About This Lesson
Use Requesting a Copy of a Stamped Document to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
¿Podría darme una copia de este documento?
poh-DREE-ah DAR-meh OO-nah KOH-pyah deh es-teh doh-koo-MEN-toh Could I get a copy of this document?
B
Necesito ver el original primero.
neh-seh-SEE-toh behr ehl oh-ree-hee-NAL pree-MEH-roh I need to see the original first.
A
¿Debo llenar un formulario de solicitud?
DEH-boh yeh-NAR oon for-moo-LAH-ryoh deh soh-lee-see-TOOD Should I fill out a request form?
B
Por favor, complete el formulario.
pohr fah-BOHR kohm-PLEH-teh ehl for-moo-LAH-ryoh Please complete the form.
B
Entonces puedo hacer la copia.
en-TOHN-sehs PWEH-doh ah-SEHR lah KOH-pyah Then I can make the copy.
A
Solo necesito la página con el sello.
SOH-loh neh-seh-SEE-toh lah PAH-hee-nah kohn ehl SEH-yoh I only need the page with the stamp.
B
Copiaré esa página y mantendré juntas las demás páginas.
koh-pyah-REH EH-sah PAH-hee-nah ee mahn-ten-DREH HOON-tahs lahs deh-MAHS PAH-hee-nahs I will copy that page and keep the other pages together.
A
Por favor, trate el original con cuidado.
pohr fah-BOHR TRAH-teh ehl oh-ree-hee-NAL kohn kwee-DAH-doh Please handle the original carefully.
B
Devolveré todo junto.
deh-bohl-beh-REH TOH-doh HOON-toh I will return everything together.Word by Word
Podría
In “Podría darme”, “Podría” makes the request polite: “Could I...?” It is useful at a service desk before asking for an action, as in “Podría darme”. A new example is “¿Podría ayudarme?”.
darme
In “Podría darme”, “darme” means “give me”, with “me” attached to the verb form. The reusable pattern is “Podría darme + something” when politely asking someone to give you an item. Use it when requesting a document, copy, or other item from another person.
una
In “una copia”, “una” means “a” or “one” before the singular item being requested. It is used directly before a singular noun, as in “una copia”. Use it when asking for one unspecified item.
copia
In “una copia”, “copia” means a duplicate of a document. The phrase “una copia de este documento” specifies what should be duplicated. Use it when requesting a duplicate at a service desk.
de
In “copia de este documento”, “de” connects the copy with the document it comes from, meaning “of”. The reusable pattern is “copia de + item”. Use it to identify what a copy contains or comes from.
este
In “este documento”, “este” identifies the document as “this” one. It comes directly before the singular noun it points to. Use it when indicating an item that is present or clearly connected to the current situation.
documento
In “este documento”, “documento” means the document being presented or discussed. The pattern “copia de este documento” identifies the source for the copy. Use it in offices or service settings when referring to official paperwork.
Necesito
In “Necesito ver”, “Necesito” says “I need” and introduces a required action. The reusable pattern is “Necesito + infinitive”, as in “Necesito ver”. Use it to tell someone what you need to do before the next step.
ver
In “Necesito ver el original”, “ver” means to see or examine the original. It follows “Necesito” in the pattern “Necesito ver + item”. Use it when you need to inspect a document before it is copied or processed.
el
In “el original”, “el” identifies a specific item as “the” original. It comes before the noun or noun-like item being discussed. Use it when both people know which particular document or item is meant.
original
In “el original”, “original” means the original document rather than the copy. The reusable expression is “ver el original”. Use it when distinguishing the source document from a duplicate.
primero
In “ver el original primero”, “primero” means “first” and shows that seeing the original comes before the copying step. The reusable pattern is “verb + primero”. Use it when explaining the order of actions in a process.
Debo
In “Debo llenar”, “Debo” asks whether the speaker should or must do something. The reusable pattern is “Debo + infinitive”, as in “Debo llenar”. Use it to ask about a required step in an official procedure.
llenar
In “llenar un formulario”, “llenar” means to fill out the form. The reusable pattern is “llenar + form or document”, as in “llenar un formulario”. Use it when completing information required by an office.
un
In “un formulario”, “un” means “a” or “one” before the singular item mentioned. It is used directly before a singular noun, as in “un formulario”. Use it when referring to one unspecified form or item.
formulario
In “un formulario de solicitud”, “formulario” means a form that must be completed. The phrase “llenar un formulario” describes the action of completing it. Use it when asking about or handling official paperwork.
solicitud
In “formulario de solicitud”, “solicitud” identifies the form as being for a request or application. The reusable pattern is “formulario de + purpose”. Use it when naming the purpose of an official form.
Por favor
As a whole, “Por favor” politely introduces a request or instruction, meaning “please”. “Por” contributes “for” and “favor” means “favor”; together they form the fixed polite expression. Use it before an instruction such as “complete el formulario” or “trate el original con cuidado”.
complete
In “complete el formulario”, “complete” asks the listener to complete or fill out the form. The reusable pattern is “complete + item”, as in “complete el formulario”. Use it when giving a polite service instruction about paperwork.
Entonces
In “Entonces puedo hacer la copia”, “Entonces” means “then” and connects the completed form with the next action. The reusable pattern is “Entonces + clause”. Use it when explaining what can happen after a previous step.
puedo
In “puedo hacer la copia”, “puedo” means “I can” and states that the speaker is able or authorized to do the action. The reusable pattern is “puedo + infinitive”, as in “puedo hacer”. Use it when confirming what you can do for someone.
hacer
In “hacer la copia”, “hacer” means “make” in the context of producing the copy. The reusable pattern is “hacer + la copy or item”, as in “hacer la copia”. Use it when describing the action of producing a document copy.
la
In “la copia”, “la” identifies the specific copy being discussed as “the” copy. It comes before the singular item already established in the conversation. Use it when referring to a particular copy or document.
Solo
In “Solo necesito”, “Solo” limits the request and means “only”. The reusable pattern is “Solo + verb”, as in “Solo necesito”. Use it when clarifying that your request is limited to one item or action.
página
In “la página con el sello”, “página” means the document page that is being identified. The phrase “página con el sello” specifies which page is needed. Use it when requesting one particular page from a longer document.
con
In “página con el sello”, “con” connects the page with the feature it has, meaning “with”. The reusable pattern is “item + con + identifying feature”. Use it to identify an item by something included on it.
sello
In “el sello”, “sello” means the stamp on the document page. The phrase “página con el sello” identifies the page by this stamp. Use it when referring to an official mark on paperwork.
Copiaré
In “Copiaré esa página”, “Copiaré” states that the speaker will copy the page. The reusable pattern is “Copiaré + object”, as in “Copiaré esa página”. Use it when confirming a copying action you will carry out.
esa
In “esa página”, “esa” points to a specific page as “that” page. It comes directly before the noun it identifies. Use it when selecting an item that has already been mentioned or indicated.
y
In “Copiaré esa página y mantendré...”, “y” links two related actions, meaning “and”. The reusable pattern is “action + y + action”. Use it to describe multiple steps that will be carried out together.
mantendré
In “mantendré juntas las demás páginas”, “mantendré” means the speaker will keep the remaining pages together. The reusable pattern is “mantendré + item + together description”. Use it when assuring someone that documents will stay grouped.
juntas
In “mantendré juntas las demás páginas”, “juntas” says that the pages will stay together. It completes the idea of keeping the pages as one group. Use it in “mantener ... juntas” when talking about keeping several pages or items together.
las
In “las demás páginas”, “las” identifies the specific remaining pages as “the” pages. It comes before the plural group being discussed. Use it when referring to known pages or other specific plural items.
demás
In “las demás páginas”, “demás” means the other or remaining pages besides the page already selected. The reusable pattern is “las demás + plural noun”. Use it when separating one item from the rest of a group.
páginas
In “las demás páginas”, “páginas” means the other pages of the document. The phrase “mantendré juntas las demás páginas” explains how they will be handled. Use it when discussing a multi-page document.
trate
In “trate el original con cuidado”, “trate” asks the listener to handle or treat the original carefully. The reusable pattern is “trate + item + con cuidado”. Use it when requesting careful handling of an important or delicate document.
cuidado
In “con cuidado”, “cuidado” contributes the idea of care, so the phrase means “carefully” or “with care”. The reusable pattern is “tratar + item + con cuidado”. Use it when asking someone to handle an object gently or attentively.
Devolveré
In “Devolveré todo junto”, “Devolveré” states that the speaker will return the items. The reusable pattern is “Devolveré + object”, as in “Devolveré todo”. Use it when confirming that documents or belongings will be given back.
todo
In “Devolveré todo”, “todo” means “everything” and refers to all the document material being handled. The reusable pattern is “Devolveré todo”. Use it when assuring someone that nothing from the group will be left out.
junto
In “todo junto”, “junto” means “together” and says that everything will be returned as one group. The reusable expression is “todo junto”. Use it when confirming that related documents or items will stay together during their return.
Grammar Points
¿Podría + infinitivo...?
¿Podría llenar el formulario?
poh-DREE-ah yeh-NAR ehl for-moo-LAH-ryohCould you fill out the form?
Podría + infinitivo forms a polite request. It is the conditional form of poder.
futuro simple: infinitivo + -ré
Copiaré el original y devolveré los demás.
koh-pyah-REH ehl oh-ree-hee-NAL ee deh-bohl-beh-REH lohs deh-MAHSI will copy the original and return the others.
The first-person singular future uses -ré attached to the infinitive: copiaré, devolveré.
Spanish Vocabulary
completar
verb
kohm-pleh-TAR
to complete; to fill out
complete
Por favor, complete el formulario.
copia
noun
KOH-pyah
copy
una copia de este documento
documento
noun
doh-koo-MEN-toh
document
este documento
entonces
adv
en-TOHN-sehs
then
Entonces
Entonces puedo hacer la copia.
formulario
noun
for-moo-LAH-ryoh
form
un formulario de solicitud
llenar
verb
yeh-NAR
to fill out
llenar un formulario
original
noun
oh-ree-hee-NAL
original document
el original
página
noun
PAH-hee-nah
page
la página con el sello
poder
verb
poh-DEHR
could; to be able to
podría
¿Podría darme una copia...?
primero
adv
pree-MEH-roh
first
ver el original primero
sello
noun
SEH-yoh
stamp
la página con el sello
solicitud
noun
soh-lee-see-TOOD
request; application
formulario de solicitud
Quiz
Word Order
Arrange the words in the correct order.
I need to see the original first.
Show Answer
Necesito ver el original primero.Should I fill out a request form?
Show Answer
¿Debo llenar un formulario de solicitud?Please complete the form.
Show Answer
Por favor, complete el formulario.Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
copy
Show Answer
copiaform
Show Answer
formularioto complete; to fill out
Show Answer
completeoriginal document