Returning to Work with Better Focus | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: After a break at work, two adults return to a file, a chart section, and team comments with better focus..

EN → ES / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Returning to Work with Better Focus to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Ahora me siento más descansado.

ah-OH-rah meh SYEHN-toh mahs deh-sahn-SAH-doh. I feel more refreshed now.
B

Empecemos por la parte más importante.

ehm-peh-SEH-mohs pohr lah PAHR-teh mahs eem-pohr-TAHN-teh. Let's start with the part that matters most.
A

¿Deberíamos continuar con la sección del gráfico?

deh-beh-ree-AH-mohs kohn-tee-noo-AHR kohn lah sehks-see-OWN dehl GRAH-fee-koh? Should we continue from the chart section?
B

Esa parte necesita más concentración.

EH-sah PAHR-teh neh-seh-SEE-tah mahs kohn-sehn-trah-see-OWN. That part needs the most focus.
A

Abriré el archivo y lo revisaré.

ah-bree-REH ehl ahr-CHEE-boh ee loh reh-bee-sah-REH. I'll open the file and check it.
B

Leeré los comentarios del equipo mientras revisas el gráfico.

leh-eh-REH lohs koh-men-TAH-ree-ohs dehl eh-KEE-poh MYEHN-trahs reh-BEE-sahs ehl GRAH-fee-koh. I'll read the team comments while you check the chart.
A

Ahora puedo seguir mejor los detalles.

ah-OH-rah PWEH-doh seh-GEER meh-HOHR lohs deh-TAH-yehs. I can follow the details better now.
B

El descanso hizo que el trabajo se sintiera más ligero.

ehl dehs-KAHN-soh EE-soh keh ehl trah-BAH-hoh seh seen-TYEH-rah mahs lee-HEH-roh. The break made the work feel lighter.

Word by Word

Ahora “Ahora” means “now” and places the feeling or action in the present moment, as in “Ahora me siento más descansado.” It is useful when reporting a current change or state, such as after a break.
me In “me siento”, “me” identifies the person experiencing the feeling: “I feel”. The reusable pattern is “me siento + adjective”, for example when describing how you feel after an activity.
siento “Siento” means “feel” in “me siento más descansado”. Together with “me”, it describes the speaker’s current state. Use “me siento” before an adjective when reporting your own feelings.
más “Más” adds a higher degree, meaning “more” in “más descansado”. It can be reused before an adjective or noun, as in “más concentración” in this dialogue.
descansado “Descansado” means “rested” or “refreshed” in “me siento más descansado”. It describes the speaker’s condition after the break. Use “me siento más descansado” when you have more energy after resting.
Empecemos “Empecemos” suggests “let’s start” and invites both people to begin together. Here it introduces “Empecemos por la parte más importante”. Use “Empecemos por + noun” to choose the first thing to work on.
por In “Empecemos por la parte más importante”, “por” means “with” in the sense of choosing where to begin. The useful pattern is “empezar por + noun”, used when starting with a particular item or section.
la “La” is the definite article “the” before “parte” in “la parte más importante”. It marks the specific part being discussed. Use “la + noun” when referring to a known feminine noun.
parte “Parte” means “part” in “la parte más importante”. It identifies one section of the work that the speakers want to begin with. It can be reused in a pattern such as “la parte de + topic” when referring to one portion of something.
importante “Importante” means “important” in “la parte más importante”. It describes which part has the greatest priority. Use it after a noun when identifying a significant item or section.
Deberíamos “Deberíamos” makes a suggestion about what the speakers should do, as in “¿Deberíamos continuar...?” It is followed here by the infinitive “continuar”. Use “deberíamos + infinitive” to propose an action politely.
continuar “Continuar” means “continue” in “Deberíamos continuar con la sección del gráfico”. It refers to returning to work already in progress. The reusable pattern is “continuar con + noun” for continuing with a task or topic.
con In “continuar con la sección del gráfico”, “con” means “with” and connects the action to the section being resumed. Use “continuar con + noun” when saying what work or topic you will continue.
sección “Sección” means “section” in “la sección del gráfico”. It refers to a distinct part of the chart or related work. Use it when identifying one organized part of a document or visual.
del “Del” means “of the” in “la sección del gráfico”. It combines “de” and “el” before the following noun. Use “del + noun” to express a relationship such as one part of a specific item.
gráfico “Gráfico” means “chart” or “graph” in “la sección del gráfico”. It names the visual being discussed and checked. In this dialogue it also appears in “revisas el gráfico”, a useful work-related pattern.
Esa “Esa” means “that” in “Esa parte necesita más concentración”. It points to the part that was just mentioned. Use “esa + noun” when referring to a specific item already identified in the conversation.
necesita “Necesita” means “needs” in “Esa parte necesita más concentración”. The subject is the part, and the following noun states what it requires. Use “necesita + noun” to describe a requirement.
concentración “Concentración” means “focus” or “concentration” in “necesita más concentración”. It describes the mental attention required for that section. Use “necesita más concentración” when a task requires stronger focus.
Abriré “Abriré” means “I will open” in “Abriré el archivo”. It announces the speaker’s planned next action. Use “Abriré + object” when saying that you will open a file or other item.
el “El” is the definite article “the” before “archivo” in “el archivo”. It refers to the specific file under discussion. Use “el + noun” for a known masculine noun.
archivo “Archivo” means “file” in “Abriré el archivo y lo revisaré”. It is the document the speaker will open and check. Use it when discussing a digital or work document.
y “Y” means “and” and joins the two actions in “Abriré el archivo y lo revisaré”. It connects related actions in sequence. Use “action y action” to link two activities.
lo “Lo” means “it” in “lo revisaré” and refers back to “el archivo”. It places the object pronoun before the conjugated verb. Use “lo + verb” when referring to a previously mentioned masculine object.
revisaré “Revisaré” means “I will check” or “I will review” in “lo revisaré”. The pronoun “lo” identifies what will be checked. Use “lo revisaré” when promising to review an item already mentioned.
Leeré “Leeré” means “I will read” in “Leeré los comentarios del equipo”. It states a planned action. Use “Leeré + object” when saying what you intend to read.
los “Los” is the definite article “the” before “comentarios” in “los comentarios del equipo”. It refers to specific comments. Use “los + noun” with a known plural masculine noun.
comentarios “Comentarios” means “comments” in “los comentarios del equipo”. These are the team’s remarks that one speaker will read. The useful pattern is “leer los comentarios” when reviewing feedback.
equipo “Equipo” means “team” in “los comentarios del equipo”. It identifies who provided or belongs to the comments. Use “comentarios del equipo” when referring to feedback from a team.
mientras “Mientras” means “while” and links two actions happening at the same time, as in “mientras revisas el gráfico”. Use “mientras + clause” to describe one action taking place during another.
revisas “Revisas” means “you check” in “mientras revisas el gráfico”. It describes the other person’s simultaneous action. Use “revisas + object” when telling someone what they are checking.
puedo “Puedo” means “I can” in “Ahora puedo seguir mejor los detalles”. It expresses the speaker’s ability to do something more effectively now. Use “puedo + infinitive” to state what you are able to do.
seguir “Seguir” means “follow” in “seguir mejor los detalles”, meaning to follow or understand the details. It comes after “puedo”. Use “seguir + object” when tracking the details or development of something.
mejor “Mejor” means “better” in “seguir mejor los detalles”. It shows that the action is done more effectively than before. Use “verb + mejor” to describe improved performance.
detalles “Detalles” means “details” in “seguir mejor los detalles”. These are the specific points the speaker can understand or track. Use “seguir los detalles” when keeping up with the individual points of a task or explanation.
descanso “Descanso” means “break” or “rest” in “El descanso hizo que...”. It is the period away from work that changed how the work felt. Use it when talking about taking a break during work or another activity.
hizo “Hizo” means “made” or “caused” in “hizo que el trabajo se sintiera más ligero”. It introduces the result produced by the break. The reusable pattern is “hizo que + clause” for saying that something caused a result.
que “Que” means “that” in “hizo que el trabajo se sintiera más ligero”. It connects the cause with the resulting situation. Use “hizo que + clause” to explain what an action or event caused.
trabajo “Trabajo” means “work” in “el trabajo se sintiera más ligero”. It is the activity whose perceived difficulty changed after the break. Use “el trabajo” when referring to the work being done.
se In “se sintiera”, “se” forms the expression for the work’s own felt state with “sentir”, giving the meaning “feel”. It appears before the verb in this clause. Use the exact pattern “se + form of sentir” when describing how something feels.
sintiera “Sintiera” means “felt” in “el trabajo se sintiera más ligero”. After “hizo que”, it describes the resulting way the work felt. The reusable pattern is “hizo que + subject + se sintiera + adjective” for a caused change in how something felt.
ligero “Ligero” means “lighter” in “el trabajo se sintiera más ligero”. It describes the work as feeling less heavy or demanding after the break. Use “se sintiera + adjective” to describe how something felt in that situation.

Grammar Points

infinitivo + -é (futuro)

Abriré el archivo y revisaré el comentario.

ah-bree-REH ehl ahr-CHEE-boh ee reh-bee-sah-REH ehl koh-men-TAH-ree-oh.

I will open the file and review the comment.

The first-person singular future uses -é added to the infinitive: abrir → abriré, revisar → revisaré.

se sintiera

Si se sintiera ligero, seguiría mejor.

see seh seen-TYEH-rah lee-HEH-roh, seh-gee-REE-ah meh-HOHR.

If it felt light, it would continue better.

Se sintiera is an imperfect subjunctive form of sentirse, used for a hypothetical or uncertain situation.

Spanish Vocabulary

abrir verb
ah-BREER to open abriré
ahora adv
ah-OH-rah now
concentración noun
kohn-sehn-trah-see-OWN focus; concentration
continuar verb
kohn-tee-noo-AHR to continue
descansado adj
deh-sahn-SAH-doh rested
empezar verb
ehm-peh-SAHR to start empecemos
gráfico noun
GRAH-fee-koh chart; graph
importante adj
eem-pohr-TAHN-teh important
necesitar verb
neh-seh-see-TAHR to need necesita
parte noun
PAHR-teh part
sección noun
sehks-see-OWN section
sentirse verb
seh-TEER-seh to feel me siento

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I feel more refreshed now.

Show AnswerAhora me siento más descansado.

Let's start with the part that matters most.

Show AnswerEmpecemos por la parte más importante.

That part needs the most focus.

Show AnswerEsa parte necesita más concentración.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to start

Show Answerempecemos

now

Show Answerahora

rested

Show Answerdescansado

to continue

Show Answercontinuar