right”. It connects the direction “derecha” with the person being addressed. A useful location pattern is “a + possessive + direction”, as in “a tu derecha”.
tu “Tu” means “your” in “a tu derecha”. It identifies the right side in relation to the person being addressed. You can reuse “tu + noun” to refer to something belonging to or associated with that person.
derecha “Derecha” means “right side” in “a tu derecha”. It gives the direction for finding the correct screen. A common pattern is “a tu derecha” when directing someone to something on their right.
bolsa “Bolsa” means “bag” in this checkout dialogue. It appears in “La bolsa parece demasiado llena”, “otra bolsa”, and “una bolsa aparte”. You can reuse “bolsa” for a shopping bag or another container used to carry items.
parece “Parece” means “seems” in “La bolsa parece demasiado llena”. It presents the bag as appearing full based on the speaker’s impression. A useful pattern is “parece + description” when describing how something appears.
demasiado “Demasiado” means “too” or “excessively” in “demasiado llena”. It shows that the bag is fuller than is suitable in this situation. A common pattern is “demasiado + description” when something exceeds a comfortable or acceptable level.
llena “Llena” means “full” in “La bolsa parece demasiado llena”. It describes the amount of space available in the bag and agrees with “bolsa” in that expression. You can reuse “estar llena” to say that a container has no or very little space left.
Puedo “Puedo” means “I can” in “Puedo pasar el artículo pesado a otra bolsa.” It offers the speaker’s ability or willingness to carry out the transfer. A useful pattern is “Puedo + infinitive” when offering to do something.
pasar “Pasar” means “to move” or “to transfer” in “pasar el artículo pesado a otra bolsa”. It describes moving the item from its current bag into another one. A useful pattern is “pasar + object + a + destination” for transferring something.
el “El” means “the” before the singular noun “artículo” in “el artículo pesado”. It identifies one specific item being discussed. You can reuse “el + singular noun” when referring to a particular masculine item.
artículo “Artículo” means “item” or “article” in “el artículo pesado”. Here it refers to one shopping item that may be difficult to carry in the current bag. A useful pattern is “el artículo + description” when identifying a particular product.
pesado “Pesado” means “heavy” in “el artículo pesado”. It explains why the item may need to be moved to another bag. You can place “pesado” after a noun to describe an item’s weight in a practical shopping context.
otra “Otra” means “another” in “otra bolsa”. It refers to a different bag from the one already being used. A common pattern is “otra + noun” when requesting or offering an additional or different item.
Por favor “Por favor” is the polite expression “please” in “Por favor, pon los artículos de vidrio...”. “Por” and “favor” together create this fixed request expression, and the whole phrase softens the instruction “pon”. Use “Por favor” before or after a request when speaking politely.
pon “Pon” is a direct request meaning “put” in “pon los artículos de vidrio en una bolsa aparte”. It tells the other person what to do with the glass items. A useful pattern is “pon + object + en + container” when asking someone to place something somewhere.
los “Los” means “the” before the plural noun “artículos” in “los artículos de vidrio”. It identifies the specific glass items being discussed. You can reuse “los + plural noun” for several specific masculine items.
artículos “Artículos” means “items” in “los artículos de vidrio”. Here it refers to the shopping items made of glass. A useful pattern is “artículos de + material” when grouping products by what they are made of.
de “De” connects “artículos” with “vidrio” in “artículos de vidrio”. Together, “de vidrio” describes the material of the items. A reliable pattern is “noun + de + material” for describing what something is made of.
vidrio “Vidrio” means “glass” in “artículos de vidrio”. It identifies the material of the items and explains why they should be handled separately. You can reuse “de vidrio” after a noun to describe a glass object or group of objects.
en “En” means “in” in “en una bolsa aparte”. It indicates the bag where the glass items should be placed. A useful pattern is “poner + object + en + container” for describing placement.
una “Una” means “a” or “one” in “una bolsa aparte”. It introduces one separate bag without identifying it as a previously named specific bag. You can reuse “una + noun” when introducing one item or container.
aparte “Aparte” means “separate” or “separately” in “una bolsa aparte”. It specifies that this bag should not be the same as the bag holding the other items. A useful pattern is “poner algo aparte” when keeping something separate.
Tendré “Tendré” means “I will have” in “Tendré cuidado”. In this expression, it refers to the care the speaker promises to show while handling the items. A useful pattern is “Tendré + noun” for stating what the speaker will have or maintain in the future.
cuidado “Cuidado” means “care” in “Tendré cuidado”, which communicates “I’ll be careful”. It describes the attention the speaker promises to use while putting the items in the bag. The reusable expression is “tener cuidado” when warning about or promising careful behavior.
al In “al ponerlos”, “al” helps form the time expression “while putting them”. It is used together with the following action rather than carrying the whole meaning alone. A useful pattern is “al + infinitive” for saying when something happens.
ponerlos “Ponerlos” means “putting them” in “Tendré cuidado al ponerlos en la bolsa”. “Poner” names the action, and “los” refers back to the glass items. A useful pattern is an action form joined to “los” when referring to specific masculine plural objects.

Grammar Points

puedes + infinitivo

Puedes poner cosas aparte.

PWEH-dess poh-NEHR KOH-sahs ah-PAR-teh

You can put things separately.

Puedes + infinitive expresses ability or permission; the main verb stays in the infinitive form.

adjetivo que concuerda con el sustantivo

caja abierta; bolsa llena

KAH-hah ah-BYEHR-tah; BOL-sah YEH-nah

open checkout; full bag

Adjectives change form to agree with the noun’s gender: abierta with caja and llena with bolsa.

Spanish Vocabulary

abierto adj
ah-BYEHR-toh open abierta

¿Está abierta esta caja ahora?

ahora adv
ah-OH-rah now

¿Está abierta esta caja ahora?

bolsa noun
BOL-sah bag

La bolsa parece demasiado llena.

caja noun
KAH-hah checkout

¿Está abierta esta caja ahora?

cosa noun
KOH-sah thing; item cosas

Puedes poner aquí tus cosas.

derecho noun
deh-REH-choh right derecha

Usa la pantalla que está a tu derecha.

pagar verb
pah-GAR to pay

¿Debo usar la pantalla para pagar?

pantalla noun
pahn-TAH-yah screen

¿Debo usar la pantalla para pagar?

parecer verb
pah-reh-SEHR to seem; to appear parece

La bolsa parece demasiado llena.

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

Puedes poner aquí tus cosas.

poner verb
poh-NEHR to put; to place

Puedes poner aquí tus cosas.

usar verb
oo-SAR to use

¿Debo usar la pantalla para pagar?

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Is this checkout open now?

Show Answer¿Está abierta esta caja ahora?

You can place your items here.

Show AnswerPuedes poner aquí tus cosas.

Should I use the screen to pay?

Show Answer¿Debo usar la pantalla para pagar?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

now

Show Answerahora

checkout

Show Answercaja

to use

Show Answerusar

open

Show Answerabierta