Changing plans because of the weather | Learn Spanish in English

About This Lesson

Use Changing plans because of the weather to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

El clima puede cambiar nuestros planes.

ehl KLEE-mah PWEH-deh kahm-BYAR NWES-trohs PLAH-nehs. The weather may change our plans.

El picnic podría ser difícil si llueve.

ehl PEEK-neek poh-DREE-ah sehr dee-FEE-seel see YWEH-beh. The picnic could be difficult if it rains.

¿Deberíamos cancelar o planear algo en un lugar cerrado?

deh-beh-RYAH-mohs kahn-seh-LAR oh plah-neh-AR AHL-goh ehn oon loo-GAR seh-RRAH-doh? Should we cancel or plan something indoors instead?

Podemos ser flexibles y vernos dentro.

poh-DEH-mohs sehr flek-SEE-bles ee BEHR-nohs DEHN-troh. Let's stay flexible and meet inside.

Eso suena mejor que mojarnos afuera.

EH-soh SWEH-nah meh-HOR keh moh-HAR-nohs ah-FWEH-rah. That sounds better than getting wet outside.

Todavía podemos almorzar juntos en un lugar cercano.

toh-dah-BEE-ah poh-DEH-mohs ahl-mor-SAR HOON-tohs ehn oon loo-GAR sehr-KAH-noh. We can still have lunch together nearby.

Les escribiré a los demás sobre el cambio.

lehs ehs-kree-bee-REH ah lohs deh-MAHS SOH-breh ehl KAHM-byoh. I will message the others about the change.

Eso ayuda a todos a planear, especialmente porque está cambiando el clima.

EH-soh ah-YOO-dah ah TOH-dohs ah plah-neh-AR ehs-peh-SYAL-MEN-teh POR-keh ehs-TAH kahm-BYAN-doh ehl KLEE-mah. That helps everyone plan, especially with the weather changing.

Word by Word

El In “El clima” and “El picnic,” “El” means “the” before a singular noun. It introduces the weather and the picnic as known topics; a reusable pattern is “El + noun”.

clima “clima” means the weather in this lesson, the condition that may affect the plans. It appears in “El clima” and “está cambiando el clima”; use it when discussing weather conditions.

puede “puede” means “can” or “may” here, presenting a possible effect of the weather. It is a form of poder used with the infinitive “cambiar” in “puede cambiar nuestros planes”; reuse “puede + infinitive” to present a possibility.

cambiar “cambiar” means “to change” and names the possible action in “puede cambiar nuestros planes.” After “puede,” it stays in this infinitive form; reuse “puede cambiar + object” for a possible change.

nuestros “nuestros” means “our” in “nuestros planes,” linking the plans to the speakers and their group. It comes before the noun it describes; reuse “nuestros + plural noun” when referring to something belonging to the group.

planes “planes” means “plans” in “nuestros planes,” the arrangements that the weather may change. It follows the possessive “nuestros” and serves as the object of “cambiar”; use it when discussing arrangements for an activity.

picnic “picnic” means a picnic, the outdoor meal being considered. In “El picnic podría ser difícil,” it is the activity whose success depends on the rain; use it when discussing this kind of outing.

podría “podría” means “could” or “might,” expressing a possible difficulty in “El picnic podría ser difícil.” It is a form of poder used before the infinitive “ser”; reuse “podría + infinitive” to present a possibility.

ser “ser” means “to be” in “podría ser difícil,” connecting the picnic with the description “difícil.” It follows “podría” in the infinitive; use “podría ser + description” for a possible assessment.

difícil “difícil” means “difficult” in “ser difícil,” describing the picnic as hard to carry out if it rains. It follows “ser” as the description of the subject; use “ser difícil” to say that something may be difficult.

si “si” means “if” and introduces the condition “si llueve.” It connects possible rain with the difficulty of the picnic; reuse “si + condition” when explaining what may happen under a condition.

llueve “llueve” means “it rains” in the condition “si llueve.” It names the weather event that could make the picnic difficult; use “si llueve” when making plans that depend on rain.

Deberíamos “Deberíamos” means “should we” in “¿Deberíamos cancelar o planear algo en un lugar cerrado?” It presents a considerate suggestion about what to do; reuse “Deberíamos + infinitive” to ask or suggest a possible action.

cancelar “cancelar” means “to cancel,” one of the two options in “Deberíamos cancelar o planear algo en un lugar cerrado.” It remains in the infinitive after “Deberíamos”; reuse “Deberíamos + infinitive” for a proposed action.

o “o” means “or” and joins the alternatives “cancelar” and “planear algo en un lugar cerrado.” It is useful when offering a choice between actions; use it to connect alternatives in a question or suggestion.

planear “planear” means “to plan,” the second action proposed in “planear algo en un lugar cerrado.” It follows “o” and is coordinated with “cancelar”; use “planear + object” when deciding what activity to arrange.

algo “algo” means “something” in “planear algo en un lugar cerrado,” referring to an unspecified indoor activity or arrangement. It comes directly after “planear”; use it when the exact thing is not specified.

en “en” marks the location in “en un lugar cerrado,” meaning in a place. It introduces where the alternative plan would happen; reuse “en + place” to locate an activity.

un “un” means “a” or “an” in “un lugar cerrado,” introducing one nonspecific place. It comes before the noun “lugar”; use “un + singular noun” when introducing an unspecified thing.

lugar “lugar” means “place” in “un lugar cerrado,” the location chosen for the indoor alternative. It follows “un” and is described by “cerrado”; use it when naming where an activity can happen.

cerrado “cerrado” means “closed” and here describes “un lugar” as an indoor place in “un lugar cerrado.” It follows the noun and gives the place its relevant indoor quality; use the full phrase when choosing shelter from the rain.

Podemos “Podemos” means “we can” in “Podemos ser flexibles y vernos dentro,” presenting an option the speakers can adopt. It is followed by the infinitive “ser”; reuse “Podemos + infinitive” to suggest an available action.

flexibles “flexibles” means “flexible” in “ser flexibles,” describing an adaptable approach to the changed plan. It follows “ser” as the description of the speakers’ approach; use “ser flexibles” when plans may need to change.

y “y” means “and” and links “ser flexibles” with “vernos dentro.” It joins two actions or ideas that are proposed together; use it to connect coordinated parts of a sentence.

vernos “vernos” means “meet each other” in “vernos dentro,” referring to the two friends meeting indoors. The form includes “nos” for the people involved; use it after “Podemos” to propose meeting.

dentro “dentro” means “inside” in “vernos dentro,” specifying the meeting location. It contrasts with the outdoor picnic context; use it when the intended location is indoors.

Eso “Eso” means “that” in “Eso suena mejor,” referring to the proposed indoor option from the previous line. It lets the speaker evaluate something already mentioned; use it to point back to an idea or plan.

suena “suena” means “sounds” in “Eso suena mejor,” giving an evaluation of how the option seems. It is followed by “mejor” in this expression; reuse “suena + evaluation” to comment on an idea or plan.

mejor “mejor” means “better” in “suena mejor que mojarnos afuera,” comparing the indoor option with getting wet outside. It appears after “suena” and before the comparison introduced by “que”; use “mejor que” to say one option is preferable.

que “que” means “than” in “mejor que mojarnos afuera,” introducing the option used for comparison. It follows “mejor” here; reuse “mejor que + alternative” when comparing two choices.

mojarnos “mojarnos” means “getting wet” in “mojarnos afuera,” referring to the speakers becoming wet outside. The form includes “nos” for the people affected; it is used after “mejor que” to name the less desirable option.

afuera “afuera” means “outside” in “mojarnos afuera,” specifying where getting wet could happen. It is used as a location word after the action; use it when contrasting an outdoor situation with “dentro”.

Todavía “Todavía” means “still” in “Todavía podemos almorzar juntos,” showing that lunch remains possible despite the changed plan. It comes before “podemos” here; use it to say an option continues to be available.

almorzar “almorzar” means “to have lunch” in “almorzar juntos en un lugar cercano.” It follows “podemos” in “Todavía podemos almorzar...” and names the activity that remains possible; reuse “podemos + infinitive” for an available plan.

juntos “juntos” means “together” in “almorzar juntos,” showing that the people will have lunch as a group. It follows the activity it describes; use it when emphasizing shared participation in an activity.

cercano “cercano” means “nearby” in “un lugar cercano,” describing a place close to the speakers. It follows “lugar” and narrows the choice of lunch location; use “un lugar cercano” when suggesting somewhere not far away.

Les “Les” means “to them” in “Les escribiré a los demás,” identifying the people who will receive the message. It appears before “escribiré”; reuse this placement with a writing or messaging verb when saying that a message is sent to other people.

escribiré “escribiré” means “I will write” or “I will message” in “Les escribiré a los demás.” It expresses the speaker’s planned message and is followed by “a los demás” for the recipients; reuse “Les escribiré a + recipients” when promising to write to someone.

a “a” marks the recipients in “a los demás” after “Les escribiré.” It introduces the people the message is directed to; reuse “escribiré a + recipients” when naming who receives a message.

los “los” means “the” in “los demás,” marking a plural group. It comes before “demás” to form the expression for the other people; use “los demás” when referring to the rest of a group.

demás “demás” means “the others” in “los demás,” referring to the other people involved in the plan. It is used with “los” here rather than alone; reuse “los demás” for the rest of a group.

sobre “sobre” means “about” in “sobre el cambio,” introducing the topic of the message. It links “escribiré” with the information being communicated; reuse “escribir sobre + topic” when writing about something.

cambio “cambio” means “change” in “el cambio,” referring to the switch from the picnic plan to the indoor option. It is the topic introduced by “sobre”; use “sobre el cambio” when communicating a change.

ayuda “ayuda” means “helps” in “Eso ayuda a todos a planear,” explaining that the message makes planning easier for everyone. It is followed by the people helped and the action they can plan; reuse “ayuda a + people + infinitive” for something that helps someone do something.

todos “todos” means “everyone” in “a todos,” referring to all the people involved in the plan. It follows “a” as the people who benefit from the help; use “ayuda a todos” when something benefits the whole group.

especialmente “especialmente” means “especially” in “especialmente porque está cambiando el clima,” highlighting the reason the message is useful. It introduces a point that deserves extra attention; use it before the reason or detail you want to emphasize.

porque “porque” means “because” in “porque está cambiando el clima,” introducing the reason for the planning help. It connects an explanation to the statement before it; reuse “porque + reason” to explain why something is useful or necessary.

está “está” means “is” in “está cambiando el clima,” where it supports the ongoing change described by “cambiando.” It is a form of estar followed by the ongoing-action form; reuse “está + ongoing action” to describe something happening now.

cambiando “cambiando” means “changing” in “está cambiando el clima,” describing the weather as undergoing change now. It follows “está” in the ongoing-action construction; the citation form is “cambiar,” whose action appears here as “cambiando.” Use “está cambiando + thing” for a change in progress.

Grammar Points

podría + infinitivo

Podría cancelar nuestros planes.

poh-DREE-ah kahn-seh-LAR NWES-trohs PLAH-nehs.

I could cancel our plans.

Podría expresses a possible or tentative action; the following verb stays in the infinitive.

futuro simple: -é

Escribiré a los demás.

ehs-kree-bee-REH ah lohs deh-MAHS.

I will write to the others.

The -é ending marks the first-person singular simple future: “I will …”.

Spanish Vocabulary

algo pron

AHL-goh something

planear algo

cambiar verb

kahm-BYAR to change

El clima puede cambiar nuestros planes.

cancelar verb

kahn-seh-LAR to cancel

¿Deberíamos cancelar?

clima noun

KLEE-mah weather; climate

El clima puede cambiar nuestros planes.

difícil adj

dee-FEE-seel difficult

podría ser difícil

llueve verb

YWEH-beh it rains

si llueve

nuestros det

NWES-trohs our

nuestros planes

picnic noun

PEEK-neek picnic

El picnic podría ser difícil.

planear verb

plah-neh-AR to plan

planear algo

planes noun

PLAH-nehs plans

nuestros planes

podría verb

poh-DREE-ah could; might

El picnic podría ser difícil.

puede verb

PWEH-deh can; may

El clima puede cambiar nuestros planes.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

The weather may change our plans.

Show Answer

El clima puede cambiar nuestros planes.

Let's stay flexible and meet inside.

Show Answer

Podemos ser flexibles y vernos dentro.

That sounds better than getting wet outside.

Show Answer

Eso suena mejor que mojarnos afuera.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

can; may

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puede

could; might

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podría

it rains

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llueve

weather; climate

Show Answer

clima