Apologizing for changing plans | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: While adjusting plans with a friend, one person apologizes for an unexpected change and they choose another day..

EN → ES / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Apologizing for changing plans to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Lo siento, necesito cambiar nuestro plan.

loh SYEN-toh, neh-seh-SEE-toh kahm-BYAR NWES-troh plahn. I'm sorry, I need to change our plan.
B

Me alegra que me avisaras antes de que me fuera.

meh ah-LEH-grah keh meh ah-bee-SAH-rahs AHN-tehs deh keh meh FWEH-rah. I'm glad you told me before I left.
A

Surgió algo inesperado.

soor-KHEE-oh AL-goh ee-nehs-peh-RAH-doh. Something unexpected came up.
B

Está bien. Podemos elegir otro día.

ehs-TAH BYEN. poh-DEH-mohs eh-leh-KHEER OH-troh DEE-ah. That's all right. We can choose another day.
A

¿Te viene bien más adelante esta semana?

teh BYEH-neh BYEHN mahs ah-deh-LAHN-teh EHS-tah seh-MAH-nah? Would later this week work for you?
B

A mí me viene bien más adelante esta semana.

ah MEE meh BYEH-neh BYEHN mahs ah-deh-LAHN-teh EHS-tah seh-MAH-nah. Later this week is fine for me.
A

Puedo enviarte el nuevo plan.

PWEH-doh ehm-BYAR-teh ehl NWEH-boh plahn. I can send you the new plan.
B

Eso me ayuda a ajustar mi horario.

EH-soh meh ah-YOO-dah ah khoos-TAR mee oh-RAH-ryoh. That helps me adjust my schedule.

Word by Word

Lo siento “Lo siento” is the natural apology “I’m sorry” in this dialogue. “Lo” refers to the situation, and “siento” expresses regret; together they form the apology. Use “Lo siento” when acknowledging an inconvenience or mistake.
necesito “necesito” means “I need” here and introduces the action “cambiar nuestro plan.” A useful pattern is “necesito + infinitive” when saying that an action is necessary. Use it to explain what you need to do in a practical situation.
cambiar “cambiar” means “to change” and refers here to changing “nuestro plan.” It follows “necesito” as the action that is needed. Use “cambiar + thing” when saying that a plan, date, or arrangement will be different.
nuestro “nuestro” means “our” in “nuestro plan,” identifying a plan shared by the speaker and the listener. It comes before the noun it describes here. Use “nuestro + noun” to refer to something belonging to or shared by the group including the speaker.
plan “plan” means “plan,” the arrangement that needs to be changed. In “nuestro plan,” it is the thing being discussed. Use “plan” when talking about an arrangement or intended activity.
Me “Me” marks the person who feels glad in “Me alegra que me avisaras.” Here, that person is the speaker. A useful pattern is “Me + verb” when an action or situation affects or concerns the speaker.
alegra “alegra” expresses that something makes the speaker glad in “Me alegra que me avisaras.” It works with “Me” and the clause beginning with “que” to express a positive reaction. Use “Me alegra + clause” to say that something makes you happy or glad.
que “que” introduces the information that causes the reaction in “Me alegra que me avisaras.” It links “Me alegra” with the clause about being informed. Use “que + clause” after expressions such as “Me alegra” when giving the reason for the feeling.
avisaras “avisaras” means “you told me” or “you informed me” in “que me avisaras.” The information was given before the speaker left. Use “avisar” with a person when saying that someone was informed about something.
antes “antes” means “before” and places one event earlier than another. In “antes de que me fuera,” it introduces the time relationship with the speaker’s leaving. A useful pattern is “antes de que + clause” for saying that something happens before another event.
de “de” is part of the time expression “antes de que me fuera.” Together with “antes,” it helps introduce the event that had not happened yet. Reuse the pattern “antes de que + clause” when describing an earlier action or event.
fuera “fuera” refers to the speaker leaving in “antes de que me fuera.” It completes the clause about what had not happened when the message was received. Use “antes de que me fuera” when saying that something happened before you left.
Surgió “Surgió” means “came up” or “arose” in “Surgió algo inesperado.” It introduces an event or problem that appeared unexpectedly and caused the plan to change. A new example is “Surgió un problema” when a problem comes up.
algo “algo” means “something,” referring to an unspecified thing that came up. In “algo inesperado,” it is described as unexpected. Use “algo + adjective” when referring to an unspecified thing and adding a description.
inesperado “inesperado” describes “algo” as unexpected or not expected. It explains why the original plan needs to change. Use a noun followed by an adjective such as “algo inesperado” when describing an unexpected thing.
Está bien “Está bien” means “That’s all right” and reassures the other person that the change is acceptable. “Está” states the situation, while “bien” describes it as okay; together they form the reassuring expression. Use “Está bien” in response to an apology or explanation.
Podemos “Podemos” means “we can” and introduces the possible action “elegir otro día.” It expresses that the speaker and listener are able or willing to do something. Use “podemos + infinitive” when suggesting an action for both people.
elegir “elegir” means “to choose” and is the action that follows “Podemos.” Here, the choice is “otro día.” Use “elegir + option” when selecting a date, place, or other possibility.
otro “otro” means “another” and describes a different day in “otro día.” It comes before the noun it describes here. Use “otro + singular noun” when proposing a different option.
día “día” means “day,” the time option being chosen. In “otro día,” it refers to a different day for the plan. Use “día” when discussing a date or time for an activity.
Te “Te” identifies the person for whom the proposed time may be suitable in “¿Te viene bien más adelante esta semana?” Here, that person is the listener. Use “Te viene bien...” when asking whether a time or arrangement works for someone.
viene bien “viene bien” means “works well” or “is suitable” for someone in this scheduling conversation. “Viene” is the verb in the expression, and “bien” gives the idea of suitability; together they mean that something fits the person’s needs. Use “¿Te viene bien + time?” to ask whether a proposed time works.
más “más” contributes the idea of a later point in “más adelante esta semana,” rather than a larger quantity. It works with “adelante” to place the time further into the week. Use “más adelante + time reference” when referring to a later time.
adelante “adelante” means “later” or “ahead” in “más adelante esta semana.” With “más,” it refers to a point later in the current week. Use “más adelante” when proposing a later time.
esta “esta” means “this” and identifies the current week in “esta semana.” It comes before the noun it describes. Use “esta + time noun” to refer to the current week or another current time period.
semana “semana” means “week,” the time period being used to arrange the new plan. In “esta semana,” it refers to the current week. Use “semana” when discussing when an activity will happen.
A “A” combines with “mí” in “A mí me viene bien” to identify and emphasize the person for whom the time is suitable. It is part of the full expression rather than a separate scheduling message. Use “A mí...” when emphasizing that something works for you.
mí “mí” means “me” in the emphasized expression “A mí me viene bien.” It identifies the speaker as the person for whom the proposed time is suitable. Use “A mí + expression” when contrasting or emphasizing your own preference or situation.
Puedo “Puedo” means “I can” and introduces the offer “enviarte el nuevo plan.” It expresses the speaker’s ability or willingness to perform the action. Use “puedo + infinitive” when offering to do something.
enviarte “enviarte” means “to send you” in “Puedo enviarte el nuevo plan.” The form combines the action of sending with “te,” the person who will receive it, and it is followed by “el nuevo plan.” Use “enviarte + thing” when offering to send something to the listener.
el “el” means “the” and introduces the specific item “nuevo plan.” It comes before the noun phrase being sent. Use “el + noun” when referring to a particular known item.
nuevo “nuevo” means “new” and describes the plan in “el nuevo plan.” In this context, it is the revised plan after the original arrangement changes. Use “nuevo + noun” when identifying a new or replacement item.
Eso “Eso” means “that” and refers to sending the new plan in the preceding line. It is the thing that helps the listener adjust the schedule. Use “Eso + verb” to refer back to an action, fact, or piece of information just mentioned.
ayuda “ayuda” means “helps” in “Eso me ayuda a ajustar mi horario.” It says that the new plan provides assistance to the listener. A useful pattern is “ayuda a + infinitive” for explaining what something helps someone do.
ajustar “ajustar” means “to adjust” and refers to changing the schedule so it fits the new plan. It follows “ayuda a” in the dialogue. Use “ajustar + schedule or arrangement” when making a timetable or plan fit a change.
mi “mi” means “my” and describes the schedule in “mi horario.” It comes before the noun it identifies. Use “mi + noun” when referring to something belonging to or connected with the speaker.
horario “horario” means “schedule,” the timetable that the listener needs to adjust. In “ajustar mi horario,” it is the thing being changed to fit the new plan. Use “ajustar mi horario” when rearranging your schedule after a change.

Grammar Points

infinitivo + pronombre de objeto

Necesito enviarte algo nuevo.

neh-seh-SEE-toh ehm-BYAR-teh AL-goh NWEH-boh.

I need to send you something new.

In Spanish, the object pronoun can attach to the end of an infinitive: enviar + te = enviarte.

antes de que + imperfecto de subjuntivo

Antes de que avisaras, surgió algo inesperado.

AHN-tehs deh keh ah-bee-SAH-rahs, soor-KHEE-oh AL-goh ee-nehs-peh-RAH-doh.

Before you let me know, something unexpected came up.

After antes de que, Spanish uses the subjunctive when referring to an action viewed as pending or uncertain.

Spanish Vocabulary

algo pron
AL-goh something
antes de que conj
AHN-tehs deh keh before
avisar verb
ah-bee-SAR to let someone know avisaras
cambiar verb
kahm-BYAR to change
Está bien phrase
ehs-TAH BYEN That's all right
inesperado adj
ee-nehs-peh-RAH-doh unexpected
Lo siento phrase
loh SYEN-toh I'm sorry
me alegra phrase
meh ah-LEH-grah I'm glad
necesitar verb
neh-seh-see-TAR to need necesito
nuestro det
NWES-troh our
plan noun
plahn plan
surgir verb
soor-KHEER to come up surgió

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I'm sorry, I need to change our plan.

Show AnswerLo siento, necesito cambiar nuestro plan.

Something unexpected came up.

Show AnswerSurgió algo inesperado.

That's all right. We can choose another day.

Show AnswerEstá bien. Podemos elegir otro día.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to need

Show Answernecesito

to come up

Show Answersurgió

to let someone know

Show Answeravisaras

to change

Show Answercambiar