Finding the Correct Platform After a Change | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: At a train station, two adults respond to a platform change and keep their tickets ready before boarding..

EN → ES / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Finding the Correct Platform After a Change to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

¿Escuchaste el anuncio hace un momento?

ehs-koo-CHAS-teh ehl ah-NOON-syoh AH-seh oon moh-MEHN-toh? Did you hear the announcement just now?
B

El tren sale de otro andén.

ehl trehn SAH-leh deh OH-troh ahn-DEHN. The train is leaving from a different platform.
A

El panel dice que debemos usar el otro andén.

ehl pah-NEHL DEE-seh keh deh-BEH-mohs oo-SAR ehl OH-troh ahn-DEHN. The board says we should use the other platform instead.
B

Entonces, debemos seguir las señales ahora.

ehn-TOHN-sehs, deh-BEH-mohs seh-GEER lahs seh-NYA-lehs ah-OH-rah. Then we should follow the signs now.
A

¿Tenemos suficiente tiempo para llegar allí?

teh-NEH-mohs soo-fee-SYEHN-teh TYEHM-poh pah-rah yeh-GAR ah-YEE? Do we have enough time to get there?
B

Sí, si salimos ahora.

SEE, see sah-LEE-mohs ah-OH-rah. We do if we leave now.
A

Tendré mi billete listo.

tehn-DRAY mee bee-YEH-teh LEES-toh. I'll keep my ticket ready.
B

Tenlo a mano; el personal puede revisarlo antes de que subamos al tren.

TEHN-loh ah MAH-noh; ehl pehr-soh-NAHL PWEH-deh reh-bee-SAR-loh AHN-tehs deh keh soo-BAH-mohs ahl trehn. Keep it handy; staff may check it before we board.

Word by Word

Escuchaste “Escuchaste” means “heard” in the question “¿Escuchaste el anuncio hace un momento?”. It is a form of escuchar and asks whether the listener heard the announcement. A reliable reuse pattern is escuchar followed by the thing heard, such as “escuchar el anuncio” in this dialogue.
el “el” means “the” and appears before the nouns in “el anuncio”, “El tren”, “el otro andén”, and “el personal”. It identifies a specific masculine singular noun in each of these expressions. A reliable reuse pattern is el followed by a specific noun.
anuncio “anuncio” means “announcement” in “¿Escuchaste el anuncio hace un momento?”. It is the information that the listener is asked about hearing. A useful situation for “anuncio” is referring to a public announcement at a station.
hace In “hace un momento”, “hace” helps express that something happened a short time ago. The whole expression means “a moment ago”, rather than “makes a moment”. A reliable reuse pattern is hace followed by a period of time to say how long ago something happened.
un “un” means “a” in the expression “hace un momento”. It presents “momento” as one unspecified moment in that time expression. A reliable reuse pattern is un before a singular noun when referring to one non-specific item or unit.
momento “momento” means “moment” in “hace un momento”. Together with “hace”, it places the announcement shortly before the conversation. A useful reuse pattern is using momento with a time expression to refer to a brief period.
tren “tren” means “train” in “El tren sale de otro andén.” It is the train whose departure platform has changed. A useful situation for “tren” is discussing a journey, departure, or boarding at a station.
sale “sale” means “leaves” or “departs” in “El tren sale de otro andén.” It is a form of salir and describes the train departing from a platform. A reliable reuse pattern is salir de followed by the place of departure.
de In “sale de otro andén”, “de” means “from” and identifies the train’s departure platform. It also appears in “antes de que subamos al tren”, where it is part of the expression meaning “before we board the train”. A reliable reuse pattern is salir de for saying where something leaves from.
otro “otro” means “another” or “other” in “otro andén” and “el otro andén”. It points to a platform different from the one previously expected. A useful situation for “otro” is choosing a different option from one already mentioned.
andén “andén” means “platform” in the station context, as in “otro andén” and “el otro andén”. It identifies the area where passengers wait for the train. A useful reuse pattern is using andén when specifying or changing a train platform.
panel “panel” means “board” in “El panel dice que debemos usar el otro andén.” It refers to the station display that gives the platform information. A reliable reuse pattern is using panel as the subject when reporting information shown on a display.
dice “dice” means “says” in “El panel dice que debemos usar el otro andén.” It is a form of decir and introduces the information communicated by the board. A reliable reuse pattern is decir que followed by the information someone or something communicates.
que In “El panel dice que debemos usar el otro andén”, “que” links “dice” with the information being reported. It also appears in “antes de que subamos al tren” as part of the expression “before we board the train”. These are useful patterns for connecting a statement with its content or with an event that must happen first.
debemos “debemos” means “we should” or “we must” in “debemos usar el otro andén” and “debemos seguir las señales”. It is a form of deber followed by an action. A reliable reuse pattern is debemos followed by an infinitive to express an action that is necessary or advisable.
usar “usar” means “use” in “debemos usar el otro andén”. It is the action recommended for reaching the correct platform. A reliable reuse pattern is usar followed by the thing or place being used.
Entonces “Entonces” means “then” or “so” at the start of “Entonces, debemos seguir las señales ahora.” It connects the platform change with the next action. A useful situation for “Entonces” is responding to new information by stating what will happen next.
seguir “seguir” means “follow” in “debemos seguir las señales ahora”. It is the action of using the station signs to find the correct platform. A reliable reuse pattern is seguir followed by the signs, directions, or route being followed.
las “las” means “the” in “las señales”. It refers to specific signs at the station. A reliable reuse pattern is las before a specific plural noun.
señales “señales” means “signs” in “seguir las señales ahora”. These are the signs that guide the travelers to the correct platform. A useful situation for “señales” is following posted directions in a station or other public place.
ahora “ahora” means “now” in “debemos seguir las señales ahora” and “si salimos ahora”. It emphasizes that the action should happen immediately. A useful situation for “ahora” is coordinating an action that needs to start at the present moment.
Tenemos “Tenemos” means “we have” in “¿Tenemos suficiente tiempo para llegar allí?”. It is a form of tener and asks whether enough time is available. A reliable reuse pattern is tener tiempo para followed by an action.
suficiente “suficiente” means “enough” in “suficiente tiempo”. It describes the amount of time as adequate for reaching the other platform. A reliable reuse pattern is placing suficiente before a noun when asking or stating whether the amount is adequate.
tiempo “tiempo” means “time” in “¿Tenemos suficiente tiempo para llegar allí?”. It refers to the time available before the train leaves or boarding happens. A useful reuse pattern is using tiempo with an action introduced by “para”.
para “para” means “to” in “tiempo para llegar allí”. It links the available time with the action that can be completed during it. A reliable reuse pattern is para followed by an infinitive when describing the purpose or possible use of something.
llegar “llegar” means “get to” or “arrive” in “para llegar allí”. It is the action of reaching the other platform. A useful situation for “llegar” is describing reaching a destination, including the station location referred to as “allí” here.
allí “allí” means “there” in “llegar allí”. It points to the other platform or destination already understood in the conversation. A reliable reuse pattern is using allí after a verb of movement such as llegar.
Sí “Sí” means “yes” in “Sí, si salimos ahora.” It confirms that there is enough time under the stated condition. The accent distinguishes this affirmative “Sí” from “si”, which introduces the condition later in the same sentence.
si “si” means “if” in “si salimos ahora”. It introduces the condition for having enough time. A reliable reuse pattern is si followed by a condition or action that determines whether the main statement applies.
salimos “salimos” means “we leave” in “si salimos ahora”. It is a form of salir and names the action that must happen immediately to have enough time. A useful reuse pattern is placing salimos after si to state a condition involving leaving.
Tendré “Tendré” means “I will have” in “Tendré mi billete listo”, expressing that the speaker will keep the ticket ready. It is a form of tener. A reliable reuse pattern is tener an object followed by a word describing its state, as in having a ticket ready.
mi “mi” means “my” in “mi billete”. It identifies the ticket as belonging to the speaker. A reliable reuse pattern is mi directly before the noun that belongs to or is associated with the speaker.
billete “billete” means “ticket” in “mi billete listo”. It is the travel ticket that the speaker will keep ready for inspection. A useful situation for “billete” is discussing a ticket needed for travel or boarding.
listo “listo” means “ready” in “Tendré mi billete listo”. It describes the ticket as prepared for use or checking. A reliable reuse pattern is placing listo after the object whose ready state is being described.
Tenlo “Tenlo” tells the listener to keep or have “it” ready in “Tenlo a mano”. It is related to tener and includes lo, which refers to the ticket. A useful situation for “Tenlo” is telling someone to keep a previously mentioned item available.
a In “a mano”, “a” helps form the expression meaning “at hand” or “within easy reach”. The meaning comes from the whole expression, not from “a” alone. A reliable reuse pattern is using a mano after an object to say that it should remain readily available.
mano In “a mano”, “mano” means “hand”, and the whole expression means “handy” or “within easy reach”. Here it describes where the ticket should be kept before boarding. A useful situation for “mano” in this expression is keeping a document or object available for immediate use.
personal “personal” means “staff” in “el personal”. It refers collectively to the workers who may inspect the ticket. A useful situation for “personal” is referring to employees responsible for assistance or checks at a station.
puede “puede” means “may” or “can” in “el personal puede revisarlo”. It says that checking the ticket is a possible action by the staff. It is a form of poder, and a reliable reuse pattern is poder followed by an infinitive.
revisarlo “revisarlo” means “check it” in “el personal puede revisarlo”. It combines the action of checking with lo, which refers back to the ticket. A reliable reuse pattern is attaching an object pronoun to an infinitive when the thing being checked has already been mentioned.
antes “antes” means “before” in “antes de que subamos al tren”. It places the staff’s possible check earlier than the boarding action. A reliable reuse pattern is antes de que followed by an event that has not happened yet.
subamos “subamos” means “we board” or “we get on” in “antes de que subamos al tren”. It is a form of subir and refers to getting onto the train. A reliable reuse pattern is subir al tren when describing boarding a train.
al “al” means “to the” in “subamos al tren”. It is the combined form of a and el before “tren”. A reliable reuse pattern is using al with a destination or vehicle after a movement verb, as in boarding the train here.

Grammar Points

antes de que + subjuntivo

antes de que subamos

AHN-tehs deh keh soo-BAH-mohs

before we board

Después de «antes de que», se usa el subjuntivo: «subamos» expresa una acción todavía no realizada.

infinitivo + pronombre de objeto

revisarlo

reh-bee-SAR-loh

to check it

En español, el pronombre «lo» puede unirse al infinitivo: «revisar» + «lo» = «revisarlo».

Spanish Vocabulary

andén noun
ahn-DEHN platform

El tren sale de otro andén.

anuncio noun
ah-NOON-syoh announcement

¿Escuchaste el anuncio hace un momento?

debemos verb
deh-BEH-mohs we should; we must

El panel dice que debemos usar el otro andén.

dice verb
DEE-seh says

El panel dice que debemos usar el otro andén.

entonces adv
ehn-TOHN-sehs then

Entonces, debemos seguir las señales ahora.

escuchaste verb
ehs-koo-CHAS-teh you heard

¿Escuchaste el anuncio hace un momento?

hace un momento phrase
AH-seh oon moh-MEHN-toh just now; a moment ago

¿Escuchaste el anuncio hace un momento?

otro det
OH-troh another; other

El tren sale de otro andén.

panel noun
pah-NEHL board; display

El panel dice que debemos usar el otro andén.

sale verb
SAH-leh leaves; departs

El tren sale de otro andén.

tren noun
trehn train

El tren sale de otro andén.

usar verb
oo-SAR to use

El panel dice que debemos usar el otro andén.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Did you hear the announcement just now?

Show Answer¿Escuchaste el anuncio hace un momento?

The train is leaving from a different platform.

Show AnswerEl tren sale de otro andén.

Then we should follow the signs now.

Show AnswerEntonces, debemos seguir las señales ahora.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

board; display

Show Answerpanel

you heard

Show Answerescuchaste

leaves; departs

Show Answersale

platform

Show Answerandén