Borrowing a laptop charger at work | Learn Spanish in English

About This Lesson

Use Borrowing a laptop charger at work to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

La batería de mi portátil está casi agotada.

lah bah-teh-REE-ah deh mee pohr-TAH-teel ehs-TAH KAH-see ah-goh-TAH-dah My laptop battery is almost empty.

Puedes tomar prestado mi cargador hasta la reunión.

PWEH-dehs toh-MAHR preh-STAH-doh mee kahr-gah-DOHR AH-stah lah reh-oo-nee-OHN You can borrow my charger until the meeting.

¿Es compatible con mi portátil?

ehs kohm-pah-TEE-bleh kohn mee pohr-TAH-teel Is it compatible with my laptop?

Debería serlo, pero comprueba primero el conector.

deh-beh-REE-ah SEHR-loh, PEH-roh kohm-PROO-eh-bah pree-MEH-roh ehl koh-nehk-TOHR It should be, but check the connector first.

Encaja, y la batería se está cargando.

ehng-KAH-hah, ee lah bah-teh-REE-ah seh ehs-TAH kahr-GAHN-doh It fits, and the battery is charging now.

Devuélvelo a mi escritorio cuando termines.

deh-BWEHL-beh-loh ah mee ehs-kree-TOH-ryoh KWAHN-doh tehr-MEE-nehs Put it back on my desk when you finish.

Lo devolveré antes de que te vayas.

loh deh-bohl-beh-REH AHN-tehs deh keh teh BAH-yahs I'll put it back before you leave.

Eso me da tiempo suficiente antes de que vuelva a necesitarlo.

EH-soh meh dah TYEHM-poh soo-fee-SYEHN-teh AHN-tehs deh keh BWEHL-bah ah neh-seh-see-TAHR-loh That gives me enough time before I need it again.

Word by Word

La “La” means “the” here and introduces “batería,” the battery. It is used before this feminine singular noun in “La batería de mi portátil.” A common reuse pattern is “la” + a specific noun.

batería “Batería” means “battery” here, specifically the laptop battery. In “La batería de mi portátil,” it is linked to the laptop with “de.” You can use “batería” when talking about a device’s power source.

de “De” shows the connection between “batería” and “mi portátil,” giving the meaning “of my laptop.” In this dialogue, it appears in “batería de mi portátil.” A common reuse pattern is “de” + a noun to show association or belonging.

mi “Mi” means “my” and identifies “portátil” as belonging to the speaker. It comes directly before the noun in “mi portátil.” A common reuse pattern is “mi” + a singular noun.

portátil “Portátil” means “laptop” in “mi portátil.” It identifies the device whose battery is being discussed. You can reuse it after a possessive, as in “mi portátil.”

está “Está” describes the battery’s current condition in “está casi agotada.” It contributes the meaning “is” while describing a state. A common reuse pattern is “está” + an adjective to describe a current condition.

casi “Casi” means “almost” and shows that the battery is close to being depleted in “casi agotada.” It comes before the word it modifies here. A common reuse pattern is “casi” + an adjective or other description.

agotada “Agotada” means depleted or nearly empty, describing the battery in “está casi agotada.” Its form matches “batería” in this dialogue. You can use it after “está” to describe something whose supply or energy is used up.

Puedes “Puedes” means “you can” and gives permission or makes borrowing possible in “Puedes tomar prestado mi cargador.” It is followed by the action “tomar prestado.” A common reuse pattern is “Puedes” + an infinitive to offer or allow an action.

tomar In “tomar prestado,” “tomar” contributes the action of taking; the whole expression means “borrow.” It is used with “prestado” and the object “mi cargador.” A common reuse pattern is “tomar prestado” + an object.

prestado In “tomar prestado,” “prestado” shows that the charger is taken temporarily for use and later return. Its meaning comes from the whole expression together with “tomar.” A common reuse pattern is “tomar prestado” + the item being borrowed.

cargador “Cargador” means “charger,” the item being offered in “mi cargador.” It is the object of “tomar prestado.” You can use it with a possessive, as in “mi cargador.”

hasta “Hasta” means “until” and sets the endpoint in “hasta la reunión.” It shows that the charger may be borrowed up to the meeting. A common reuse pattern is “hasta” + a time or event.

reunión “Reunión” means “meeting” in “hasta la reunión.” It names the event that marks the borrowing deadline. You can use it after an article or after “hasta” when referring to a specific meeting.

Es “Es” means “is” in the question “¿Es compatible con mi portátil?” It asks whether the charger has the required compatibility. A common reuse pattern is “Es” + an adjective to ask about a quality or condition.

compatible “Compatible” means compatible or able to work together in “Es compatible con mi portátil.” It is used with “con” to identify the device it can work with. A common reuse pattern is “compatible con” + a device or system.

con “Con” means “with” and connects “compatible” to “mi portátil.” The exact expression is “compatible con mi portátil.” A common reuse pattern is “compatible con” + the thing that can work together with it.

Debería “Debería” expresses a cautious expectation in “Debería serlo”: it should be compatible, but this is not presented as certain. It is followed here by “serlo.” A common reuse pattern is “debería” + an infinitive to express what is expected or advisable.

serlo “Serlo” means “be so” in “Debería serlo,” referring back to being compatible. It combines “ser” with “lo,” which refers to the quality just mentioned. A common reuse pattern is “debería serlo” when confirming a previously mentioned description cautiously.

pero “Pero” means “but” and introduces a qualification in “pero comprueba primero el conector.” It connects the expectation that the charger is compatible with the instruction to check it. A common reuse pattern is “pero” + a contrasting statement or instruction.

comprueba “Comprueba” tells the listener to check or verify something in “comprueba primero el conector.” It is followed by the item to be checked. A common reuse pattern is “comprueba” + an object when asking someone to verify it.

primero “Primero” means “first” and places the connector check before any further use. It appears before “el conector” in “comprueba primero el conector.” You can use it to mark the first step in a sequence.

el “El” means “the” and introduces the specific item “conector.” It appears in “el conector.” A common reuse pattern is “el” + a specific masculine singular noun.

conector “Conector” means “connector,” the part that is checked before using the charger. It appears as “el conector.” You can use it when identifying the connection part of a device or cable.

Encaja “Encaja” means “fits” here, confirming that the connector fits the laptop. It is used as a short statement in “Encaja.” A common reuse pattern is the standalone “Encaja” when confirming that an item fits.

y “Y” means “and” and links the statement that the connector fits with the statement about the battery in “Encaja, y la batería se está cargando.” It joins related information. A common reuse pattern is “y” between two words, phrases, or clauses.

se In “se está cargando,” “se” is part of the expression presenting the battery as undergoing the charging process. Its meaning cannot be separated from the rest of that construction. A common reuse pattern is “se” + “está” + a process in progress.

cargando “Cargando” contributes the ongoing charging action in “la batería se está cargando.” Together with “se está,” it says that the battery is charging now. You can reuse this form with “está” to describe an action currently in progress.

Devuélvelo “Devuélvelo” means “return it” in the instruction to put the charger back. It combines the return command with “lo,” referring to the charger, in one word. A common reuse pattern is a command with an attached object pronoun when telling someone to return a known item.

a “A” marks the destination in “a mi escritorio,” meaning “to my desk.” It connects the return action with the place where the charger should go. A common reuse pattern is “a” + a place after a movement or return verb.

escritorio “Escritorio” means “desk” in “a mi escritorio.” It identifies where the charger should be returned. You can use it after “a” when naming the destination of an item.

cuando “Cuando” means “when” and introduces the time condition in “cuando termines.” It links the return instruction to the listener finishing. A common reuse pattern is “cuando” + a clause describing the relevant time.

termines “Termines” identifies the listener’s finishing in “cuando termines.” It completes the time clause that tells when to return the charger. A common reuse pattern is “cuando” + a clause about an action being completed.

Lo “Lo” means “it” in “Lo devolveré,” referring to the charger. It is placed before “devolveré” as the object of the return action. A common reuse pattern is “lo” + a verb when referring back to a known masculine singular item.

devolveré “Devolveré” means “I will return” in “Lo devolveré antes de que te vayas.” It states the speaker’s future promise to return the charger. A common reuse pattern is “devolveré” + an object when promising to give something back.

antes “Antes” means “before” and helps set the deadline in “antes de que te vayas.” It places the return earlier than the listener’s leaving. A common reuse pattern is “antes de que” + a clause describing a later event.

que In “antes de que te vayas,” “que” introduces the clause describing the event that must not happen first. It works as part of the full time expression “antes de que.” A common reuse pattern is “antes de que” + a clause.

te In “te vayas,” “te” marks the listener as the person who leaves. Its contribution is understood together with “vayas” in this expression. A common reuse pattern is “te” + a verb when the action concerns the listener.

vayas In “antes de que te vayas,” “vayas” refers to the listener leaving. Together with “te,” it completes the event used as the deadline for returning the charger. A common reuse pattern is “antes de que te vayas” when promising to do something before someone leaves.

Eso “Eso” means “that” and refers to the return arrangement just mentioned in “Eso me da tiempo suficiente.” It points back to the previous information rather than naming a new object. A common reuse pattern is “Eso” + a verb when commenting on a preceding situation.

me “Me” means “to me” in “me da tiempo suficiente,” identifying the person who receives or benefits from the time. It appears before “da.” A common reuse pattern is “me da” + something to express what gives the speaker a benefit or resource.

da “Da” contributes the idea of giving or providing in “me da tiempo suficiente.” Together with “me” and “tiempo suficiente,” it says that the arrangement provides enough time for the speaker. A common reuse pattern is “da” + an indirect object + a thing provided.

tiempo “Tiempo” means “time” in “tiempo suficiente.” It names the resource that the arrangement provides. A common reuse pattern is “dar tiempo” when saying that someone or something provides time.

suficiente “Suficiente” means “enough” and describes the amount of “tiempo” in “tiempo suficiente.” It shows that the available time meets the speaker’s need. A common reuse pattern is a noun followed by “suficiente” to describe an adequate amount.

vuelva In “vuelva a necesitarlo,” “vuelva” contributes the idea of returning to the action of needing the charger. With “a necesitarlo,” the full expression means “need it again.” A common reuse pattern is “volver a” + an infinitive to describe doing something again.

necesitarlo “Necesitarlo” means “need it,” referring to the charger in “vuelva a necesitarlo.” It combines “necesitar” with “lo,” the object pronoun for the item needed. A common reuse pattern is an infinitive with an attached object pronoun when referring to a known item.

ahora The form “ahora” is not present in the supplied dialogue. This lesson therefore provides no contextual meaning or reliable reuse guidance for it.

Grammar Points

antes de que + subjuntivo

Antes de que te vayas, comprueba el conector.

AHN-tehs deh keh teh BAH-yahs, kohm-PROO-eh-bah ehl koh-nehk-TOHR

Before you leave, check the connector.

After «antes de que», Spanish uses the subjunctive because the action has not happened yet.

imperativo + pronombre

Devuélvelo antes de que te vayas.

deh-BWEHL-beh-loh AHN-tehs deh keh teh BAH-yahs

Return it before you leave.

In an affirmative command, the object pronoun attaches to the end of the verb: «devuelve» + «lo» = «devuélvelo».

Spanish Vocabulary

agotado adj

ah-goh-TAH-doh empty; drained agotada

La batería de mi portátil está casi agotada.

batería noun

bah-teh-REE-ah battery

La batería de mi portátil está casi agotada.

cargador noun

kahr-gah-DOHR charger

Puedes tomar prestado mi cargador hasta la reunión.

casi adv

KAH-see almost

La batería de mi portátil está casi agotada.

compatible adj

kohm-pah-TEE-bleh compatible

¿Es compatible con mi portátil?

comprobar verb

kohm-proh-BAHR to check comprueba

Debería serlo, pero comprueba primero el conector.

conector noun

koh-nehk-TOHR connector

Debería serlo, pero comprueba primero el conector.

hasta prep

AH-stah until

Puedes tomar prestado mi cargador hasta la reunión.

portátil noun

pohr-TAH-teel laptop

La batería de mi portátil está casi agotada.

primero adv

pree-MEH-roh first

Debería serlo, pero comprueba primero el conector.

reunión noun

reh-oo-nee-OHN meeting

Puedes tomar prestado mi cargador hasta la reunión.

tomar prestado phrase

toh-MAHR preh-STAH-doh to borrow

Puedes tomar prestado mi cargador hasta la reunión.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Is it compatible with my laptop?

Show Answer

¿Es compatible con mi portátil?

Put it back on my desk when you finish.

Show Answer

Devuélvelo a mi escritorio cuando termines.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

empty; drained

Show Answer

agotada

battery

Show Answer

batería

meeting

Show Answer

reunión

laptop

Show Answer

portátil