Borrowing a screwdriver and returning it clean | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: In a shared space, one person borrows a screwdriver for a shelf repair and agrees to return it clean before dinner..

EN → ES / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Borrowing a screwdriver and returning it clean to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

¿Podría pedirte prestado tu destornillador para una pequeña reparación?

poh-DREE-ah peh-DEER-teh preh-STAH-doh too dehs-tor-nee-yah-DOR pah-rah OO-nah peh-KEH-nyah reh-pah-rah-SYOHN Could I borrow your screwdriver for a small repair?
B

Está en la caja de herramientas azul.

ehs-TAH en lah KAH-hah deh ehr-rah-MYEN-tahs ah-SOOL It is in the blue toolbox.
A

Necesito apretar los soportes de la estantería.

neh-seh-SEE-toh ah-preh-TAR lohs soh-POR-tehs deh lah ehs-tahn-teh-REE-ah I need to tighten the shelf brackets.
B

Usa el destornillador mediano.

OO-sah el dehs-tor-nee-yah-DOR meh-dee-AH-noh Use the medium screwdriver.
B

Encaja mejor en esos soportes.

en-KAH-hah meh-HOR en EH-sohs soh-POR-tehs It fits those brackets better.
A

¿Cuándo debo devolverlo?

KWAHN-doh DEH-boh deh-bohl-BEHR-loh When should I return it?
B

Por favor, tráelo de vuelta antes de la cena.

por fah-BOR, TRAH-eh-loh deh BWEHL-tah AHN-tehs deh lah SEH-nah Please bring it back before dinner.
A

Si se llena de polvo, primero lo limpiaré.

see seh YEH-nah deh POHL-boh, pree-MEH-roh loh leem-pyah-REH If it gets dusty, I'll wipe it off first.
B

Eso ayuda a mantener las herramientas en buen estado.

EH-soh ah-YOO-dah ah mahn-teh-NEHR lahs ehr-rah-MYEN-tahs en BWEHN ehs-TAH-doh That helps keep the tools in good shape.

Word by Word

Podría “Podría” means “could I” and makes the request polite. It comes from “poder”; use it in a polite request such as “¿Podría...?” when asking someone for permission.
pedirte In “pedirte prestado”, “pedirte” means “ask you” and identifies the person being asked. It combines the verb “pedir” with “te”; use this pattern when asking someone to lend you something.
prestado In “pedirte prestado”, “prestado” contributes the idea that the item will be borrowed and later returned. The expression “pedir prestado” is useful when asking to borrow an object.
tu “Tu” means “your” and identifies the screwdriver as belonging to the person being addressed. Use it before a noun, as in “tu destornillador”, when referring to something owned by that person.
destornillador “Destornillador” means “screwdriver”, the tool being borrowed here. Use it with a tool description or size, as in “el destornillador mediano”.
para “Para” means “for” and introduces the purpose of borrowing the screwdriver. Use “para” before a noun or an activity to say what something is intended for.
una “Una” means “a” in “una pequeña reparación”, introducing one nonspecific repair. Use it before a feminine noun when referring to one item or activity without identifying it specifically.
pequeña “Pequeña” means “small” and describes the repair as limited in size or scope. Use it before a feminine noun such as “reparación” to describe that noun.
reparación “Reparación” means “repair”, the task for which the screwdriver is needed. Use it after expressions such as “una pequeña” when talking about fixing an object.
Está “Está” means “is located” in the statement about where the toolbox is. It comes from “estar”; use it with a place phrase such as “está en...” to locate something.
en “En” means “in” and places the toolbox inside a location. Use “en” with a container or place, as in “en la caja”.
la “La” means “the” and introduces the specific box mentioned in the conversation. Use it before a feminine noun when referring to a known item.
caja “Caja” means “box”, specifically the container holding the tools. Use it with “de” to identify a type or purpose, as in “caja de herramientas”.
de In “caja de herramientas”, “de” links “caja” with the tools associated with it. Use this pattern to describe a container or object by its contents or purpose.
herramientas “Herramientas” means “tools”, the items kept in the box. Use it after “caja de” when referring to a toolbox or a box for tools.
azul “Azul” means “blue” and identifies which toolbox to use. Use it after a noun such as “caja” when specifying its color.
Necesito “Necesito” means “I need” and explains why the speaker wants the screwdriver. It comes from “necesitar”; use it before an object or an infinitive, as in “Necesito apretar...”.
apretar “Apretar” means “tighten” in the task of securing the shelf brackets. It is used after “Necesito” in the pattern “Necesito + infinitive” to state a needed action.
los “Los” means “the” and introduces the specific brackets being tightened. Use it before a known plural noun, as in “los soportes”.
soportes “Soportes” means “brackets” or “supports”, the parts holding the shelf. Use it with an action such as “apretar” when talking about tightening or securing these parts.
estantería “Estantería” means “shelving” or “shelf”, identifying what the brackets belong to. Use it after “de” in “los soportes de la estantería” to show the connection between the brackets and the shelf.
Usa “Usa” means “use” and gives a direct instruction about which screwdriver to choose. It comes from “usar”; use this form when telling someone to use an object.
el “El” means “the” and introduces the specific medium screwdriver. Use it before a known masculine singular noun, as in “el destornillador”.
mediano “Mediano” means “medium-sized” and identifies the recommended screwdriver by size. Use it after a noun such as “destornillador” when describing that tool’s size.
Encaja “Encaja” means “fits” and says that the screwdriver is suitable for the brackets. It comes from “encajar”; use it with an object and the place or item it fits, such as “encaja en...”.
mejor “Mejor” means “better” and shows that this screwdriver fits more suitably than another possible choice. Use it after an action or verb to compare how well something works.
esos “Esos” means “those” and points to the particular brackets being discussed. Use it before a plural noun when identifying items at some distance or already indicated in the conversation.
Cuándo “Cuándo” means “when” and asks about the time for returning the screwdriver. The accent marks its use in a question; use it to ask when an action should happen.
debo “Debo” means “I should” or “I must” in the question about returning the screwdriver. It comes from “deber”; use it before an infinitive, as in “debo devolverlo”, to ask or state what is required.
devolverlo “Devolverlo” means “return it”, referring to returning the screwdriver. It combines “devolver” with “lo”; use this form when the object being returned is already clear.
Por In “Por favor”, “Por” contributes to the fixed polite expression meaning “please”. Use “Por favor” when making a courteous request, rather than interpreting “Por” alone as the whole request.
favor In “Por favor”, “favor” helps form the polite request “please”. Use it together with “Por” at the beginning or end of a request.
tráelo “Tráelo” means “bring it”, referring to bringing the screwdriver back. It combines “trae” with “lo”; use this direct request when asking someone to bring a known object.
vuelta In “de vuelta”, “vuelta” contributes the meaning “back” or “again”, so “tráelo de vuelta” means “bring it back”. Use “de vuelta” with verbs of movement when something should return to its previous place.
antes “Antes” means “before” and sets the deadline for returning the screwdriver. Use it with “de” plus a noun, as in “antes de la cena”, to say that something must happen earlier.
cena “Cena” means “dinner”, the time before which the screwdriver should be returned. Use it after “la” when referring to the evening meal as a known event.
Si “Si” means “if” and introduces a condition about the screwdriver becoming dusty. Use it at the beginning of a conditional situation, as in “Si...” followed by what may happen.
se In “se llena de polvo”, “se” helps express that the screwdriver gets filled or covered with dust. Learn it as part of this pattern rather than assigning the whole meaning of the expression to “se” alone.
llena In “se llena de polvo”, “llena” means “gets filled” or “becomes covered”. It comes from “llenar”; use it with “de” to say what fills or covers something.
polvo “Polvo” means “dust”, the material that may cover the screwdriver. Use it after “de” in “se llena de polvo” when describing what something becomes covered with.
primero “Primero” means “first” and shows that cleaning happens before the screwdriver is returned. Use it to order actions, especially before a verb such as “limpiaré”.
lo “Lo” means “it” and refers to the screwdriver in “lo limpiaré”. Use it as the object of a verb when the masculine object is already understood.
limpiaré “Limpiaré” means “I will clean”, and here it describes the speaker’s planned action if the screwdriver gets dusty. It comes from “limpiar”; use it before or with “lo” when promising to clean a known object.
Eso “Eso” means “that” and refers to the cleaning action just mentioned. Use it to point back to an idea, action, or situation that has already been discussed.
ayuda “Ayuda” means “helps” and says that cleaning supports keeping the tools in good condition. It comes from “ayudar”; use it before “a” plus an infinitive, as in “ayuda a mantener”.
a In “ayuda a mantener”, “a” connects “ayuda” with the action that it supports. Use the pattern “ayudar a + infinitive” to say that something helps make an action possible or effective.
mantener “Mantener” means “keep” or “maintain” in the goal of preserving the tools’ condition. It follows “ayuda a” in the reusable pattern “ayuda a mantener...”.
las “Las” means “the” and introduces the specific tools being discussed. Use it before a known plural noun, as in “las herramientas”.
buen “Buen” means “good” in the expression “en buen estado”, describing a satisfactory condition. Use this form before “estado” when saying that something is in good condition.
estado “Estado” means “condition” or “state” in “en buen estado”. Use it with “en” and a description such as “buen” to talk about the condition of an object.

Grammar Points

Tráelo / devolverlo

Tráelo antes de la cena.

TRAH-eh-loh AHN-tehs deh lah SEH-nah

Bring it before dinner.

In affirmative commands and infinitives, the object pronoun attaches to the verb: trae + lo → tráelo.

Spanish Vocabulary

apretar verb
ah-preh-TAR to tighten

apretar los soportes

azul adj
ah-SOOL blue

la caja de herramientas azul

caja de herramientas phrase
KAH-hah deh ehr-rah-MYEN-tahs toolbox

la caja de herramientas azul

destornillador noun
dehs-tor-nee-yah-DOR screwdriver

tu destornillador

encajar verb
en-kah-HAR to fit encaja

Encaja mejor en esos soportes

estantería noun
ehs-tahn-teh-REE-ah shelf

la estantería

mediano adj
meh-dee-AH-noh medium

el destornillador mediano

necesitar verb
neh-seh-see-TAR to need necesito

Necesito apretar los soportes

pedir prestado phrase
peh-DEER preh-STAH-doh to borrow

¿Podría pedirte prestado tu destornillador?

reparación noun
reh-pah-rah-SYOHN repair

una pequeña reparación

soporte noun
soh-POR-teh bracket soportes

los soportes de la estantería

usar verb
oo-SAR to use usa

Usa el destornillador mediano

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Use the medium screwdriver.

Show AnswerUsa el destornillador mediano.

It fits those brackets better.

Show AnswerEncaja mejor en esos soportes.

When should I return it?

Show Answer¿Cuándo debo devolverlo?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to tighten

Show Answerapretar

blue

Show Answerazul

repair

Show Answerreparación

shelf

Show Answerestantería