Save the file and take a coffee break | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: At work, two adults decide to save a file and take a short coffee break before returning to a report..

EN → ES / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Save the file and take a coffee break to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Estoy perdiendo la concentración.

es-TOY pehr-DYEN-doh lah kohn-sehn-trah-SYOHN I am losing focus.
B

Vamos a alejarnos y tomar un café.

BAH-mohs ah ah-leh-HAR-nohs ee toh-MAR oon kah-FEH Let's step away and get coffee.
A

Parece útil hacer una pausa corta.

pah-REH-seh oo-TEEL ah-SEHR oo-nah POW-sah KOR-tah A short break sounds helpful.
B

Podemos estirarnos antes de volver a sentarnos.

poh-DEH-mohs ehs-tee-RAR-nohs AHN-tehs deh bohl-BEHR ah sehn-TAR-nohs We can stretch before we sit down again.
A

¿Deberíamos volver al informe después de tomar café?

deh-beh-RYAH-mohs bohl-BEHR ahl een-FOR-meh dehs-PWEHS deh toh-MAR kah-FEH Should we return to the report after coffee?
B

Podemos terminar la siguiente parte entonces.

poh-DEH-mohs tehr-mee-NAR lah see-GYEN-teh PAR-teh en-TOHN-sehs We can finish the next part then.
A

Voy a guardar el archivo antes de irnos.

boy ah gwahr-DAR ehl ar-CHEE-boh AHN-tehs deh EER-nohs I will save the file before we leave.
B

Guárdalo ahora para no perder nada.

GWAHR-dah-loh ah-OR-ah PAH-rah noh pehr-DEHR NAH-dah Save it now, so we do not lose anything.

Word by Word

Estoy “Estoy” means “I am” in the statement about currently losing focus. It is the first-person form of estar, used here with “perdiendo” to describe an ongoing situation. Use it to state your present condition or situation.
perdiendo “Perdiendo” means “losing” in the context of losing concentration. It is the form used with “Estoy” for an action happening now. It can be used after a form of estar to describe an ongoing action.
la “La” means “the” and belongs with “concentración” in this sentence. It is the feminine definite article used before this noun. Use “la” before a feminine noun when referring to a specific thing or idea.
concentración “Concentración” means “focus” or “concentration” here, referring to the ability to keep attention on work. The phrase describes attention becoming weaker. Use it when talking about maintaining attention during work or study.
Vamos “Vamos” means “let’s” in the suggestion to step away and get coffee. It is used with “a” and an infinitive to suggest an action for the speakers together. Use it to propose doing something together.
a “A” helps form the suggestion “Vamos a alejarnos” and introduces the action that the speakers propose to do. In this construction, it comes between “Vamos” and an infinitive. Use it after “Vamos” when suggesting a shared action.
alejarnos “Alejarnos” means “step away” in the suggestion to leave the work area briefly. The form refers to the speakers moving away together. It appears after “Vamos a” to name the proposed action.
y “Y” means “and” and joins the two suggested actions in the sentence. It connects stepping away with getting coffee. Use it to link actions, objects, or ideas.
tomar “Tomar” means “have” or “drink” in “tomar un café.” Here it refers to getting or drinking coffee as part of the break. It can be used with a drink or meal when describing having it.
un “Un” means “a” in “un café,” referring to one coffee without making it specific. It is the masculine indefinite article used with “café.” Use it before a singular masculine noun when referring to one nonspecific item.
café “Café” means “coffee” in the proposed break. It is the drink the speakers plan to have after stepping away. Use it when discussing coffee as a drink or a coffee break.
Parece “Parece” means “seems” in the assessment that taking a short break would be helpful. It presents the idea as an impression or judgment. Use it to introduce an assessment of whether something appears useful or suitable.
útil “Útil” means “helpful” or “useful” in the description of the short break. It evaluates the break as something that may help the speakers. Use it after a verb such as “seems” when describing the value of an action or thing.
hacer “Hacer” means “to take” in the expression for taking a break, although its basic contribution is “to do” or “to make.” It forms the action together with “una pausa.” Use it with “una pausa” when referring to taking a break.
una “Una” means “a” in “una pausa,” referring to one nonspecific break. It is the feminine indefinite article used with “pausa.” Use it before a singular feminine noun when referring to one nonspecific item.
pausa “Pausa” means “break” or “pause” here, referring to a short interruption from the report. Together with “hacer,” it describes taking that break. Use it when talking about pausing work or another activity.
corta “Corta” means “short” and describes the break as brief. It matches “pausa” in this expression. Use it after a noun when describing a brief pause or interruption.
Podemos “Podemos” means “we can” in the suggestion that the speakers stretch before sitting down again. It expresses an available or possible action for both speakers. It is a form of poder and can introduce an infinitive for an action the speakers are able or willing to do.
estirarnos “Estirarnos” means “stretch” in the context of moving the body during the break. The form includes the speakers as the people doing the action. It appears after “Podemos” to describe an action the speakers can do.
antes “Antes” means “before” in the expression about stretching before sitting down again. With “de,” it places one action earlier than another. Use “antes de” to introduce an earlier action or time.
de “De” completes the expression “antes de,” meaning “before” in this sentence. It connects the time expression with the following action. Use it after “antes” when the next element is an action or thing that occurs later.
volver “Volver” means “return” or “go back” in the plan to sit down again. It follows “antes de” and introduces the return action. Use it when describing going back to a place, activity, or position.
sentarnos “Sentarnos” means “sit down” in the plan to sit down again after stretching. The form refers to the speakers sitting down together. It is used after “volver a” when describing returning to a previous position or action.
Deberíamos “Deberíamos” means “should we” in the question proposing a return to the report after coffee. It is used here to make a suggestion or ask for agreement. It is a form of deber and can introduce an infinitive when discussing a recommended action.
al “Al” means “to the” before “informe” in the question about returning to the report. It combines the preposition meaning “to” with the definite article meaning “the.” Use it before a masculine singular noun when expressing movement or return to a specific place or thing.
informe “Informe” means “report,” the work document the speakers plan to return to. In this sentence it is the destination of the return. Use it when referring to a report or written work document.
después “Después” means “after” in the question about returning to the report after having coffee. With “de,” it places the return later than the coffee break. Use “después de” to introduce a later action or time.
terminar “Terminar” means “finish” in the plan to complete the next part. It follows “Podemos” and names the action the speakers can do. Use it with a task, part, or activity that can be completed.
siguiente “Siguiente” means “next” or “following” and identifies the part that comes after the current one. It describes “parte” in the work plan. Use it before a noun when referring to the next item in an order or sequence.
parte “Parte” means “part” in the reference to the next section of the report. It is the portion the speakers plan to finish after the break. Use it when referring to one section or portion of a larger task or document.
entonces “Entonces” means “then” and connects finishing the next part with the earlier plan to return after coffee. It indicates that the action will happen at that later point. Use it to link a consequence or later action to something just mentioned.
Voy “Voy” means “I am going to” in the plan to save the file before leaving. It is a form of ir used with “a” and an infinitive to express an intention or planned action. Use this construction when stating what you plan to do.
guardar “Guardar” means “save” in the context of saving a computer file. It follows “Voy a” and takes “el archivo” as its object. Use it when storing a file or keeping information safely.
el “El” means “the” before “archivo,” referring to a specific file. It is the masculine definite article used with this noun. Use “el” before a masculine singular noun when referring to a particular thing.
archivo “Archivo” means “file,” specifically the file the speakers want to save before leaving. It is the object of “guardar.” Use it when referring to a computer file or another stored document.
irnos “Irnos” means “leave” or “go away” in the phrase about leaving before the break. The form refers to the speakers going away together. It follows “antes de” to state what happens before they leave.
Guárdalo “Guárdalo” means “save it” as a direct request to save the file immediately. It combines the saving action with “it,” referring back to the file. Use it when telling someone to save a specific item that is already understood.
ahora “Ahora” means “now” and specifies that the file should be saved immediately. It gives the requested action a present time. Use it to say that something should happen at this moment.
para “Para” means “so that” or “in order to” in the purpose of avoiding loss. It introduces the reason for saving the file. Use “para” with an infinitive to express the purpose of an action.
no “No” means “not” and makes the following action negative. Here it negates losing anything as the purpose of saving the file. Use it directly before a verb when forming a negative statement.
perder “Perder” means “lose” in the warning about losing anything. It is an infinitive after “para no,” expressing the unwanted result to avoid. Use it with an object when describing the loss of a file, item, or information.
nada “Nada” means “anything” in the negative phrase about not losing anything. It refers broadly to no item or information being lost. Use it with a negative verb when referring to the absence of any thing.

Grammar Points

antes de + infinitivo

antes de volver

AHN-tehs deh bohl-BEHR

before returning

Use antes de followed by an infinitive to say that one action happens earlier than another.

después de + infinitivo

después de terminar

dehs-PWEHS deh tehr-mee-NAR

after finishing

Use después de followed by an infinitive to say that one action happens later than another.

Spanish Vocabulary

alejarse verb
ah-leh-HAR-seh to step away alejarnos

Vamos a alejarnos y tomar un café.

antes de prep
AHN-tehs deh before

Podemos estirarnos antes de volver a sentarnos.

café noun
kah-FEH coffee

Vamos a alejarnos y tomar un café.

concentración noun
kohn-sehn-trah-SYOHN focus

Estoy perdiendo la concentración.

corto adj
KOR-toh short corta

Parece útil hacer una pausa corta.

estirarse verb
ehs-tee-RAR-seh to stretch estirarnos

Podemos estirarnos antes de volver a sentarnos.

parecer verb
pah-reh-SEHR to seem parece

Parece útil hacer una pausa corta.

pausa noun
POW-sah break; pause

Parece útil hacer una pausa corta.

perder verb
pehr-DEHR to lose perdiendo

Estoy perdiendo la concentración.

tomar verb
toh-MAR to have; to drink

Vamos a alejarnos y tomar un café.

útil adj
oo-TEEL helpful; useful

Parece útil hacer una pausa corta.

volver verb
bohl-BEHR to return; to go back

Podemos estirarnos antes de volver a sentarnos.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I am losing focus.

Show AnswerEstoy perdiendo la concentración.

A short break sounds helpful.

Show AnswerParece útil hacer una pausa corta.

We can finish the next part then.

Show AnswerPodemos terminar la siguiente parte entonces.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

short

Show Answercorta

to step away

Show Answeralejarnos

helpful; useful

Show Answerútil

coffee

Show Answercafé